Meet Raevyn, our new alliance manager

Raevyn pivoted her career towards environmental justice in 2024, after a role that centered around youth advocacy, social emotional learning, social and racial justice, and skill-building. Before joining the environmental movement, she worked closely with young people ages 10-18, facilitating groups on a variety of topics such as media and body image, relational aggression, gender stereotypes, and healthy communication. 

After her career pivot, she held a role as an environmental and climate justice organizer at Beyond Toxics, an Oregon Just Transition Alliance member organization. Drawing on her experience empowering youth to find their voices and challenge systems of inequity, she now applies that same lens to community organizing. With a passion for communities, animals, and our waters, she truly believes that our environment is where all people and ecosystems meet, and she’s committed to helping the next generation learn about the vision for a Just Transition.

What part of your new role are you most excited about?

I’m super excited to learn more about our members and areas I can best support them, event planning, and growing our alliance! Simply being in this role has me overwhelmed with excitement.

What first inspired you to get involved in climate or environmental justice work?

After working with young people in 2022, I began to see how closely my values around social, racial, and equity work aligned with the kind of impact I wanted to make. It also brought me back to my studies in environmental law, which ultimately inspired me to pivot my career. There are so many dimensions of environmental and climate justice that resonate across different communities, and I hope to help build the connections, understanding, and relationships that make this work meaningful.

How do you stay grounded and motivated when the work feels heavy?

Good music is a must for me. I love getting outside for walks, and I really enjoy having small creative moments, such as drawing and doodling. I’ve also found it grounding to create a home office space that feels good energetically, with prints, quotes, and cards from people I care about. And lately, I’ve really gotten into hiking, swimming, kayaking, mushroom foraging, and birding. It’s been nice to find activities that help me slow down and reconnect.

What do you like to do outside of organizing and climate work?

I like to spend time with my friends and cats, as well as building Legos and going to concerts.

What is one fun fact about you? 

I have sadly never traveled outside of the country! I hope to do so next year or so.