The Fund for RE & Sustainability

“I started learning about sustainability at RE in sixth grade. Dr. Jackson helped guide me, especially with the sixth-grade curriculum and the Ransom Everglades Climate Symposium. My project was on the Sahara and deforestation, and the curriculum and the teachers were able to guide me to learn in a very organic way. At Ransom Everglades, teachers look at me as a whole person and find out what interests me. I have treasured the opportunity to impact my entire community and the people around me through public speaking and the platform that RE has given me. One of my proudest moments was hosting the Miami Youth Climate Summit as co-president in collaboration with Breakthrough Miami and extending the reach of our programming in the community.” 

– Mia Bouyoucef ’25

“Students in the organic gardening club grow host and nectar plants for the Organic Pollinator Garden from seed and observe the stages of metamorphosis in the garden. All plants are native to Florida, and our garden is registered with Monarch Watch and Pollinator Pathways. In alliance with Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden’s Connect to Protect program, RE has also installed a special pollinator garden with rare plants that are native to the Pine Rocklands habitat of Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties. We have plans to double the size of the Connect to Protect garden this year.” 

– Heidi Steen, World Languages Faculty

“I first learned about how food waste sent to landfills contributes to global warming in Dr. Kelly Jackson’s sixth-grade science class. My sister Chloe and I started composting at home and were inspired to take it to the next level through partnerships with South Miami Hospital and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Day School. I have learned that with a little effort, together we can make a huge difference. I never thought my effort would result in preventing 85,000 pounds of food waste going into a landfill.” 

– Tomas Jimenez ’28

“Sustainability and composting have helped me find a purpose at school and become more involved by cultivating a passion through my RE experience. I am eager to raise awareness of the negative impact that food waste has on our environment. Tomas and I have now convinced four more hospitals in South Florida to start composting! We look forward to recruiting more businesses and families to join our cause.” 

– Chloe Jimenez ’26

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