What if your next neighborhood project could ripple across oceans? We sit down with Rotarian leader Patrick Dunn to trace a direct line from Reno’s river cleanups and community gardens to international efforts in Italy and Kenya, showing how local service scales when it’s connected to the right partners. Patrick’s journey—from campus organizing in Maine to district leadership—reveals a blueprint for turning passion into durable, community-backed change.
We dig into the nuts and bolts: how clubs coordinate with watershed groups to remove tires and invasives from the Truckee River, why community gardens cut carbon while boosting food security, and where small grants and municipal partnerships make the difference between a one-off cleanup and a long-term solution. Patrick breaks down Rotary Action Groups, especially ES RAG, as practical networks any member can join to access proven strategies for plastic reduction, watershed health, and reef restoration—no jargon, just tools that work.
You’ll also hear global stories with local lessons: Italian environmental cleanups guided by community champions, water and women’s microenterprise projects in Africa, and U.S.-based gardens funded through international Rotary grants. The takeaway is clear and actionable: reduce single-use plastics, plant and support community gardens, and collaborate across Rotary clubs and civic partners to unlock expertise, volunteers, and funding. If you’ve been looking for the simplest path from good intentions to real impact, this conversation maps it with examples you can copy tomorrow.
If this sparked an idea, follow the show, share it with someone who cares about clean water and resilient neighborhoods, and leave a review to help more listeners find these community-powered solutions.
