Jeanne Nader joined the agency in 2001, where her duties include public education and outreach efforts on organic recycling programs and household hazardous waste. She brings nearly two decades of experience as a community organizer on local, state and national issues and electoral campaigns.

What do you do here?

When I first started working here, I managed the home compost education program that morphed into the Bay-Friendly Gardening program. Currently, I lead the community outreach project. It is an exciting opportunity to bring together our best practices for implementing community-based education and outreach. We use a variety of tools, including the train-the-trainer program StopWaste Environmental Education Training (SWEET), and content modules on Composting/Healthy Soils, which furthers the training of master composters, educators, and member agency staff. We continue to staff events and provide community presentations, as requested. We coordinate closely with schools to leverage opportunities with shared audiences, and provide community outreach grants to non-profits.

How did you get into the field?

All my work has been around helping people actively make change in their own communities. I really just fell into community organizing, was good at it, and kept doing it.

What is your favorite part of working here?

I love the mission of StopWaste, and that we are encouraged to be innovative and creative. I enjoy working with member agencies and the people we meet at events, some of whom I might never have been connected with. The immediacy of being in field gives us great feedback from the public, an instant reality check. The ripple effect is so powerful. It is inspiring to see the people we have worked with or who have gone through our programs do amazing things in the community. We are making connections, cultivating new educators and learning from them. The possibilities for extended collaborations are exciting.

Do you have a favorite project?

I don’t have a singular favorite project, but have immense satisfaction in incubating new projects, working with a talented team to modify and develop the projects and connecting to other stakeholders, like water agencies and nurseries. My favorite work strategy is connecting people with resources, building partnerships to create extensive networks of people invested in working together for change.

What do you do when not working?

I like to hike, garden, and hang out with my extensive family. I’m also involved in my own community on social and environmental issues.

How do you practice what you preach?

I rarely drive our family car, and instead prefer to bus, bike or walk. Our vegetarian household composts a lot, and we grow a fair amount of food. There’s nothing better than swapping berries, tomatoes and herbs with my neighbors.

Anything else you’d like to share?

We all can be part of change from just talking to our neighbors to testifying at City Hall. Participation is powerful.