How we connect the dots

Our Mission

Connecting The Dots Project (CTDP) is a youth-led nonprofit that makes sustainability and environmental science easier to understand and actionable.

We translate complex environmental topics into clear, engaging, and practical information through articles, educational resources, storytelling, and community activities. By connecting people with knowledge, opportunities, and one another, we help turn curiosity into informed action for a more sustainable future.

Publish articles that explain environmental issues in plain language.
Create educational graphics and resources.
Connect people with environmental organizations, events, and opportunities.
Support environmental literacy through community engagement.
Inspire practical actions individuals and communities can take.

1, Community Initiative

Activities

Urban Sunflower Initiative:

We launched an initiative to plant sunflowers in vacant lots in Chicago. Beyond their beauty, sunflowers act as phytoremediators, removing contaminants from polluted city soil. The initiative is about more than planting flowers; it's about reclaiming neglected spaces to create vibrant, safe areas for children to play and residents to connect. Transforming vacant lots into sunflower gardens has fostered community pride and belonging.

Special thanks to Mr. Robert McHugh of Sunflower City, Ms. Gina Jamaison from Kuumba Tre-Ahm Community Garden, Mandy Penksa of Relish Chicago Farm, Garfield Park Community Council, Breakthrough Ministry, and community members.

2, Empowering the Next Generation for a Sustainable Future

3, Sharing Ideas, Perspectives, and Experiences That Inspire Change

We are committed to making an impact. Through seminars, activity sharing, and community engagement, we connect with youth, environmental experts, organizations, and educators to drive meaningful change.

Samantha Rogan and Kana Hutchens recently hosted a seminar, Resilience for All, at the Student Congress at Northeastern University. Drawing from her family's experience with California wildfires, Sam highlighted the urgent need to consider vulnerable populations during evacuations. Her message underscored the importance of supporting people with disabilities in times of crisis.

3, Using Film and Publications For Spreading Awareness to A Broader Audience

We use media platforms to raise awareness by creating documentaries on pressing environmental issues and translating these topics into compelling stories for a wide audience.

Our Team

Founder and President: Kana Hutchens

Meet Kana Hutchens, an incoming freshman at Stanford University and an accomplished filmmaker whose work has been recognized at more than 30 film festivals worldwide, including several Academy Award-qualifying events.

Her passion for environmental advocacy began at a young age, sparked by a powerful video of an orangutan defending its home against deforestation. Moved by the urgency of that moment, Kana founded The Connecting The Dots Project, a platform dedicated to education, storytelling, and collaboration for a more sustainable future.

Contributing Writer: Kavi Myers

Meet Kavi Myers! He is a high school student and contributing writer for our social media platforms. He joined the board in 2024 and has since written several articles on renewable energy, as well as the economic and political regulations surrounding sustainability. Kavi has a strong interest in entrepreneurship and brings a valuable and unique perspective to CTDP.