"How can you all live with yourself?" - a community member at a government meeting asked, with a tone of disgust. If words were hand gestures, she was definitely flipping us off.
This was in the 1990s. I was seven years into my career - specializing in air quality, energy projects, and environmental communications. The government sought public comments for its draft license of our company’s proposed project. We proposed replacing an older power plant with a less-polluting one. The project’s environmental benefits were obvious to corporate peers and our consultants. The government agreed.
As an environmental professional, whose employers often called me treehugger, her comment shocked me. Our project had less pollution. Why the dissonance?
Back then, I dismissed her comment as her disdain for any polluting project. Yet I’ve not forgotten this moment. Professionally, it shaped me as an engineer immersed in regulations and science. Now, I couple this with understanding different environmentalists' viewpoints.
My lived experience tells me that business, government, and community will agree to disagree, and that’s okay. For starters, we were communicating.
Fast forward: Now
It has been more than three decades since that government meeting brought the community and business together. I’ve served as a regulator, corporate representative, and air quality and energy consultant.
My work has involved interacting with businesses and government agencies. Community interactions - public outreach and engagement - emerged because of public outrage or by a mandated rule.
For the first time, I’m consulting for a community group. Their mission includes being dedicated to environmental justice (EJ). Such a pairing is uncommon because when business or government engage with community, it typically unfolds into us versus them events. So perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised that colleagues are asking -
“Why are you consulting for an EJ group?”
“Aren't you worried about damaging future business opportunities?”
- but I was surprised.
And no, I’m not worried. (Wait, should I be?)
On the first question, the short answer is we have mutual interests. The long answer involves a shared belief system.
Rewind: My 1994 epiphany
After my Chemical Engineering bachelor’s degree in 1986, I worked for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. I answered community concerns, interpreted regulations, and issued permits to polluting sources. Getting a permit meant a source met national air standards, the air pollution was limited and controlled, and national parks, endangered species, and sovereign tribal nations were not adversely impacted.
Three jobs later and before I left my corporate America job in 1994, I had an epiphany that informed my beliefs. I later called it my Jerry Maguire moment.
My Jerry Maguire moment. These words and the accompanying mission and value statements served as my moment of “I’m outta here, Corporate America!” A kinder and gentler form of “Eff you!”
Sharing my vision. I eagerly sent prospective employers what one friend called my “FOUR PAGES OF CRAZY!” - a cover letter, resume, and my vision, mission, and value statements. During interviews, whether asked or not, I spewed about changes needed in environmental consulting. I ranted and raved about the imminent restructuring of the electric power industry. In turn, not one interviewer agreed with me. I was mocked and laughed at. Interviews were cut short. And if offered a position, salaries were below market rate.
I’d like to say I started my consulting practice as an “I’ll show you what you're missing out on!” No. Far from the truth. My consultancy started more practicably. I hired myself so I could call the shots, be a different kind of consultant, and chase down opportunities in the power sector.
Pause: Who’s an environmentalist anyway?
Words create culture and our lived experiences. Identifying as an environmentalist creates a lived experience.
If asked to name an environmentalist, likely responses are Al Gore, Bill McKibben, Erin Brockovich, Greta Thunberg, and Winona LaDuke. Each interrogates the degradation caused by human behaviors and decisions. They are part of communities - family, school, faith, business, town, nation, and world. Some communities overlap. Others don’t. These environmentalists implore individuals to create communities that protect the environment.
My lived experience as an environmentalist is primarily among engineers, scientists, and lawyers. Our careers are often in one of three areas:
business - think of industry sectors
community - think of special interest groups
government - think of municipalities with regulations
I translate the regulations and science of the complex air quality landscape. I help people understand the terrain of regulations and policies. I prepare individuals to navigate interactions among business, community, and government. Communication matters. Words matter. All this serves toward environmental protection.
Meanwhile, switching between these areas - business, government, community - is often portrayed as choosing sides. Choosing to switch is laden with politics. The language and objectives of each area differ. The interplay among these three is not created equal.
I’ve observed the most common switches are between business and government. Salaries are comparable and job duties familiar. The next common is switching between government and community. Here, environmental professionals share public outreach and engagement skills. From skills and salary benchmarks, these two types of switches are rarely questioned. Thus, the least common switch is between business and community groups. The us versus them mentality is inherent because of seemingly disparate perspectives. This switch is questioned.
Play: Five months ago
I began consulting for an environmental justice (EJ) organization celebrating its 40th anniversary. They share as part of their mission -
The cumulative impacts of environmental, social, political and economic vulnerabilities that affect the quality of life in our communities inspires our work.
An unexpected bonus happened last month. I signed a letter on behalf of the EJ group, with the closing sentiment -
We share the (agency's) declaration for community involvement “… where no community is left behind, and to increase transparency and public engagement.”
I imagine other environmentalists share this objective.
Answering: Two questions
“Why are you consulting for an EJ group?”
When I look at my vision statement, we are choosing to go one step further. When I think about the kind of environmentalist I am, I am doing what I’ve done for business and government. I share my deep knowledge of regulations and technical issues. When I see the benefits of being proactive to understand communities’ perspectives of business and government, I don’t have to choose sides. My lived experience is expanding. I am becoming better informed.
“Aren't you worried about damaging future business opportunities?”
No, I’m not. I am at the interplay of business, government, and community, where change happens.
THREE questions for you
What’s stopping you from working for a community group?
How do you identify as an environmentalist?
What bridges are you creating?
Photo by Dominika Hesounová on Unsplash
Thank you to those who gave feedback and suggestions on this piece - Enrique Medina, Ken Rice, Maile Pedersen, Roy Naquin, Jonathan Miller, Michael Ashcroft, Marlon Fuentes.