Personal statement
*I grew up in a picturesque town of Northeastern Pennsylvania where my backyard served as a constant source of curiosity. My artwork—inspired by the American Indian portraitures of Edward S. Curtis—and the foreign, but familiar lands, of my mother’s National Geographic collection— lit a small blue flame of restless wanderings of my mind.
Everything I do—whether it is as a model, author, host, creator, consultant, or collaborator—is influenced, if not defined by my activism. I specifically seek out programs and work that specifically enable, enhance, or add to the work that I am most passionate about; programs that will bring important issues to a wider audience and make them more relevant to all of our lives; and to empower individuals and all of us collectively.
I firmly believe that we all want—or at least would like to be (whether we know it or not)—part of something that is greater than all of us. This is why I am here. This is why you are here. Oftentimes I get the question, “What can I do? ” If questions answered questions, I would reply: “What are you capable of? ” Moreover, what are you interested in doing? That of course is not the answer anyone is looking for, but it serves as a rhetorical reminder of our own personal interest in making a difference. It touches on the assumption that you, like me, all want to do better, not only for ourselves, but the rest of the planet.
How I live out my life may not look or feel like how you live out your life and that’s totally cool. We all come from different backgrounds, different cultures, and are all in different places in our lives. Do what works for you where you are in life. Light your own fire, blaze your own path, work hard…and most importantly, live by example.
*Summer Rayne Oakes graduated from Cornell University —an entomologist and environmental scientist by training. In 2000 in the midst of her studies, Oakes embarked on a journey of cause-related modeling and innovative sustainable design/development projects to push sustainability issues through fashion and media, a position which earned her the name of “The Eco-Model ” [1 ][2 ][3 ][4 ][5 ]. In addition to this, Summer Rayne is now a spokesperson, resident expert, and youngest Board of Advisors for Planet Green , Discovery Network’s new eco-lifestyle network that launched June 4, 2008 to 50 million households.
In addition to her media endeavors, Oakes is a partner at the strategic consulting firm, Group SJR, with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. Grounded in innovative research, brand development/management, and communications, SJR develops, implements, and manages traditional, online, and grassroots/guerilla campaigns across the United States and around the globe. Oakes engages this platform to advise and represent clients both in front and behind-the-scenes.
In addition to this, Summer Rayne stays highly connected and active in a number of initiatives including the youth climate change-green jobs movement; environmental- and socially-conscious design; and sustainable development, particularly in Africa and the Arctic.
In February of 2009, she’ll release her first book, style, naturally: the savvy shopping guide to sustainable fashion and beauty published by Chronicle Books.
Random things you may not know about me
From the history of my name to my history with sewage sludge and everything in between.
*My given name is Summer Rayne Ann Hyacinth Oakes.
No, my parents aren’t hippies.
*I raise exotic insects.
I have always been fascinated by critters that creep and crawl. My earliest memory is of show-and-tell in kindergarten. I brought a gallon container of tent caterpillars and dumped them on a desk. A few years later I was raising insects in my room…I didn’t set out as an Entomology major in college, but I was drawn in by the priceless enthusiasm of my professors. I now raise a myriad of exotic insects…a hobby that I can’t seem to kick.
*My first published scientific papers were on sewage sludge.
I crashed a waste management/sludge meeting at Cornell University two years before I matriculated as a student and worked on waste management programs for my local conservation district in Pennsylvania. When I applied for a work-study program with the Cornell Waste Management Institute, I came in fully-accredited, but let’s just say I don’t think many people were chomping at the bit to apply. :o)
Sixty percent of sewage sludge is applied to our land and it is largely unregulated for contaminants. My first published peer-reviewed paper was on health issues entitled, Investigation of Alleged Sludge Health Incidents Associate with Land Application of Sewage Sludges (2002). My second paper was Organic Contaminants in Sewage Sludges (2006). I’ll be revisiting my work in waste management in the near future…
*My favorite U.S. city is San Francisco.
I visited San Francisco for the first time on June 5, 2005 for the World Environment Day anniversary. It was one of the few times in my life that I felt as if I were walking into my home. I now consider the Bay Area my second home and go back often to work, play, unwind and visit.
*To live and work in Africa was a dream of mine since I was a young girl.
I created wall collages of the African continent in high school. I planned to study abroad in Kenya my second year of college, but decided to focus my environmental work with the intersection of fashion and media. To satiate my curiosity I took Africana study courses while at college. In 2005 I ended up working remotely on a sustainable development and design project in Mozambique. I went to Africa for the first time in November 2007 and plan to go back every year to continue work on sustainable development programs.
