Meet Sherryn Lo

Editor's Note:  The Oxford College Office of Civic & Community Engagement recruits first and second-year students who are paid for part-time work by the college and assigned to organizations within the community to serve as Oxford Service Leaders.  Sherryn Lo joined Sustainable Newton as our Oxford Service Leader in the 2025 fall semester and will continue working with us during her time at Oxford College.  As we begin spring semester, we asked Sherryn to introduce herself.

By Sherryn Lo, Oxford College Community Service Leader

Hi! My name is Sherryn Lo, currently a freshman at Oxford College of Emory University. I’m an Oxford Service Leader, helping Sustainable Newton out wherever support is needed. I got to learn about the organization and its different committees, and I’ve really enjoyed getting to see how much thought and care go into making Newton County a more sustainable place to live. I wanted to use this post to share a little about who I am, where I’m from, and why sustainability matters to me!

I grew up in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, a coastal city that feels alive all the time, from early morning to late at night. Going around the city, you can see tree-lined streets run alongside busy roads, and it’s normal to see parks, public bikes, night markets, and apartment buildings all sharing the same space. The weather is very warm most of the year, so people spend a lot of time outside. We love walking, eating, talking, and just being around each other. The city is very lively; neighborhoods feel close, and daily life happens in public and shared spaces. Growing up there made me used to paying attention to my surroundings and the people around me, because everything, such as nature, city life, and community, all exist side by side.

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​Before working with Sustainable Newton, I interned with the Lovely Taiwan Foundation, an organization focused on revitalizing towns and communities across Taiwan. Through that experience, I learned that revitalization isn’t just about trying to make a place look better and improve economically. It is actually about helping communities stay alive, connected, and meaningful to the people who live there. Whether it was supporting local culture, small businesses, or community spaces, the goal was always long-term. This experience changed how I think about sustainability. I started to see it not just as an environmental issue, but as something tied to people, identity, and place.

For me, sustainability is about paying attention to the places we live, the people around us, and the long-term impact of our choices.

When I moved to the U.S., I began noticing how these ideas show up differently in transportation, land use, energy choices, environmental health, etc., in Newton County. Even though the context is different, the underlying question feels the same: how do we care for a place in a way that allows it to last? This is basically why I appreciate and am interested in Sustainable Newton. What I like most about Sustainable Newton is its committee-based approach. I see different groups, led by a bunch of enthusiasts, focus on specific issues, like electric vehicles or chemical safety. It has helped me understand how sustainability is built through many small, focused efforts. Being able to support this work, even behind the scenes, has been a meaningful way for me to keep learning.
 
I’m still early in my time with Sustainable Newton, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to be involved and looking forward to the future. For me, sustainability is about paying attention to the places we live, the people around us, and the long-term impact of our choices. I’m excited to continue growing with Sustinable Newton and contributing in whatever ways I can!