In my work consulting with large organizations on environmental and social priorities, I find real joy in helping identify value for every stakeholder and building comfort with perceived risks. The core principles I rely on in that work — working through differences, persevering through roadblocks, and taking collective action — are exactly what drew me to Environmental Initiative. To protect our home for generations to come, we must consider the needs of all people, and I look forward to amplifying and enabling that work in my own community.

Being an ally is a core value of mine, shaped in part by moments in my own life when having someone in my corner made all the difference. That experience stays with me when I work with communities and populations I may not be a member of. I’ve been able to participate in, support, and enable people and communities in need by approaching that work with empathy, curiosity, and understanding.

I think one of the most powerful things someone can do is simply listen and stay open-minded. Think about where you live, work, and play: what needs to change, and what’s worth preserving? The world doesn’t need hundreds of perfect environmentalists. It needs millions of people trying in small ways within their sphere of influence. There’s a place for everyone in this work.