Development Underway for Second Edition of Empowered: One Planet at a Time

We are excited to announce that we’ll be working with University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point College of Natural Resources faculty member, Dr. Becca Franzen, and her 2024 and 2025 spring classes of students in NR 478 Environmental Issues Investigation and Action on development of the second edition of Empowered: One Planet at a Time. The book continues to be used as a text for the course.

“This is another way for students to take action for their planet and a better future. They’ll have a direct role in helping to revise content to ensure the book remains relevant and appealing to the next generation. Under Dr. Franzen’s leadership, we plan to make this a regular practice as another way for this course to have impact over the coming years,” said Patty Dreier, author of Empowered. “This course changed my life years ago when I took it. We never had a text for the course, so I wrote one. Now, we are creating a way for this resource to thrive well into the future as we help readers build skills for taking action. The goal is to inspire them to stand up for their planet and themselves through their personal and professional lives.”

The UW-Stevens Point College of Natural Resources is the largest undergraduate program in natural resources and environmental management in the United States.

Author and Artist Celebrate Collaboration on Book to Empower Next Generation

Author Patty Dreier and Artist Dan Sivek will share their story about collaborating on Empowered: One Planet at a Time on June 3, 2023, at Gallery Q, in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. The event will take place from 10:30 a.m. - Noon as part of a World Environment Day celebration. A brief program will take place at 11 a.m.

Both Sivek and Dreier earned higher degrees in environmental education (PhD and M.S. respectively). Both have taught environmental education and trained teachers/aspiring teachers and future conservationists. They partnered their creative talents in Empowered which is now being used at UW-Stevens Point and in other programs across the planet to equip the next generation of students to stand up for their planet and themselves. Sivek’s pastel painting commissioned by Dreier to illustrate the book will be on display in Gallery Q. Visitors will hear the story of how the art and content of the book were harmonized along with excerpts from the book including two original songs sung by Dreier which are published in it. Free coffee and cookies will be available. Drawings for free books, bookmarks, and cards will also take place along with a tree dedicated for tree-planting.

Dreier is Presenter for UW-Madison Students on Wisconsin Experience Bus Trip

On May 15th, 2023, Patty Dreier will feature content from her book, Empowered: One Planet at a Time, as part of the first night of programming for 38 university students and their advisors on the Wisconsin Experience Bus Trip, a week-long leadership development program hosted by UW-Madison’s Center for Leadership & Involvement. The group will spend the night at the Central Wisconsin Environmental Station (CWES), a field station of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point College of Natural Resources. Dreier was a former director of CWES.

“This is a grand opportunity to involve the students in discussion around what makes a significant life and legacy—how it all starts with our life stories and develops as we apply ourselves with courage and confidence in service to others,” said Dreier. “I look forward to setting the stage for an incredible week of leadership development as the students experience the best of Wisconsin and build their capacities to make positive changes in the world. It’s been fun to create a programming bridge to the group’s evening campfire program—something I’ve done a lot of when I was on the staff at CWES.”

Dreier to Be Earth Day 2023 Keynote for Pittsville High School

Through her keynote speech entitled, “Your Planet, Your Future,” on April 28, Patty Dreier will seek to empower 150 students at the High School in Pittsville, Wisconsin, as part of their 2023 Earth Day activities.

“How exciting!” exclaimed Dreier about this opportunity to share a half hour with the entire school. “I am looking forward to making the connection between the qualities of life and environment on this planet, and the quality of their own future. I will challenge them to get involved in standing up for their planet and their future in ways they may have never thought of before.”

Dreier will also highlight her book, Empowered: One Planet at a Time, as a resource to help them take charge of their destiny. She will donate a copy to the school library and give one to science teacher Lacey Foate who hopes to teach an environmental course in the future. The book was written as a toolkit for the next generation of leaders and their teachers and mentors. For more information, visit www.bluespring.life.