For Dana Rubin and Hannah Blackmer, reading Frances’ EcoMind in a class their senior year at Mt. Holyoke College was more than just completing required reading. Inspired by Frances, the duo have undertaken a project they call “The Search for Convenient Resilience” in which they plan on travelling across the country interviewing individuals and documenting stories of environmentally sustainable small scale projects that are practical and economical. The name of the project represents community resilience, which Rubin described as the belief that individuals within communities can relate to one another, work together, and share and spread their efforts. The end goal of the project is to compile the interviews and stories into a resource guide that will hopefully inspire others to make similar changes to their homes and communities.

Rubin said that EcoMind was the “real reason for this project.” She said that she and Blackmer are both optimistic people who connected with Frances’ message of “taking the fear out of climate change,” and are hitting the road in their “veggie-mobile” to do just that. Like Frances, the two want to contribute to the effort to create a better future using positivity and inspiration. Currently, they are kicking off the project by travelling throughout their home state of Vermont and interviewing individuals such as Lori Barg in the video above. The full project is still in its fundraising stages, and the two are at the moment mapping out their cross-country expedition, which will begin September 1.

You can follow along every step of the way by reading their blog, liking them on Facebook, and following them on Twitter.