My Journey to Green Corps

Dear Renee,

My name is Cypress, and I’m a Green Corps Organizer in the Class of 2026. My journey in environmental work began in high school, when I first learned about the destructive agricultural practices behind our favorite foods and the loss of the world’s wild places. That class convinced me of two things: the environment is the defining issue of our time, and I wanted to dedicate my life to protecting it. I went on to major in Environmental Studies at Dartmouth, hoping to gain the knowledge and skills to make meaningful change.

After graduating in 2023, I decided to take an unexpected detour—to become fluent in Spanish, French, and Italian. Over the next two years, I lived, worked, and studied in six countries, immersing myself in different cultures and languages. While those experiences were deeply rewarding, I eventually realized I was missing a sense of purpose that could only come from serving a cause larger than myself.

Still convinced that the environment was where I could make the greatest impact, I began looking for opportunities to return home and get to work. That’s when I found Green Corps—an organization that prioritizes hands-on training, grassroots impact, and real organizing experience. Unlike many entry-level roles in the environmental field, Green Corps offered recent graduates the chance to make an immediate difference.

Now, halfway through my first campaign in Dallas, Texas, I’m working with volunteers in Texas to advance the Break Free from Plastic, an environmental and public health campaign fighting microplastic pollution. Plastics contain over 16,000 chemicals, more than a quarter of which are harmful to human health. Hazardous substances such as phthalates, PFAS (“forever chemicals”), bisphenols, PVC, and benzotriazoles have been linked to hormone disruption, cancer, reproductive issues, metabolic disorders, and neurological problems. Everyday plastic products release microplastics into the food we eat and the air we breathe—now detected in human organs including the brain, lungs, and placenta. While research continues, mounting evidence shows that many plastic chemicals pose serious risks to human health.

In less than two months, our team has built a volunteer base of 65 people, collected three thousand petition signatures, published twice in The Dallas Morning News, and educated thousands more people through education and visibility events. We’re continuing to grow momentum through creative events, community outreach, and local media engagement this fall.

Through this work, I’ve gained invaluable skills—from working with volunteers to public speaking—that might have taken years to develop elsewhere. Green Corps’ summer training gave me the foundation to do this work well: how to tell a compelling campaign story, recruit and empower volunteers, and ultimately, build a movement.

What I’m most proud of, though, is the impact this campaign has had on our volunteers. Watching their excitement when their work appeared in the city’s major newspaper, seeing them form new friendships, and witnessing their growing commitment to the cause has been profoundly fulfilling. The fight against plastic pollution will be a long one, but if we can find joy and purpose in each small victory, I believe we can build the community it takes to last.

Thank you for supporting Green Corps and making my work and training possible.

Warmly,
Cypress
Green Corps Organizer. Class of 2026