Interview with Tatianna Peck - Associate Director of Membership at Earthjustice
We’re back with another interview from a team member at another incredible nonprofit, Earthjustice! This nonprofit has done some seriously amazing work that I’ve been able to witness in my day to day life, so it was awesome to get to talk to Tatianna more about this organization and how they are making a real difference in our community!
Tatianna Peck is the Associate Director of Membership at Earthjustice, managing a team of folks who help facilitate contributions from donors and answer questions that they (or members of the public) have about the organization’s work. “Essentially, we keep an eye on the many things going on at Earthjustice and try to help get people answers, or point them in the right direction to find them. Earthjustice is juggling about 620 active legal cases, which means we are constantly getting updates!”
What is Earthjustice’s mission, and what steps does it take to execute that mission?
If you look up Earthjustice, you’ll often find our work summarized as follows: “Earthjustice wields the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change.” Even more succinctly put, we are here because the earth needs a good lawyer. This means we work with partners across the environmental space to ensure that when polluting industries break the law, they are held accountable in court. Our 200+ full-time attorneys represent all our clients and partners free of charge and in defense of our bedrock environmental laws and protections. This page of our website does an excellent job summarizing how we approach our work.
How did you get started at Earthjustice? Did you have a passion for the environment when you were younger?
I began my career in the nonprofit sector as a reflection of my personal values and my desire to do meaningful work. This has led me to work for organizations focused on multiple issues, including education and youth development, the rights of women and girls, and international development. I joined Earthjustice because after meeting the team here, I was deeply impressed by the organization’s commitment to justice and equity, how those values inform every aspect of the work we do, and how we as a collection of human beings are always striving to be and do better (because no one is perfect, and the learning journey never ends).
I was very lucky to grow up in a place where nature was my primary source of entertainment. I spent most of my childhood hours in woods and meadows, playing in creeks and getting dirty. Because of this, I have always cared about the environment, but as I grew up my concept of environmentalism changed. “The environment” is not contained to being out in the wilderness – it is everywhere we live, work, learn and play. It is the woods I grew up in and big cities like Los Angeles or New York. This means “environmentalism” is also not contained to any space. Instead, it captures a broad range of concerns, from deforestation and wildlife protection to keeping toxic lead out of our drinking water, or mercury out of the air we breathe. And importantly, the burden of toxic exposure and pollution is often shouldered by communities that are already fighting for social justice and in defense of civil rights. This page on our website helps speak to these connections in more depth.
How could a $10 donation help your organization? $20? $50? $100?
As an organization, we like to think most about our collective impact. That means any and all forms of support – every dollar given or public comment period someone participates in – helps us do the work. Big challenges require big groups of people working together and investing their time, energy, and dollars. We honor and appreciate all these ways of contributing to the work of Earthjustice. Donations help us work directly with partners and clients and bring our expertise to the courtroom. Advocacy helps ensure that people with decision-making authority are hearing the environmental concerns of their constituents. Even sharing our work on social media helps, because the court of public opinion matters too!
What are your Earthjustice's most urgent needs, in terms of supplies, support, etc?
Legal battles can sometimes go on for years. Because of this, one of the most valuable things people can offer is their consistent, long-term engagement. Whether that means signing up for a monthly gift, regularly participating in our action alerts, or both, we benefit tremendously from those Earthjustice supporters who are able to stick with us for the long haul.
Can individuals (especially kids) help/engage with your organization without donating money? If so, how?
Since our work is so rooted in the law, we don’t have a volunteer program, but there are absolutely ways to support Earthjustice other than donating:
i. Sign up for action alerts to learn about pressing issues and lend your voice
ii. Follow us on social media to stay engaged and share information with your network.
Instagram, Threads, and Facebook: @earthjustice
Bluesky: @earthjustice.bsky.social
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/earthjustice/
Above are two ways to get updates, and I want to emphasize the importance of keeping informed. We all have a stake in the fight for a healthy environment, and there is so much to learn about the nitty gritty of how the work gets done. Many people have not heard of forums like Public Utility Commissions or laws like the National Environmental Policy Act, but we live with the impacts of these things every day. If we are unaware, we don’t realize the mechanisms we have to create change that are available to us.
How does your organization involve the local community?
Earthjustice has fifteen regional offices, which serve to keep us close to the communities, tribes, and local groups that we often partner with or represent. We work exclusively in partnership with others and abide by the motto, “never go alone.” This page features some of our clients and also includes a long list of groups we have worked with in the past or present.
What’s an environmentally-conscious gift you love to receive and/or give?
Our time is precious, and I receive the gift of it from many of our donors who call to offer their support and encouragement to Earthjustice, especially when the going gets tough. Right now, many people are very worried about how the federal government is addressing (or exacerbating) the environmental issues that affect us all. In recent months, I’ve had literally hundreds of people call to say, “we are with you.” People are very determined, and hearing that resolve from the community has meant more than I can possibly say. And on the giving side, I’m glad I can offer back information about what Earthjustice is doing to meet the moment.
What advice would you give to a young person who wants to work in your field?
Keep an open mind! There are many paths to careers in the environmental field, and many ways to put different types of skills to work. At Earthjustice we often focus on our attorneys because our work in the courts defines our mission, but we employ all kinds of people – human resources specialists, communications professionals, fundraisers, IT experts, and more. I’d also check out our page on LinkedIn! We have some great content there that is often more focused on working in the environmental space.
What is the best way for people to get to know your organization better?
I’d refer to our social media platforms above in addition to Earthjustice.org. We stay active online and do our best to share the latest.
