Alivia Arredondo

What are your majors? Environmental science and conservation biology with an American Indian Studies certificate

Expected graduation: May 2024

What inspired your interest in the environment and/or community? In high school, I started to get more involved with social justice, and what social justice meant. Part of this was coming to the realization that social justice and environmental justice go hand in hand. One can’t exist without the other. Ever since then, I started getting more involved with climate justice organizations and clubs. A lot of these were not only about helping the planet, but about also supporting local communities and POC voices.

A lot of the time, environmental justice can look like a lot of white people talking. However, that is not what the reality of environmental justice is. My point is, what really inspired my interest in the environment and the community was the opportunity to learn from POC leaders, like Winona LaDuke, and apply those teachings to my own life and others.