Transcript
What inspires you from WFSU Public Media? Here's this week's Voices That Inspire. My name's Georgia Ackerman and I work at Appalachia called River Keeper. My official title is River Keeper and Executive Director. That means I wear two hats and I do a little of everything. As I've explained to my own kids, when I took the position a couple of years ago, was that a riverkeeper's kind of like a Lorax. The Lorax speaks for the trees and River Keeper speak for the water, but of course the water and the trees are all connected and the ecology of of our region is connected so it's important that we give voice to habitat and our natural resources. The really wonderful and energizing part about being the Appalachia Color Riverkeeper is every day I'm reminded how important this place is to not just me as one person in an organization trying to speak up for it. I run into people all the time, volunteers, other staff, people, board members, people in the community that'll share some story of theirs or what's remarkable and special to them and I remember, yeah that's right, lots and lots and lots of people really love this place and they'll join us in this journey and protecting it and then I'm reminded it's not a there's no quick fix but it's you know long-time work and so keep exploring it, get some naps, eat some snacks and get back at it. That's kind of my philosophy. At the end of the day if I'm talkered out and feel confident that I've done something worthwhile then I hope I'm making my kids proud and that's what I aspire to do every morning so I am fortunate of a job I get to get worn out and every day is a new day of renewal and the more time I get to be outside and experience this ecosystem I feel very fortunate about that. I'm Torja Ackerman, I'm River Keeper and Executive Director at Appalachicola River Keeper. You're listening to Voices That Inspire.