Another huge motivator for leaving my career last year was to focus on what I could do about our climate crisis. Here on the west coast, fires, floods & drought are typical. During “fire season” (which isn’t predictable anymore), people are getting used to wearing a mask when going outside. I think of the future for my kids and firmly believe what is happening is a global child rights & environmental justice issue.

So, I took courses, got certifications, consumed environmental books, blogs, documentaries & podcasts. I went down the rabbit hole learning about the myriad of complex issues impacting our climate & the lack of urgent, systemic change, mostly due to politics and the unwavering support and influence of the Oil & Gas and Petrochemical industries.

Since I’m a people person, I reached out & connected with passionate, talented climate advocates, educators & local government leaders. I enthusiastically attended city council meetings & joined local and national environmental groups to see what I could do to have a bigger impact. I listened to what people had to say as they shared their anxieties & frustrations, their optimism & hope.

Many people I spoke with wanted someone to guide them, so I organized locally with a goal of motivating others to make (even small) sustainable changes in their own lives & I shared how to best participate in local climate activism. And, while I want things to move faster, each step is indeed a part of the journey.

I formed Eco Forward to motivate others to make less wasteful choices, learn how to advocate for our shared environment & improve the health of our communities. It’s about progress, not perfection…and the time to dig in and start is now.