Looking for inspiration? We’ve curated a list of twelve US activists who are actively addressing environmental and social concerns, proposing inclusive solutions, and making significant strides despite facing challenges.
These activists are dedicated to preserving green spaces, ensuring clean air and water in their communities, and advocating for equitable access to nature for all. Here are their aspirations for the environmental field.
Laiken Jordahl
Community activist based in Lincoln, Montana
Laiken Jordahl, Borderlands Campaigner with the Center for Biological Diversity, works to protect wildlife and communities across the U.S.-Mexico borderlands from border wall construction and militarization.
Our mission is clear: We must halt border wall construction permanently and start the vital work of repairing the immense damage inflicted on our border region by past administrations, particularly the Trump era. Our focus is on reviving protections for endangered species like the jaguar, Mexican wolf, and Sonoran pronghorn, who require expansive, undisturbed habitats, just as they’ve had for centuries.
It’s imperative to recognize that nature transcends borders, and this year, we’re committed to acknowledging and acting on that truth.
Follow him on Twitter.
Karyn Good
Community activist based in Lincoln, Montana
Karyn Good lives in Lincoln, Montana, a town shifting towards tourism and recreation to boost our local economy. I’m part of a diverse local group addressing land management issues on our public lands and driving community development projects.
Our small town seeks economic growth, and we believe it lies in our public lands. We want more say in their management. I’m committed to securing a stable future for our community.
What excites me is how people from various backgrounds have come together with a shared vision for our public lands, wildlife, and community. We hope to continue these efforts, gain broader support, and have Congress recognize our hard work in Lincoln.
Kari Ames
Tlingit activist and Tongass forest representative for the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN)
Kari Ames is a Tlingit activist from Southeast Alaska, a keeper of traditional life-ways and the Tongass forest representative for the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN).
I’m dedicated to protecting my Tlingit community and our ancestral lands in the Tongass Rainforest from industrial-scale logging and development. As an Indigenous woman from the Tlingit Nation, I have deep roots in this land, spanning countless generations.
The removal of the Roadless Rule threatens our cultural and Indigenous rights. I’m actively engaged in legal action to reinstate the rule and stand in solidarity with the Tongass and the Aas Kwaani, the Tree People. Despite government decisions favoring industry, I’ll continue to fight for our Indigenous way of life and our connection to the land.
Julia Fay Bernal
Alliance Director, Pueblo Action Alliance, Sandia Pueblo in New Mexico
Julia Bernal, the Alliance Director of Pueblo Action Alliance is from Sandia Pueblo in New Mexico and the Yuchi/Creek Nations; her areas of focus are water resources, climate change/justice and the oil and gas industry.
It’s essential to recognize the significance of the Indigenous feminist perspective in managing our water and cultural resources to combat climate change’s adverse effects on Indigenous frontline communities.
Collective action is needed to facilitate a just transition away from fossil fuels, with Indigenous grassroots movements playing a crucial role.
Traditional ecological knowledge, deeply embedded in the genetic memory of Indigenous peoples, has been overlooked in science-centered disciplines for far too long. It’s time to change this narrative and acknowledge that Indigenous communities are not the problem but a vital part of the ecological solution.
Chris Liu
Leads trips for Outdoor Asian
Chris Liu organizes and leads trips for an organization called Outdoor Asian and the only thing he loves more than spending time outdoors is helping others fall in love with it.
Chris Liu’s hope for Outdoor Asian is to see it expand and offer even more outdoor experiences to our members. I’m enthusiastic about collaborating with my fellow organizers to enhance our virtual programs and, when the time is right, resume in-person events.
Despite the challenges of the past, we’ve shown our ability to adapt and work together as a team. I’m thankful for the support within our group, and it fills me with optimism about what we can achieve in the coming year.
Chevon Powell
Owner of Golden Bricks Events and founder of Refuge Outdoor Festival
Owner of Golden Bricks Events, a company that creates special events and festivals that showcase the voices and faces of people of color in the outdoors, she is also the founder of Refuge Outdoor Festival and an outdoor advocate and activist.
The profound changes brought about by 2020 cannot be understated. Going forward, my hope is that we not only improve but also stand up for our current circumstances.
I’m committed to ensuring that the work I do uplifts Black, Indigenous, and People of Color as the natural leaders they’ve always been in environmental and outdoor pursuits. I believe in creating events that foster a love for the outdoors, which, in turn, enables us to better care for our planet.
Follow her work on Instagram.
Beatriz Soto
Director Defiende Nuestra Tierra, Wilderness Workshop
Immigrant, Latina, architect, mother, community organizer, environmental activist, currently Director of Defiende Nuestra Tierra for the Wilderness Workshop.
The call is to diversify and energize the conservation movement by boldly acknowledging the intersection of environmental, racial, and social justice.
It’s imperative to recognize that conservation isn’t solely about preserving ecosystems but also benefiting people and communities. To achieve this, we must fearlessly advocate for these principles and actively work towards inclusivity and justice in our conservation efforts.
Baruch Campos
Program Coordinator for Together for Brothers (T4B)
The organization based in Albuquerque, New Mexico builds the capacity of young men of color to become leaders in their communities.
I’m enthusiastic about continuing my work with Young Men of Color (YMOC) through T4B’s Biking and Transit Equity initiative. My aim is to raise awareness about transportation’s impact on individual and community health in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I’ll be advocating for free transit and better biking infrastructure and green spaces, especially in underserved neighborhoods.
Biking has opened my eyes to the disparities in infrastructure across the city, and I’ve also learned the importance of preserving green spaces and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Follow his work on Instagram.
Ashley Bredemus
Summer camp owner in Grand Marais, Minnesota
Ashley Bredemus is an outdoor blogger and cabin dweller dedicated to preserving the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
At Birchwood Wilderness Camp in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness of northern Minnesota, the goal is to foster a deep connection between people and nature.
Bredemus is particularly committed to preserving the threatened Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness from sulfide-ore copper mining by connecting more people to this pristine wilderness and raising awareness of its potential destruction.
Follow her on Instagram.
Amber Reimondo
Energy Program Director at the Grand Canyon
Amber Reimondo is a Wyoming native with a family history in mining and oil industries and brings a nuanced perspective to her environmental advocacy work.
Reimondo’s primary goals include advocating for permanent mining bans around the Grand Canyon Trust in Flagstaff, Arizona to safeguard Indigenous tribes and their sacred lands, particularly focusing on the Havasupai Tribe’s fight against the Canyon uranium mine. She emphasizes the need for prioritizing science, the precautionary principle, and public and environmental health over mining companies’ interests in regulatory decisions.
Source: Wilderness
