San Jose, How Do We Teach People to Care?

Vanessa Rogier – Conservation Manager for The Trash Punx

San Jose, How Do We Teach People to Care?

Standing along the banks of Coyote Creek, it’s difficult to comprehend the sheer amount of trash surrounding me. It’s everywhere.

I watch ducks swimming through garbage. I see water struggling to flow because shopping carts and piles of debris have created blockages. And just a few feet away, a woodpecker hops along a branch, going about its life surrounded by the mess we’ve left behind.

These are the animals that call Coyote Creek home. And look what we’ve done to their home.

Illegal dumping, carelessness, and the challenges surrounding homelessness have taken an enormous toll on this beautiful natural environment.

And I find myself asking a question that goes far beyond picking up trash.

How do we teach empathy?

How do we get people to care about the wildlife, the waterways, and the natural spaces we share? How do we inspire more people to take responsibility, get involved, and become part of the solution?

And perhaps the hardest question of all: How do we stop this from happening in the first place?

We can continue cleaning up Coyote Creek, and we will. But cleaning up the trash is only part of the answer.

We need to change the behavior that puts it there.

So I’m asking you, San Jose:

What do you think it will take?

We genuinely want to hear your ideas. Because this is our creek, our community, and our responsibility.

This isn’t about pointing fingers or assigning blame. Regardless of how the trash got there, caring for our environment is everyone’s responsibility.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions. Contact me at Vanessa@thetrashpunx.org, thank you!