Jess Mazour hired as Conservation Program Coordinator

Dear Sierra Club Leaders and Members,

My name Jess Mazour and I am really excited to get started as the new Conservation Coordinator for the Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club.  Environmental issues are a big passion of mine. I’ve spent the last 8 years working to pass strong environmental protections in Iowa.  During my career, I’ve worked with communities to stop dozens of factory farms from building, helped shift the narrative around Iowa’s water quality, and activated hundreds of people to lobby their local, state, and federal elected officials.

Most recently I was the Iowa and Oklahoma Political Director for the Bernie Sanders Campaign where I had the opportunity to help draft Senator Sanders Rural Revitalization Policy and dig-in on structural changes to improve our agriculture and environmental systems.  I have a small urban farm where I grow over 100 varieties of rare and heirloom vegetables, herbs, and flowers.  After a long day’s work, you will probably find me in my greenhouse tending to way too many plants.  

My passion for environmental and agriculture work goes beyond my career.   My parents live on a small lake in Dexter, Iowa and I’ve watched the water quality decrease every year.  Algal blooms that once were a rare event have become an annual problem that threatens the safety of everyone who uses the lake.  As a resident of Des Moines, I’ve seen my water bills increase nearly every year because the Raccoon and Des Moines Rivers have increasing loads of pollution coming downstream.  And, I’ve seen the deterioration of our State Parks as funding for our Natural Resources is stripped away each year.   

But it doesn’t have to be this way. I believe that organized people are a powerful tool to make change.  Getting to know our members and getting them engaged and active in our campaigns will be a big focus of mine. If we show up, speak up, and get involved, we can build an Iowa with Clean Air, Clean Water, and an agricultural system that benefits our climate, soils, and rural communities.  Sierra Club members will lead the way!

I’m looking forward to joining the Sierra Club team and working with all of you to make important issues like Clean Air and Clean Water a top priority in Iowa.

Sincerely,
Jess Mazour
Conservation Coordinator
Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club
Jessica.mazour@sierraclub.org
515-313-5253