One Earth needs hundreds of volunteers to help us bring our thought-provoking and community-activating programs to life. Please consider lending a bit of your time and energy to this year’s Fest. You’ll work side by side with people like Erik Malone, a long-time volunteer with us, and an all-around wonderful person.
Q: What is your favorite part about volunteering?
Erik: Everyone coming together -- a group of people with different backgrounds, different strengths, all joining together to be a part of something bigger than ourselves, to help save our planet.
Q: How did you get involved and what roles have you played in the Fest?
Erik: When I saw my first One Earth Film Festival screening – Chasing Ice in 2013 – it was a movie I’ll never forget. I was so inspired. I joined the Festival Planning Team the next year. Since then, I’ve been an usher, film reviewer, film screening site coordinator and filmmaker chauffeur.
Q: What would you like people to take away from their One Earth experience this year?
Erik: I would hope they would see that they matter. They have the power to make a difference, no matter how big or small, to make the world a better place.
Q: Our theme this year is “This Is the Moment.” What will you take this moment to do to make the planet more healthy and livable?
Erik: I am doing my best this year to eliminate my plastic consumption-- everything from shopping bags to garbage bags to small lunch bags. It discourages me sometimes when I want to buy something and the packaging isn’t recyclable, but it encourages me that there are choices I can make on my own that can have an impact. I changed drycleaners because one location recycled!
Q: What do you love about One Earth Film Festival?
Erik: One of the great things about the festival is that we don’t only show films. After the films, we come together and have discussions as an audience. People can also learn about advocacy groups or activities, so they can join the effort to help save the planet. That is exactly how I got involved. It all started with signing up for a mailing list at the end of Chasing Ice – and look where I am now.
Join Erik and more than 500 other volunteers at this year’s One Earth Film Festival.
--Rebecca Woodley