Ami Vitale to Inspire Young Changemakers with ‘Wild Hope’ Student Speaker Series in Tucson
On March 5, Vital Impacts founder and executive director Ami Vitale will give Tucson-area students a look into the dynamic relationship between humans and nature—and the future careers they could pursue to safeguard our planet. This “Wild Hope: Reframing the Human-Nature Relationship” event is part of the Vital Impacts Student Speaker Series, which harnesses powerful environmental storytelling to motivate North America’s youth.
“When we learn about the challenges facing our planet and the animals that live here, we can be inspired to take action,” says Vitale, who will present to students at the Fox Tucson Theater on Tuesday, March 5.
Through the Vital Impacts Student Speaker Series, a program built in partnership with Changemaker Talent, world-class photographers, filmmakers, writers, and science communicators use conservation storytelling to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards. “I'm excited to share stories of hope and resilience with the children in Tucson,” Vitale says. “And I hope they will be inspired to make a difference in the world.”
Few speakers are more poised to spread hope and spark action like Vitale. As a Nikon ambassador and National Geographic photographer, writer, and filmmaker, she’s learned firsthand that humanity and nature are intrinsically linked. Vitale has traveled to more than 100 countries on assignments that have ranged from living in mud huts and war zones to donning a panda suit to follow her career ethos: live the story.
During the March 5 event, Vitale, who’s received the Daniel Pearl Award for Outstanding Reporting and is a six-time recipient of World Press Photo Awards, will help students better understand the planet and the need to protect it, as well as how they can help through myriad future career paths in conservation.
Vitale will continue seeding hope later this spring with a Vital Impacts Student Speaker Series presentation that’s open to the public on April 24 at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, New Jersey.
The Vital Impacts Student Speaker Series, a partnership between the women-led nonprofit Vital Impacts and Changemaker Talent, brings world-renowned visual storytellers and science communicators to stages across the continent. In addition to Vitale, presenters in the 2023-2024 series include Ronan Donovan, Mattias Klum, Keith Ladzinski, Mireya Mayor, Pete McBride, Vincent J. Musi, Brian Skerry, Anand Varma, and Steve Winter.
Feedback from teachers, principals, and parents show the speaker series’ mission—to inspire and help students see the roles they could play in conservation—is well underway. According to one teacher, “many [students] have expressed interest and curiosity in learning about careers addressing environmental issues since the talk,”—and with many more talks on the horizon for 2024, there’s much more changemaking in store.
How to Attend
Ami Vitale will be speaking at the Fox Tuscon Theater, located in downtown Tucson, on March 5 at 10 a.m. This event is for students and school groups only.
If you’re not a student, you can also see Vitale at the all-ages Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, New Jersey, on April 24 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available through Mayo Performing Arts Center.
Bring Vital Impacts Student Speaker Series to Your School
If you’re interested in bringing a Vital Impacts Student Speaker Series to your school and students, please contact us via email. We have a limited number of scholarships available; you can apply for a full or partial event-hosting scholarship here. The events consist of a 45-minute presentation followed by 15 minutes of Q&A, and a brown-bag lunch with select teachers and staff, as well as study guides to help students prepare for the events.