Finding Your Believers

After a five-minute phone call with Mr. Steve (a volunteer STEM classroom instructor in inner city Oakland), the project was all but in the can. Granted, we had not filmed a single minute of his interview, we’d gathered no B-roll, we had not even visited his campus, but we knew we had our story. Why? Because Mr. Steve was a true believer.

Believers are one of the things that make working in sustainability so rewarding. Being able to promote products and services of people and companies that believe in what they are doing is a privilege. It’s what gets us out of bed in the morning. Sure, sustainability won’t fix all the world’s problems, but it’s good, it’s needed and it’s urgent.

A great example of this type of work is a project we just finished for SunPower®, a leading solar company based out of San Jose, California. From the moment we began talking about this project, our team was excited about the creative possibilities. Not only were we working to promote a catalyst for sustainability, we also had the privilege to work on SunPower’s educational initiatives.

SunPower offers comprehensive educational services to students ranging from kindergarten through college, as well as professional development for educators. The program includes hands-on learning opportunities in the classroom and in the field, offering everything from lesson plans and guest instructors to field trips and summer camps. Shelton Group was tasked with branding and promoting the educational initiatives. Our contributions included naming the program – SunPower Horizons™ – and the individual program components, as well as producing collateral materials and a suite of videos that serve as the centerpiece for telling the SunPower Horizons story.

Mr. Steve was one of many stars we were able to feature. From students to staff to volunteers, SunPower Horizons is a community of people who are passionate about our planet and the future of our youth. There is a power in purpose, and when that purpose focuses on the greater good, it’s even more potent.

Take a minute to hear Mr. Steve talk about his passion:

So, what does this mean for you? Well, if you’re in the sustainability field, you almost certainly have believers in your organization. Find them; let them be your voice. There is no need to hire talent or to script actors. Let your people tell your passion; there is no substitute. Oh, and by the way, we’d be glad to help.