Jan. 11, 2009 — Michael Hillaire's passion for the earth and all its wonder was born when he was still in swaddling clothes, quite literally from the cradle.
"My mom says she always brought my cradle out with her when she was tending her garden," he says.
Mom is Anna Francis, a 22-year science teacher at Addelita Cancryn Junior High School. She teaches her students how to be stewards of the environment, and she's a founder of the Environmental Rangers.
Hillaire is a young man who loves to read, and he's selective about what he spends his time reading. He sees trash on the ground and picks it up, and wishes everyone else did. He loves baseball, and cares deeply about the marine life around him. He has definite ideas about politicians, and he's saving his Obama T-shirt to wear Jan. 20.
"I was going to wear it today," he says, smiling. "I wasn't sure what to wear, but I decided to save it for inauguration day."
The tall, lanky 18-year-old University of the Virgin Islands student has a quick smile and the awkward grace of a young athlete, that sort of all-over-the-place presence. He's perfectly relaxed.
He gets right to his immediate concern, and it's a big one: The proposed Port of Mandahl Project, which covers about 15 parcels of land. According to the developers, "it creates 91 acres for our coastal community — estate home sites to studio apartments — a marina and full-service town center."
Hillaire, along with his mother and other Mandahl residents, are part of the Friends of Mandahl, an organization formed to fight the project. But there are lots of problems, some less obvious than others. "Mandahl Throng Gathers to Fight Development.")
"For one thing," Hillaire says, "these developers have years of training. They've attending our meetings. We have to develop communication skills in terms of banding together effectively. We had someone from Fish and Wildlife who talked about the endangered species the development would affect, which is a point in our favor."
He bemoans the lack of support from local leaders.
"No government officers, no senators came to our meeting," he says. "We need these politicians to represent us. That's their job. They are our representatives. They need to work on behalf of us."
The development's septic system is expected to sit adjacent to the Environmental Rangers' natural home, Camp Umoja.
"It's right across the street," Hillaire says.
The camp sits on property belonging to Anna and her husband, Alcedo Justin Francis. They grabbed up the 11.5-acre property in 2003, the same year Francis started the Rangers. Umoja means "unity."
"The bush was dense," Hillaire says. "We had to cut through with machetes and sticks."
The rewards are worth it, both spiritually and materially, as the soil returns bananas, papayas, mangoes and tiny, juicy okra. The students cook healthy meals over a campfire in the summer months, preceded by a prayer circle thanking God for their blessings.
While Anna Francis toils the hillside, her husband does all the heavy lifting.
"We wouldn't be here without him," Hillaire says. "He does all the maintenance and construction."
With a grin, he adds, "And he just completed our outhouse."
The Rangers received a standing ovation for their presentation at the 2007 U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Symposium. It was the only group so recognized by the more than 200 scientists and researchers. Its theme: "God gave us dominion over the earth and its creatures. It is our job to protect and preserve them," a credo that directs the young environmentalist's life.
The professional presentation illustrates how ecosystems work together.
"The reefs protect the mangroves from rough waves, and the mangroves protect the reefs from sedimentary runoff," Hillaire says, noting that this is the very area that the proposed Mandahl development would ruin.
He brings this same passion to other areas of his life; he staunchly defends a UVI education. Leaning forward, his gaze intent, Hillaire says, "If you go to UVI instead of, say, Harvard or Yale, and you have the drive, you can get the same kind of education."
What about the professors, the libraries, the broad opportunities offered at the Ivy League schools?
Hillaire is adamant: "You have to be willing and you have to be able. You know what they say, 'you can lead a horse to water …,' it's the same thing. If you really want to learn, you will. We have books, we have professors, we have a library, we have the Internet. I read all the time. I'm reading The Digital Fortress by Dan Brown now. Reading lets you know how other people dream, how they think and feel."
He has a strong interest in education.
"I want to be a professor," Hillaire says. "I'll get my master's in education at UVI, and later my doctorate. I'll major in social science with a minor in history."
Hillaire attends UVI full time, with a part-time job at the airport. He lives at home with his brothers, Jawanza and Osayande. Hillaire graduated from CAHS last year.
Hillaire is as thrilled as most any other young (or older) Virgin Islander about the election of Barack Obama. But he is looking to the future. He flashes his big, engaging smile.
"Just think," he says. "When I am teaching, I'll be able to tell my kids, 'I was there.' It's a piece of history and I can tell them all about it, the mood, the feeling. My little brother will be marching in the inaugural parade with the V.I. Band. He's so excited."
Reflecting on what he believes is important in life, the young environmentalist, future historian and present college freshman pauses.
"Oh, my gosh," he says. "My mom says the greatest gift I ever gave her was a birthday card when I was about six years old. I'd stuck a dollar bill in it."
Back Talk Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.
