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Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am Vanessa Gallego, pronouns she/her/ella. I was born on the lands of the Tohono O'odham and Pascua Yaqui people, Tucson, to Marco and Olga Gallego. I am a sustainability and mobility advocate and a second generation scrap metal recycler, and have worked for our family's small business, Recyco Inc., since 1995. I now serve as Chief Operating Officer. I serve my community as a Ward 1 commissioner on Climate, Energy and Sustainability for the City of Tucson, Climate Action Advisory Council for Mayor Regina Romero, and I am Program Manager of FUGA–Families United Gaining Accessibility | Familias Unidas Ganando Accesibilidad, a mobility justice group leading bicycle rides in the barrios of Tucson.
What are your hobbies or interests?
One of my favorite hobbies is antique collecting, especially metal items! I love sorting through recyclables at work and finding unique items to repurpose, reuse, or sell. Some of the coolest things are the vintage silver-plated items such as forks, spoons, and serving sets. I like to tell people I live in luxury every day with a silver spoon in my purse or pocket to use instead of disposable
plastic utensils.
What is your favorite outdoor activity?
We are so lucky to be surrounded by the beautiful outdoors. You can find me biking on the loop or around the west or south side of Tucson with FUGA on our monthly rides. There is no better high for me than riding in community and taking up space! I take walks too, but love hikes in our desert, especially on the accessible trails on the west side! My favorite is the Lorraine Lee trail.
What is your favorite place in Arizona?
I would love to say Grand Canyon but I have never been! Joining the Sierra Club, I wanted to make it my mission to visit more of Arizona and bring others along. I know there are many people who can relate. For now I will say Tucson, my home nestled near Saguaro National Park West, especially when the sun sets.
What made you want to volunteer with Sierra Club?
I first learned about the Sierra Club in 2003 because of the work of Sandy Bahr. I knew one day I would volunteer, so when the opportunity came to help build the newly formed Nopales Group, I joined! Taking space is important for the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color Committee) community, and the Grand Canyon Chapter Equity Trail Map is a document that demonstrates transformation I can support and help foster here locally. The Nopales group has diverse representation, bringing a wide range of issues to work on and I am excited to share space and uplift work in Southern Arizona.
What do you like most about advocating for environmental protection and climate justice?
I enjoy advocating for the intersections of people and places. I like to help people see how we are part of the place we live and how that shapes who we are.
What are the biggest challenges to this work in Arizona?
The challenge we face in Arizona continues to be fighting corporations and special interest groups who seek to use more than their fair share of water, pollute our air and water, destroy cultural resources, and leave a despoiled Arizona for our kids and their kids. We need to resist and persist to ensure healthy communities and a healthy future.
[Editors Note: Resist and persist. What a great motto for Sierra Club!]
What accomplishment are you most proud of and why?
I am proud that I was part of the creation of the Climate Action Plan, Tucson Resilient Together -- one of the most ambitious living documents to help future generations continue to live in the desert.
If you could change one policy in our state, what would it be?
Arizona should fund fare–free transit as a true public good that facilitates the access and mobility of its people. As our temperatures rise the most vulnerable are at risk. Public transit is a lifeline to cooling centers and medical centers. There is a disparity when it comes to fares for impoverished communities. Fare–free transit removes barriers, particularly for students and elders, to education, resources and jobs. Investing in fare free has the potential to attract industry and jobs and bring tourism while assisting in climate action goals of reducing greenhouse gases with electrifying fleets such as our Mayor Regina Romero has done in Tucson.
What one word do you think describes you best ?
Active!