Hi! My name is Haley. I grew up somewhat ignorant about environmental issues, though it was slowly gaining some mainstream media traction when I was in high school. I was fortunate enough to attend Mount Holyoke College, which made reducing waste and environmental impact a priority. I had never seen composting before! Never much of a meat eater and always an animal lover, I quit meat in 2010 (inspired by my two vegan environmental warriors, Molly and Isabel). I’ve never looked back, and becoming vegetarian launched my progressing journey to reduce my own environmental impact.

However, up until somewhat recently I did so quietly. I didn’t want to shame anyone for eating meat or being wasteful, feeling it was a personal choice and I could at least lead by example. But that isn’t enough. I was really awakened during the Extinction Rebellion climate protests and student walk-outs while I was in London in 2019. Now those were activists! It seemed that the only way to waken the national conscience was to be truly disruptive, because climate change is a true existential emergency. This was an awakening for me too, as I was disheartened by what little impact my own individual choices were making absent collective action. I have resolved to be more public about my own activism and educating others, as well as providing some accountability for myself as I am far from perfect. I hope you can join me in making Chicago, and the planet, a healthier place to be for generations to come.