Brunswick, ME – March 6, 2017 – Manomet is pleased to announce the promotion of Lora Winslow to Program Manager, Sustainable Economies Program. In her new role, Winslow will continue her work building the U360 college internship program, which increases college students’ workforce skills, practical knowledge of sustainability and its application for small businesses and professional life.

“Lora has been a valuable member of the team and has been instrumental in the development of U360,” said Andy Whitman, Director of Manomet’s Sustainable Economies program. “Since launching U360 in January 2016, Lora has worked tirelessly to grow the program and serve as a mentor to the bright and engaging U360 students.  She has also initiated a number of university partnerships and has secured grants to ensure the growth of this program for Manomet in the future.”

By combining skills training, educational workshops, and real-world experiences, U360 gives students an integrative and practical learning opportunity that can lead to improved academic performance and better career opportunities. In the pilot year of U360, six students interviewed a total of 59 small businesses from eleven states and 29 different industries to learn about their sustainable business practices and to introduce them to Manomet’s Root360 small business sustainability toolkit. Currently, U360 has 18 students enrolled from three schools for the Spring 2017 semester.

To conclude the internship, each student selects one business they interviewed to use for a Case Study and Sustainability Action Plan, which they present to a panel of small business experts. This analysis helps students understand the challenges of applying general sustainability principles to a specific situation. The program’s ultimate goal is to train the next generation in practical sustainability, in order to better sustain our world.

“I am deeply committed to ensuring the success of the U360 program,” said Winslow. “Working to educate today’s youth about sustainability is a dream come true and I’m grateful to Manomet for this opportunity to impact college students and small businesses. U360 creates full-circle learning between business professionals and the next generation of sustainable entrepreneurs, and I’m thrilled to help facilitate that engagement.”

About Manomet

Manomet is a nonprofit organization that believes people can live and work today in ways that will enable our world to thrive and prosper tomorrow. Manomet’s mission is to apply science and engage people to sustain our world. Visit www.manomet.org for more information.