Community Highlights: Meet Becky Migas of Women in Sustainability

Today we’d like to introduce you to Becky Migas. Them and their team share their story with us below:

Working in the sustainability field is tough and one can find themselves in a deep dark corner of the climate crisis conversation. It can be depressing and lonely, and Women in Sustainability (WIS) co-founders Becky Migas and Beth Birchfield bonded over their shared struggles. How they were always the “eco-friends” that would casually bring up the climate crisis in conversation or yell over the music at parties asking where the compost bin was. How they were sitting in meetings with business owners struggling to help them recognize that sustainable practices will actually save them money.

They found that what gave them the energy to continue their work was meeting with other incredible women in the field.

Becky soon had the thought that it would be great to get everyone she’d met in the field of sustainability into the same room to network and work together. Women in Sustainability soon met as a small networking group that quickly grew by word-of-mouth. They both realized that they weren’t the only ones starved for an inclusive community—within a year WIS had over a thousand people in the group and quickly grew from a casual meetup and Facebook group to a nonprofit.

Today, Women in Sustainability is an inclusive organization that brings together women and allies who are passionate about environmental sustainability to connect, learn, and collaborate to fight climate change and social injustice through education and advocacy. With a first chapter starting in Colorado in 2020, WIS plans to expand our impact as a national organization with multiple branches in other cities.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Ha, no. Is it for anyone in business?! If so, I’d love to meet them! Of course, I hit my challenges. The sustainability world on its own is a challenge. There is so much we still have to learn and so much that has to be changed, yet there are a lot of barriers. We also live in a world where convenience is key and sustainability is just not there yet.

Just like all businesses, you have to learn a lot quickly. I have little nonprofit background, so it became about learning how to run a nonprofit. While we are planning to run the nonprofit like a business, we do have specific guidelines to follow for the IRS and learn how to attract a great and motivated Board too. And then of course, there is learning all things about fundraising and membership!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The environmental movement has not always been inclusive and Women in Sustainability is committed to changing that status quo. We cannot talk about climate justice without talking about social justice so we must have ALL voices at the table to face the reality of how the climate crisis has impacted our communities and how best to create meaningful change that benefits all groups including, BIPOC, LGBTQIIA+, persons with disabilities, and anyone who’s felt left out of the sustainability conversation. All are welcome to join Women in Sustainability’s conversation. WIS focuses on Community, Advocacy, Resources, and Education around all aspects of sustainable practices including air, water, energy, transportation, waste, and much more. No matter where a person is on their sustainable journey, they are welcome to be a part of the community. WIS intentionally creates a safe space for like-minded and diverse individuals to create purposeful and transformational connections in the environmental movement. We offer a free membership through our Facebook group and plan to launch our membership in the near future with more access to events, resources, and more! Learn more about joining our inclusive community and how to attend an upcoming event at www.womeninsustainability.org. We CAR for the people that CAREfor the planet.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Ha! My Mom always likes to say, “If anyone can talk the Pope out of being Catholic, it’s Becky”. I have no idea where this came from, but I guess I always liked to be a leader. I love to care – about people, living things, and really all things in general. I’ve always been really attracted to sustainability and caring for the planet from a young age. I would recycle and be really interested in learning new ways reduce my waste and impact. I think it was always in me to start a nonprofit around sustainability.

Contact Info:

• Email: becky@womeninsustainability.org
• Website: https://womeninsustainability.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/women.in.sustainability/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womeninsustainabilityUS
• Youtube: https://vimeo.com/womeninsustainability
• Other: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wiscolorado/

Image Credits
Melanie Moreno