My New Role: Building a Sustainable and Just Future for NC

I’m thrilled to share that I’ve started a new role this week as the North Carolina Chapter Director for Sierra Club!

Sierra Club is the most historic grassroots environmental organization in the U.S. For more than 130 years we’ve engaged millions of volunteers to advocate for the places, people, and planet we all love. And our founder, John Muir, is known as “Father of the National Parks.”

Upon my first visit to the Triangle, I was immediately taken by the tree density. It was early spring and everything already seemed so lush. As I explored the region I quickly fell in love with the local parks and greenways, not to mention the easy access to so many beautiful beaches and marvelous mountains. These natural amenities are why I chose to live in North Carolina.

Not one to be a passenger, since moving to North Carolina I’ve intentionally sought ways to improve these outdoor amenities for current and future residents. My civic engagement includes chairing the Town of Cary’s Greenways Committee; serving on Cary’s Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Advisory Board; serving on the Dorothea Dix Park Community Committee; and serving on the Executive Committee of Triangle Trails NC.

This week’s professional transition is a natural extension of that work. I’m eager to now apply my skills leading teams, engaging stakeholders, and maximizing partnerships to advance environmental justice.

While the aforementioned quality of life afforded by our state’s geography is a big reason 11 million residents and 43 million annual visitors chose North Carolina, our government and business sectors often fall short in protecting our people and our corner of the planet.

North Carolina is recognized as the birthplace of the environmental justice movement because, in 1982, residents in Warren County boldly rose up to protest the intentional dumping of thousands of tons of PCB-ridden soil in predominantly Black communities. This is just one of many examples of Black and Brown communities carrying a disproportionate burden of harmful environmental policy. It’s also why Black voters are more concerned about climate change than the national average.

Fast forward forty years and the work continues to this day as NC residents fight against chemical waste in the Cape Fear River and for clean energy generation.

I have a radical view that we can embrace progress while also protecting our people and our planet. I believe everyone has a right to clean air, clean water, and access to enjoy and explore nature. I want to see more people practice and promote the responsible use of the earth’s natural ecosystem.

I’m honored to steward Sierra Club NC’s work at this critical time. I’m excited to support the tens of thousands of volunteers statewide who are deeply committed to our mission. And I’m thankful for the more than 100 environmental professionals who have helped me identify how I can best add value in this space via our conversations over the past several months.

Lastly – and most importantly – I invite you to support Sierra Club NC’s work. You can easily become a member (for just $15!) and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter/X, and/or Instagram. Thank you!