Max Sano graduated from Franklin & Marshall College with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Government and a minor in Arabic Language and Middle Eastern Culture. He was born and raised in New York City. Max is currently pursuing a M.A. in Food Studies at New York University Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development.
He has experience working in a variety of interdisciplinary environmental research projects with F&M professors, such as the Environmental Migration Lab with Professor Eric Hirsch and the Sustainable Food Systems Working Group with Professors Eve Bratman and Patrick Fleming. In Max's first year, I assisted in the foundation of the Environmental Migration Lab alongside over a dozen other students, interviewing and transcribing conversations from immigrants, refugees and organizations such as Church World Service Lancaster and CASA PA as well as designing environmental impact surveys in order to compile quantifiable data on the effects of climate change and its associated political, ecological, social, and economic impacts. Additionally, as a third year, he coordinated and co-drafted a proposal to the Educational Policy Committee to establish a Sustainable Food Systems program within F&M's Earth and Natural Environment Department in order to engage the student body within the local food system.
As an undergraduate student, Max delved into ecological and socio-environmental advocacy at various levels of governance and reach. Within Lancaster county, he helped plant native tree saplings, remove invasive species from streams within the Chesapeake Bay watershed and co-drafted a science literacy pamphlet for the Amish farming community as a project intern with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. He also led social media and lobbying efforts for the local Citizens' Climate Lobby chapter, an organization that provides resources and workshops to enable local communities to engage in politics, reach out to their elected officials and become agents of change. Max organized get-out-the-vote campaigns between CCL Lancaster, Environmental Voter Project, and Postcards to Swing States alongside climate activist James "Jim" Sandoe in order to reach out to first-time voters ahead of the 2020 U.S. presidential election to register to vote for climate action. During my junior and senior years, he interned for the re-election campaign of former PA Treasurer Joe Torsella as a campaign finance intern. During this experience, Max learned the ins and outs of state-wide political campaigns within the Democratic Party while also gaining valuable experience processing data and donations from climate and environmental political action committees and donors.
The culmination of his advocacy, research, and journalism efforts has resulted in the formation of The Greenzine, a resource and publishing hub redefining the public's perceptions around climate change, climate action and environmentalism. The Greenzine is interdisciplinary, intersectional, and multimedia 501(c)(3) organization that provides publishing and mentoring opportunities for aspiring environmental changemakers! It started as a monthly newsletter when Max served as the Social Media Chair and President of the student-run Environmental Action Alliance and Fair Trade Cafe, and has blossomed into an international, grassroots platform for the planet and people reaching dozens of countries, institutions, and communities. If you are interested in joining the team or pitching a collaboration/story idea, please consider filling out this brief survey. If you do not have the time to join, please consider supporting us here.