Motivated to make a change in the community

(Erin Crouch pictured on the left and Dana Lake pictured on the right. The picture was taken by media director of the Leer Career Center, Ken Nelson)

EAST LANSING, Mich.---Michigan State University student Erin Crouch herself to devotes a good portion of her time to servicing her community and making a difference. The 20-year-old family and community services major is the director of Project Green, a community outreach group at Michigan State that caters to the needs of the Lansing and East Lansing community.

“We host many events throughout the year such as health fairs, blood drives,and fundraisers to lower heating cost,” Crouch said.

Through meetings with schools, community organizations, churches, and neighborhood associations, Project Green is able to center its focus each year based on the current needs of the community.

Crouch has been involved with Project Green for three years now and this is her second year as director. As a director she says that she loves what she does but at times it can be difficult.


“I love the look on the kid’s faces when I pull of a successful event, and I know it was because of all the hard work I put into it.I sometimes wish I had more help. Although I love what I do, the pressures of coordinating major events and being a full time student can take its toll,” Crouch said.

Becoming the head of any organization can be nerve wrecking for anybody, and although Crouch seems like a confident person, when she was first approached about taking over Project Green Crouch said that she was “sacred out of my mind”

However,Crouch said surprisingly her over thinking and planning paid off. As a director Crouch has been able to accomplish things that the organization couldn’t do before.

“I added two new events to an already full calendar and used less funds than any previous director. I did more with less,” Crouch said.

Ryan McKinnon, a Michigan State student and accounting major, said that Erin Crouch possesses the qualities of a leader.

“She displays characteristics that all of the people at Project Green should show. She is passionate about what she does in the community and is a great leader for the face of community service at Michigan State,” McKinnon said.

Kimberly Riles, a Michigan State student and elementary education major, said Crouch shows a lot of dedication.

“She makes the program more family oriented, which makes you want to get involved. You see how happy she gets from helping out in the community that it makes you want to make a difference, ” Riles said.

The last event that Project Green held was a end of the year event this past April that promoted green awareness that coincided with the MSU Go Green initiative to reduce, reuse, and recycle goods.

“It was a huge community event that included 200-500 members of the Lansing/ Knollwood community that included games, crafts, and activities that tied into this theme,” Crouch said.

As a director of Project Green Crouch said she has learned a lot about herself, and with determination and the help of others she hopes that in the future she can take the organization to new horizons.

“Project Green has made me more aware of the change I can make," she said.