Alumnus and Honors College NHAB board member Olivia Juarez (they/them) graduated from the University of Utah in 2017 with an Honors Bachelor of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies.
During the final semester of their undergraduate, Olivia was walking across campus with a professor who asked them about their future plans. Olivia noticed a pressed penny on the ground—the kind people like to collect as souvenirs. They picked up the penny, which read, “Explore Southern Utah.” The professor jokingly remarked, “Maybe that’s something you could do.” Little did Olivia know that they would dedicate the next several years to doing just that.
Immediately after graduation, Olivia worked for five years at the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, focusing on grassroots efforts to protect red-rock wilderness in Utah. Since then, they have become the public land program director at GreenLatinos, where they currently work on federal public land advocacy, such as influencing federal rulemaking, pressuring congress members and agencies to create national monuments or historic conservation areas, and protecting places in nature to resolve issues disproportionately affecting communities of color, such as nature deprivation, underrepresentation, excess heat, and environmental contamination.
Additionally, Olivia is a co-founder of Of Salt and Sand, a nonprofit organization amplifying the voices of Utahns impacted by climate change, with a current emphasis on Great Salt Lake and its associated economic transition. Olivia saw the need to highlight the experiences of everyday people after noticing that the media coverage lacked the voices of the community members who are directly impacted. Individuals’ stories are shared through a podcast titled “Stay Salty: Lakefacing Stories” and a traveling photo exhibit.
Olivia’s passion for environmental advocacy led them to explore various facets of environmentalism during their undergraduate studies through diverse internships focused on subjects such as food justice at the SLC Downtown Farmers Market and Wasatch Community Gardens, clean air and nuclear issues with HEAL Utah, and waste reduction at SLCgreen. Their favorite experience was volunteering with Utah Diné Bikéyah, supporting the Bears Ears National Monument campaign. This hands-on experience solidified their interest in public land issues through a focus on social justice and expanded their network of professionals in the field.
As an Honors College student, Olivia’s passion for environmental advocacy deepened as they participated in a Praxis Lab called “Local Food and the Human Diet.” This lab explored the historical and contemporary aspects of human food consumption, including the social, cultural, and environmental implications. Excess food waste is a significant concern, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and hindering food access for those in need. To address this, Olivia and a team of students developed a project called “Salt Lake Excess: Access the Excess,” which modeled a functional food recovery organization.
The team actively engaged in food recovery efforts, transporting excess food to local resource centers serving individuals experiencing homelessness and food insecurity. They also conducted research on relevant policies and potential barriers to food recovery and educated local restaurants about existing protections for prepared food donations. This lab instilled in Olivia the narrative that sometimes you need to be the person to put big ideas into action to create change.
Olivia shared advice for students interested in pursuing a career in environmental advocacy. In today’s digital age, environmental advocacy often involves online engagement to influence environmental decision-making within governing bodies. Students can amplify their voices by (1) responding to outreach efforts from local nonprofits seeking community input, (2) cultivating relationships with local organizations, and (3) volunteering their time in areas they are interested in.
According to Olivia, young people can inspire positive change by focusing on the potential of a community rather than its deficits. Olivia is confident that Utah exemplifies the potential to build a more sustainable and equitable future. We are fortunate to be associated with Olivia, and we’re proud of the work they are doing to make Utah a greener and healthier place for all.