Previous to this life of craft and writing, I was employed in the non-profit environmental sector. Shortly after moving to the city, I became involved in a group called EcoWomen.

Their main function was an “EcoHour” where top women in the environmental and conservation field came and talked and shared their career paths. What an inspiring time this turned out to be! Not only did you get to hear from Juliet Eilperin of the Washington Post, and Maude Barlow, the author of Blue Gold, but the very first speaker of EcoWomen was Alisa Gravitz the Executive Director of Co-op America.

The point to the organization is to foster a community of women in the environmental and conservation field. Attendees at these monthly events spanned every sector that touched on the field: non-profits, government, agency, private sector. It reiterated that the field was large and very diverse and also how very male dominated it still was.

In my experience, the environmental field is very male in the upper echelons of organizations. Yes, speakers at EcoWomen included the likes of Rebecca Wodder, Jamie Rappaport Clark, and Margie Brand, but they are exceptions to the rule. Women dominate entry level and mid-management in this field. When I first started it was an internal joke in my office about the lack of male colleagues, when woman after woman was hired into entry level positions. But it wasn’t so funny when I saw my fellow female colleagues passed over for promotion or have to fight harder for it, again and again.

The environmental community is still an ol’ boys club. Only seven out of 29 members of the Green Group, a loose coalition of organizations concerned with the environment, have women as CEOs/Executive Directors. It is a striking contrast to all that women have done to advance the environmental movement. Just look at Rachel Carson and Wangari Maathai, to name a few.

I’m not saying this to discredit anything that these women have done for the movement, because they all have done so much, and have amazing stories to tell. It is another reason that EcoWomen was formed, to honor and learn from those that have come before us and to learn of other women that we might not have heard of like Jessy Tolkan or Bettina Poirier, who are leading the charge now. Women and the environment have come a long way and it’s just that sometimes I feel there is still a ways to go.

That is one of the reasons why I became involved in the “behind the scenes” of EcoWomen not long after moving to D.C., and this year I have taken on the role of Chair of the Executive Board of DC EcoWomen.

As with most job searches, it isn’t necessarily about what you know, but who you know and EcoWomen is a great place to network, collaborate and make contacts in a field that is fast growing and in need of some gender diversity. It is about empowering a community to make change and help those who have been advocating on behalf of the environment to have a seat at the table.

On June 23rd, EcoWomen will be celebrating their fifth year in existence. We are honored to have Lois Gibbs, Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Health, Environment & Justice, as our keynote speaker for the evening. Lois has an amazing and very inspiring environmental story. She was the lead community activist that fought the infamous “Love Canal.”

Not only will we be inspired by Lois, but we will also hear from a couple of the founders of EcoWomen, all in the lovely setting of the U.S. Botanical Gardens.

So be prepared to be inspired and reflect on where women and the environment are today and explore why you are an EcoWomen. Nosh on great food provided by Main Event Caterers (a very green company) and network with those in the environmental and conservation field. All are welcome.

To buy tickets please visit: www.ecowomen.org/fiveyear.htm

I hope to see you there.