Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Luxton.
Hi Sarah, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I guess my story starts as a teenager volunteering for my National Honor Society group and church. It didn’t really matter where I was volunteering or what I was doing because I just loved helping so much. When I got older, I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do with my life so I joined AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC). After two years of service, I had finally found my calling in volunteer work, but it wasn’t until I did an internship for the City of Denton’s Watershed Protection Division that I found my true passion, serving in local government. Currently, I work for the City of Plano as their Sustainability and Environmental Education Division Supervisors where my team and I help to educate and engage the community on sustainability and environmental stewardship. I also have the pleasure of leading our Live Green in Plano volunteering program, which works with more than 300 active volunteers. Together, we are able to accomplish some amazing things in our community!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Most individuals working in Sustainability did not arrive here on a straight path. For me, it took some time to figure out what really made me happy, helping people and the environment. This isn’t always easy, especially when you work in government. Progress takes time, and my job is not to serve my own interest but that of the community. Our community supports programs they help build. I am grateful for the wonderful community of Plano who is so supportive of our efforts.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in Sustainability and Volunteerism. One thing that sets me apart as a volunteer leader is having served countless hours as a volunteer myself. I earned the Presidential Lifetime Call to Service award for volunteering across the country. I was also awarded two congressional medals for volunteerism. I appreciate each one of our volunteers and their contribution to our program. It is their work that makes our programs possible. We need their support and volunteerism.
Here are some numbers from our programs last year:
Total Volunteers 5279 LGIP hours 5621.18
Total Number of Vol. Hours 14436.03
Litter picked up 52,000 pounds
PCG Gardeners 42
PCG Annual Pds of Produce 4689.65
Storm Drains Labeled 1545 173 Volunteers, 337.25 Hours
Total Number of Presentations 193
Total Number of Attendees 8855
GAC volunteers 902
Texas Recycles Day pds Diverted 50,000
Website views Over 130,000
Facebook Followers 4.6K
Facebook Reach Almost 900,000 since the beginning of the year
Enews Around 9,000 individuals
NWF Habitats 170 habitats
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is the principle of sustainability, and by that, I mean “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (United Nations Brundtland Commission, 1987). I am a mother, and it is important to me that there is a future for both my family and my community.
Contact Info:
- Website: LiveGreeninPlano.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/livegreeninplano
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcluxton/
