An environmental science degree took Kennedy on a path she is happy with and hopes to be more influential in state and national policy. "It was pretty depressing and anxiety provoking to learn all I did about climate change, but I'm using that knowledge in the Air Quality Program at the Institute of Public Scholarship to make an impact in my community." Her local environmental work is leading to more education, accessibility and connecting climate change to justice issues for black and brown people in Kalamazoo.