Robert Sassor combines his twin passions for sustainability and creative writing as a Director at Metropolitan Group, a leading social change agency and one of B Lab’s 100 “best for the world” corporations.
Following Rob’s years as an English major at Willamette University, Rob conducted research and ghostwrote about a range of social and environmental issues in Washington, D.C., contributing to more than 150 published works and two books. More recently, Rob assessed the efficacy of negative versus positive messages in communicating and fundraising for nature conservation, which served as the research component for a Masters in Conservation Leadership at the University of Cambridge.
Rob’s most affecting lessons about conservation occurred in western Tanzania, where he worked to conserve our closest living relative: chimpanzees. In his role as Conservation Action Plan Coordinator for the Jane Goodall Institute, Rob led a team of eight to develop the conservation plan for the greater Gombe ecosystem, and co-coordinated the plan to reduce poaching and to promote sustainable natural resources management in the vast Masito Ugalla landscape. Results included increased collaboration and the documentation of cultural knowledge; additionally, fourteen villages around Gombe democratically designated land for regeneration along the conservation corridor.
Climate forecasts predict less freshwater for Tanzania and increased seasonal droughts and flooding, and their concomitant agricultural impacts. Inspiring greater public engagement in addressing climate change is a pragmatic and an ethical imperative that drives Rob’s work, including through creative non-fiction, poetry and fiction with climate change motifs.
Rob lives in Portland, Oregon, and, when he isn’t writing, he enjoys running and cycling in the great outdoors.
You have written a great story. It is so moving, on so many levels, it would melt an ice-heart. Your words are teardrops for life and nature, and an inspiration to read. Many thanks.