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well,” said Snyder. One challenge Snyder discovered we have as much clean water as we do,
It was a very busy month for Snyder, was the intersection of solid waste and I’m impressed in our ability to work
management and water quality. Since Java together as a country.”
as she still had to fulfill her job functions is an island with no landfills, solid waste Growing as a Leader
while providing experiences for Yoga, disposal is handled differently than in
but she said hosting a YSEALI fellow had the U.S. Most of the residents burn their Snyder said she recommends the
benefits for her and for her work in Oak garbage out of necessity. But, since local YSEALI experience to other Tennessee
Ridge. superstition says that burning a baby’s municipalities. The exchange of ideas and
diaper will give that baby a fever and a connections abroad were invaluable, and
“There’s a cultural benefit for sure,” rash, instead of burning diapers some she grew as a professional in her field.
Snyder said. “At first, it sounded to me communities throw them in the river, the
like he was going to benefit for the most same river they use for fresh water. “It was very hard for me to do this,” she
part from this program, but it ended up said. “It put me way out of my comfort
being mutually beneficial. It gave me more “In some places there were so many zone. But it was far more rewarding than
initiative to take part in what’s happening diapers that you can almost walk across I thought it would be. I think it’s definitely
globally on the planet as far as clean water, the river on diapers,” said Snyder. “This made me a stronger leader because I’ve
and I got to exchange ideas with someone group was providing education and learned how to communicate with people
who lives on the other side of the planet outreach and central disposal areas who I don’t even speak the same language
from me. through social responsibility partnerships as, but we’re able to find common ground
with different corporations.” and work through those issues we have in
“I was surprised how connected globally common and exchange ideas. That part
he was and how disconnected I was.” Snyder said the experience gave really grew me as a leader.
Connecting with Global Water Quality her perspective about her work and
advancements in water quality in the U.S. “And it definitely helped bring new
Snyder was about to get a big lesson ideas to Oak Ridge.”
in global connectedness. She was one of “Oak Ridge is small. We’re landlocked,
12 U.S. fellows selected for the overseas but we still serve a huge role in water For more information about
portion of the exchange. In September quality downstream, same as in this YSEALI, including how to apply for
2018, she spent two weeks in Indonesia community where they’re throwing the Professional Fellows Program, visit
on the island of Java working with diapers over the bridge,” she said. https://asean.usmission.gov/yseali/. In
ECOTON. She discovered that, while the “Another takeaway is that I’m impressed addition, Snyder wrote a blog about her
challenges are different, the strategies are with the regulations in the U.S., and I’m YSEALI experience, which can be found
similar: raising awareness and providing impressed with our ability to regulate the at https://icmaysealifellows.blog/author/
educational outreach. laws that we pass. I’m truly impressed that asnyderoakridgetngov/.
View online at tnpublicworks.com 25
