Welcome Kevin Tsuru to Sweet Water!

We have a new Environmental Health Educator here at Sweet Water! Each year, Sweet Water partners with Marshfield Health Clinic, to host an AmeriCorps member for a year of service. Kevin is joining the team to help us advance environmental health in southeastern Wisconsin communities by focusing on educating and involving residents in actions to improve water quality and watershed health.

Kevin answered some questions about himself and how he decided to spend a year of service with Sweet Water.

SWWT: Where are you from?

Kevin: My tale begins in a town just north of the Windy City, Wilmette, Illinois. My most recent years have been spent in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus, where I earned a B.S. in Environmental Sciences, Policy, and Management and a minor in Soil Science.

How did you come to serve with Sweet Water?

After finishing a watershed outreach internship in MN, I came to Milwaukee in the hopes of entering the “water quality” industry that allowed me to utilize the skills and knowledge I gained through my education and put them into practice. I was able to intern with Sweet Water for the summer months doing community outreach and creating educational material. My goal now is to help promote the Adopt-Your-Drain program and collaborate with partners for cleaner water.

What exactly is AmeriCorps?

AmeriCorps is a government, business, and corporation funded, service-based volunteer program that extends across the country. The goal of aiding community’s critical needs is completed through educating the youth, fighting poverty, and assisting in environmental issues that affect community health. The role I play here is to help communities meet and improve their water quality standards.

How did you become interested in environmental issues?

I’ve always been interested in the Earth and environmental stewardship, but I didn’t know the full scope of the profession until I went to college. I took a basic environmental studies class based off casual interest, where I was introduced to the many tracks that exist within the earth sciences category. I got hooked and signed up for a soil science and watershed management class, which turned out to be my favorite classes I’ve ever taken. The enthusiasm my professors had, gave me the motivation to continue down the path of environmental problem solving.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Anything outside! I enjoy going on hikes, camping, and playing sports recreationally. Since moving to Milwaukee, I’ve spent countless hours walking along the Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan. Cooking is another one of my passions, and I enjoy coming up with new recipes to try each week.

What would you like to do when your service year with AmeriCorps is done?

Currently, I have no set plans for after my year of service with AmeriCorps, however, I think that my time at Sweet Water will help me decide what my next step should be. I’m pretty sure I want to pursue a career in watershed management and this opportunity will help me refine which path I will choose. My future work may put me in the Milwaukee area studying Lake Michigan, along the Mississippi River studying the Mississippi River Watershed, or potentially going to graduate school to expand my knowledge about water resources.

We’re so excited to work with Kevin this year!