Texas Campaign for the Environment: Staff Spotlight

Meg Bell, Office Manager (DFW), concerns with justice and environmentalism stem from childhood. The first landscape she recalls wanting to improve are the beaches of Galveston, Texas. She first became acquainted with social activism while she was a freshman in high school . Her personal hobby is poetry and she is a former President of the Rowlett High School Poetry Society. She is a student at Southern Methodist University.

Stacy Guidry, Canvass Director (Austin), grew up in the Beaumont area and started organizing in August 2003 with TCE. She has been a dancer since the age of five, taught children dance lessons for five years, and she loves to sing. Stacy works for TCE because of the pollution issues she's dealt with in her hometown; both her parents have worked for petrochemical plants for decades. She feels democracy is not a side line sport and there's no room for benchwarmers. This is why she strives for positive social, political, and environmental justice and concrete changes in people's everyday lives.

Jeffrey Jacoby, Canvass Director (DFW), has been the fearless leader of our Dallas office since November 2005. After obtaining a Master of Arts from the University of Maryland, Jeff returned to the Metroplex and began organizing with TCE in the fall of 2004. As a native Texan and long-time Dallasite, Jeff believes that change begins at home, one person at a time. His commitment to grassroots democracy and environmental advocacy stems from a strong desire to transform the mindset of a culture bent on harming the very source of its sustenance.

Renee Vaughan, Senior Field Manager (DFW), spent many weeks of her childhood in the Gila National Forest with her family, and so has a deep appreciation for the world’s places of natural beauty. Her hobby is urban and landscape photography. A graduate of the University of North Texas, she began organizing with TCE in August of 2004. She trains and develops staff and is herself training to direct an office of her own. Renee is passionate about empowering people to lead their leaders toward more just social and environmental policies, and views the grassroots canvass as a crucial political tool in making real change.

Lani Ogle, Office Manager (Austin), cheerfully keeps the Austin campaign staff supplied with everything that they need to effectively communicate with and organize neighbors. She also helps manage recruitment and assists with issue work. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin.

Zac Trahan, Program Assistant (Austin), was home schooled as a child in the hill country outside Austin. His deep connection with and respect for the natural world has only strengthened since joining TCE in the fall of 2002. Zac has played many roles within the organization, and directed his own canvassing office in South Florida during 2005. He now assists the Executive Director in developing campaign strategies and materials, website design and maintenance, and membership development.
 

Lauren Ice, Program Assistant (DFW), has been informing and motivating Texans into action since June 2006. A graduate of Austin College, her degree in art education and environmental studies allowed her a life-changing experience studying environmental policy in Kenya. Living with those who suffer environmental injustices daily forever transformed her from strictly an academic to an activist. She feels fortunate to live in a country where the people’s participation is welcome and is proud to be empowering others. Lauren is delighted to work towards honest and receptive communication between the Dallas campaign staff, elected officials, and concerned community members.