Meet the Interns

Summer 2010

Taking on the new position of Stories Project Intern, Igor Kharitonenkov joins our team this summer. A 2009 graduate of Indiana University with a degree in Psychology, Igor came to Boston in pursuit of a doctorate in Pharmacology. After 7 months in the program, he made the difficult decision to leave school to pursue his interests in sustainability and conservation. An avid blogger, Igor has written his own successful multi-media environmental blog where he posts his musings on topics ranging from backpacking to buying local. He enjoys traveling, backpacking, and above all, being outdoors and experiencing the natural world. Igor hopes to bring his interests in media and his passion for nature to the position. Gathering stories from the individuals and groups who have frequented the Emerald Necklace throughout the years, Igor hopes to demonstrate the unique and irreplaceable role the parks have served in the lives of Bostonians and visitors alike. Above all, Igor hopes the final project will be inspiring. “I truly hope it will accomplish its mission of getting people outside to enjoy the parks,” he says.

Contact Igor at ikharito@emeraldnecklace.org

In another new-for-2010 position, Danielle Girard will join us as Program Development for Visitor Services Intern. As such, she will help define and develop what our services will be at the new Visitor and Volunteer Center. Danielle notes that Boston is her third “home” city with an Olmsted-designed park system: first Buffalo, where she attended SUNY and then New York City, where she obtained her undergraduate degree at Fordham University. As the program development intern, Danielle will research not only the structure of successful visitor centers, but also the unique history behind the Emerald Necklace and its designer. In doing so, she hopes to create a program in line with Frederick Law Olmsted’s vision. A dancer and artist, Danielle strongly connects with Olmsted’s original concept of the city park as a cultural center. “I love that the Emerald Necklace Conservancy taps into art and cultural events and works with the community on many different levels,” she says. Danielle also finds value in the parks as a place to bike, run, and walk. Above all, the sanctuary of the parks in the city reminds the Plattsburgh, NY native “of home in the Adirondacks.”

Contact Danielle at: dgirard@emeraldnecklace.org

Maddie Meister will be a senior at University of Wisconsin-Madison pursuing a double major in Communications and Environmental Studies. As the Communications and Public Relations Intern, Maddie’s combined disciplines work well as she promotes the Emerald Necklace and encourages Bostonians to get outside and enjoy nature. The outdoors has played a constant role in Maddie’s life since childhood. Having enjoyed many summers at Nauset Beach as well as hiking and camping trips across the U.S, she appreciates a wide range of natural environments. But it wasn’t until studying abroad last spring that the suburban-raised student truly came to value the gift of urban parks. “I found myself seeking the trails and green spaces around Rome to escape the bustle of the big city- whether it be to relax with friends or go for a run,” she says. Maddie is excited to be a part of the Summer Sundays in the Park Series. “I think most of us spend too much time indoors, and I’d love to help promote the parks as a common area to relax and enjoy music, good company, and most importantly, nature,” she says. Maddie is enjoying designing banners, posters, flyers, and other Conservancy materials, as well as updating our Facebook and other social media sites.

Contact Maddie at: printern@emeraldnecklace.org

Spring 2010

Samaher Al Derhali, (“Sam”) is a senior at Simmons College majoring in Communications concentrating in the Public Relations, Marketing and the Integrated Media track. The communications intern position offers her the opportunity to maximize her work experience during her last semester as an undergraduate. She has studied video editing and design and looks forward to working on Conservancy publications, videos and other media.

Sam was introduced to parks at an early age by her father, a landscape engineer. She notes, however, the vast differences between the parks in Saudi Arabia, where she grew up, and those here in Boston. “I especially love the greenness of the Emerald Necklace and the changes that the seasons bring.”

Kim Johnstone is a junior at Northeastern University majoring in Environmental Science with a minor in Architectural History. As the project assistant intern, Kim works along side Don Eunson, Senior Project Manager, and Catherine Pedemonti, Project Manager. An avid bicyclist, she is working with Don and Catherine to create a bike map that directs bikers around Boston through the Emerald Necklace. She is also coordinating the Muddy River Cleanup volunteer event.

Camping trips were a staple of Kim’s childhood and she developed a love of the outdoors at an early age. While living in Boston, she became aware of how important parks were to city life. “Sometimes,” she says, “you just need to step away from the city and parks let you have that great escape.”