The event, titled "Bridging Rivers, Connecting Worlds," is part of a collaboration with the JDO Foundation’s Global Collaboration Program, which connects students across continents for meaningful, real-world learning experiences. Through this initiative, students in Durango and India engaged in cross-cultural discussions, environmental advocacy, and hands-on learning about their local waterways.
Students from Escalante Middle School in teacher Lu Boren’s agriculture class were paired with students from Delhi International School Edge (DIS Edge) in New Delhi, India. Together, they have been studying the Yamuna River – one of the country’s most sacred yet dangerously polluted waterways.
“What started as a simple water sustainability unit turned into something so much more powerful,” Boren said. “The students in India had never even visited the Yamuna River before. They saw it firsthand and documented their experiences. And on the other side of the world, our students were learning about the Colorado River and its importance for agriculture, recreation, wildlife, and Native American tribes. It became a true exchange of ideas, knowledge, and advocacy.”
Throughout the semester, the students met virtually to compare the environmental challenges facing their respective rivers and brainstorm solutions. The Durango students, who had an early-morning wake-up call to connect across time zones, took on a leadership role to help educate their Indian peers.
To amplify their voices, Boren sought out experts in river ecology to join the students in a live Q&A panel on Earth Day. The panelists will include renowned local and state scientists and conservationists from both Colorado and India who will share insights on global water sustainability:
- Kate Greenberg, Commissioner of Agriculture, Colorado Department of Agriculture
- Steve Wolff, General Manager, Southwestern Water Conservation District
- Jim White, Southwest Senior Aquatic Biologist, Colorado Parks and Wildlife
- Jason Fast, Water Plant Manager, Public Works, City of Durango
- Dr. Amorina Lee-Martinez, Dolores Watersheds Collaborative
- Dr. Kaitlin Mattos, Four Corners Water Center Interim Director, Fort Lewis College
- James Eklund, Water Lawyer at Taft/Sherman & Howard
- Hannah Mink, Water Lawyer at Taft/Sherman & Howard
- Celene Hawkins, The Nature Conservancy
This event is a collaboration between Durango School District (DSD), the JDO Foundation, and river sustainability experts, to highlight the power of student-driven global learning. The event is open to the public, including members of the DSD Board of Education, Superintendent Karen Cheser, the district’s executive team, and community members passionate about river conservation.