Green Community Connections
Catalina Aycardi is a graduate student at Northeastern University, where she is earning a Master’s Degree in International Affairs. She immigrated to the US with her family when she was eight years old and grew up in Andover MA, where she solidified her passion for the environment. Catalina’s environmental science teacher, Melanie Cutler, was instrumental in fueling her passion for environmental activism. It was during this time that Catalina won an environmental-education competition sponsored by EF Education First. Through this, she was invited to a private lunch with the world-renowned scientist and environmentalist, Jane Goodall. One of Jane’s most famous quotes is:
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make”
- Jane Goodall
Following this experience, Catalina was inspired to become a member of the Jane Goodall Institute’s National Youth Leadership Council. She served in this position and participated in local environmental initiatives throughout high school. After which, she obtained a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University in International Affairs and Environmental Studies. It was during this time that she found her niche of interest: the link between environmental policy and gender equality. Catalina is committed to spreading the news that climate change is not gender neutral.
As an environmentalist, Catalina knows that burn-out is real and that it can be easy to get overwhelmed by the gravity of environmental issues. She hopes that GCC will ease some of this by connecting activists and creating a pool of resources.
Catalina Aycardi
