Lauren Himiak

Lauren Himiak. Graduate student. Freelance Writer. Vegan. Fitness junkie. Camping lover.

I am currently pursuing my Masters in Environmental Policy at the Milano School of International Affairs, Management, and Urban Policy in New York City. With my continuing education and passion for the environment and animal rights, I hope to explore the fields of sustainable farming, the impact of factory farming on the environment, and increase compassion for all living things. I am also working as a freelance writer and editor, serving as About.com’s Guide to National & State Parks. My previous experience include writing for a talk radio program, a popular metropolitan newspaper, and numerous magazines.

My passion for helping others has transformed my life and led me to graduate school. During the summer of 2009, I had the privilege of volunteering in Uganda at an AIDS orphanage. Teaching and giving love and support to 120 children was truly a life-changing experience, and one I will carry with me always. My focus was teaching children English as well as increasing their health and fitness levels through daily exercise and games. The experience led me down a path of volunteer work and I was even featured on lemondrop.com, sharing how I transitioned from journalism to working in Africa.

In 2011, I traveled to Haiti to support Let Haiti Live, a non-profit investing in Haitian-led initiatives that strengthen the people’s ability to become more self-sufficient economically, socially and environmentally. Our team worked with 40 youth that are part of the JADPE program (Youth in Action for Development and Protection of the Environment) in a Summer Camp teaching children English language skills and leadership development. We also worked on a construction project that will support the expansion of the group’s tree nursery and reforestation efforts in the community. Our work helped empower youth leaders, help families grow food and support Haiti’s environment.

I continue to volunteer locally, whether in soup kitchens, animal shelters, women’s shelters, or simply by helping the homeless on the streets of New York. I look forward to a future of helping others and working towards building a more sustainable future for all.