The FingerLakes ReUse Center; Senior Year (2010-2011)
The FingerLakes ReUse Center (FLRC) is a non-profit with a mission
of enhancing environment, community and economy through re-use. They operate a
ReUse Center open to the public 7 days a week, which accepts and sells quality
used furniture, salvaged and surplus building materials, housewares, and home
electronics in the eCenter. They also provide deconstruction services as a
green alternative to demolition. One of their current projects is a survey with
local non-profits to assess their basic IT needs, to ensure that they are doing
all they can to fulfill their missions. Their eCenter has two main goals:
eliminating chemical waste from improper electronic disposal, and eliminating
the “digital divide” that exists between the financially advantaged and
disadvantaged in Tompkins County.
The FingerLakes ReUse Center projects it will annually
divert from the waste stream over 3,000 tons of materials related to
electronics, construction, computers, household goods, sporting equipment,
textiles and furniture by 2012. They also plan to create 20 full-time entry
level and career employment opportunities by 2014, and foster civic involvement
through their volunteer opportunities and education programs. FLRC was also
named the 2010 Non-profit of the year by the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce!
For more information on them, see www.fingerlakesreuse.org.
My Work with the FingerLakes ReUse Center
One of my main goals was to help connect the FLRC with the
Cornell community. I see this connection in the form of item donations, and also
in encouraging Cornell students to shop at FLRC if they need furniture for their
apartments. Additionally, landlords and fraternity houses often do small
renovations, and the FLRC is great place for them to buy construction items
they might need such as lumber, sinks, cabinets, etc. I have worked to get the
FingerLakes ReUse Center mentioned in as many campus documents as possible; for
example, there is a new bathroom reader about sustainability being created,
and FLRC is going to have a shout-out on it. I work closely with Nina, the FLRC’s
Outreach and Development Associate. I help with general assistance: for example,
creating summaries of 15 different Marketing Reports created by an outside
organization for the FLRC. I help Nina coordinate volunteers for various
deconstruction projects, and come up with drafts of the monthly newsletters for
FLRC. I am helping the FLRC become more institutionalized with Cornell by
creating possible partnerships with Cornell’s Recyclemania Competition, and the
Dump&Run Sale.
Another one of the FLRC volunteers is making a short and fun YouTube video about the eCenter, and Nina wanted me to be a part of the video as a volunteer, and give a short quote for the movie. I have to answer what I enjoy about volunteering at FLRC, what I’ve learned, and why I volunteer there. This made me reflect on all the unique things I’ve learned through my volunteer work at this non-profit. Although only a few years old, FLRC is a very organized and established non-profit, and I can observe all the logistics and planning and quirks that go with running a 501(c)3.
Another one of the FLRC volunteers is making a short and fun YouTube video about the eCenter, and Nina wanted me to be a part of the video as a volunteer, and give a short quote for the movie. I have to answer what I enjoy about volunteering at FLRC, what I’ve learned, and why I volunteer there. This made me reflect on all the unique things I’ve learned through my volunteer work at this non-profit. Although only a few years old, FLRC is a very organized and established non-profit, and I can observe all the logistics and planning and quirks that go with running a 501(c)3.
Technology ReUse and it's Effect on the Developing World
Being involved with the eCenter has sparked my curiosity on the topic of how very relevant technology can be in improving standards of living. The FingerLakes ReUse Center is working to bridge the technological gap between those who are economically advantaged and disadvantaged. But this can also be done globally, which I explored further in a final paper for a class I took at Cornell called International Humanitarianism (HIST 2791). I explore case studies of the positive effects through organizations such as the Cornell Computer ReUse Association, the Google offices in Ghana, and FrontlineSMS. However, I also look into the negative sides of technology in the form of the dumping of e-waste from developed countries onto less developed countries. This results in many negative environmental and health effects, some of which are being exposed through various NGO’s. For more information, please see the file below.
christina_copeland_final_paper_technology_and_developing_countries.doc | |
File Size: | 64 kb |
File Type: | doc |