Anu Makinde has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in Peace, Justice, and Ecology from The University of Alabama at Birmingham. Working in her school’s sustainability department has taught her the importance of community engagement and inclusion regarding sustainability education as she met with campus groups to encourage sustainable practices. Growing up in a New American family taught her a lot about navigating different cultures and the effect this can have on life outcomes. During the summer she built on these interests as she works at the Burlington Electric Department and Vermont Gas to research the energy poverty within vulnerable populations like the New American community. This assessment will be used to create appropriate messaging that will encourage the use of energy-efficient tools and move Burlington closer to its goal of Net Zero Energy by 2030. In the future, she hopes to continue working with vulnerable populations through the use of innovation, policy, and advocacy. In her free time, you can find her doing yoga, listening to music, reading, and enjoying the outdoors.
