Anne Marie Hoffman
Anne Marie Hoffman, Eco-Schools Program, VI Conservation Society
The Navigating Home Fellowship has really made a difference for both fellow Zoe Banfield and the VI Conservation Society. Our Eco-Schools USVI program is small, and funding is always a challenge, so having Zoe on board through this fellowship gave us the support we needed to keep growing. She jumped right in—working with teachers and students on St. Thomas, starting recycling and composting projects, and bringing new energy into school gardens. She’s also been helping with our Green Schoolyards and Water Smart Schools efforts, which has meant students across the islands are learning about the environment while also benefiting from safer, healthier school spaces.
For me, mentoring Zoe has been a joy. We check in every week, and I’ve been able to watch her find her voice as a professional—leading meetings, presenting at conferences, and building her own relationships with partners. I’ll admit, I’ve even gotten teary-eyed at times seeing how much she’s grown. It’s been rewarding not just to guide her, but to learn alongside her. Attending events and connecting with regional colleagues together has expanded my own network too, which has been an unexpected gift.
Honestly, without Navigating Home, the Eco-Schools program would look very different right now. The fellowship gave us the extra capacity we needed when other funding was uncertain, and it allowed me to focus on strengthening our partnerships with the VI Department of Education. More than that, it reminded me why programs like this matter so much. They don’t just support young Virgin Islanders building STEM careers—they also give mentors like me the chance to grow, to be inspired, and to feel part of something bigger.
