Shaw EcoVillage | Ondine Wells

Shaw EcoVillage Project

Executive Director & Founder

I founded and directed the Shaw EcoVillage Project, a community-based non-profit in Washington, DC. Our mission was to provide training and opportunities for youth to become catalysts for positive, sustainable change in their own neighborhoods. Our two programs included the EcoDesign Corps and the Chain Reaction Bike Shop.

The EcoDesign Corps provided paid internships for youth to create and lead their own projects for sustainable change in their neighborhood. Students researched, designed, and presented solutions to address a wide range of challenges, including health, transportation, historic preservation, art, food insecurity, urban forestry, small business development, and more.
Chain Reaction Youth Bike Shop trained and employed youth mechanics to provide the only affordable bicycle services to a low-income neighborhood. The program also provided classes, events, and a racing team for local youth.

The images below feature team projects, presentations, and products created from the EcoDesign Corps, and events and activities at the Chain Reaction Youth Bike Shop.

Zhani’s interest in environmental issues was sparked through her work in the EcoDesign Corps and she participated in an environmental training program in

Santa Fe, New Mexico the following summer.

Among his personal goals Thomas said that he wanted to graduate from college and “help the community that helped me.” The pastor of the church where Thomas attends commented on how Thomas had transformed from an insecure boy without focus into a mature young man who now had direction during his summer with Shaw EcoVillage.