WORLD MOMINATION

THE ECOMOM ALLIANCE IS SAVING THE PLANET ONE MOTHER AT A TIME

EcoMomAlliance_logo

The EcoMom Alliance has one mother of a mission: to create an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable future worldwide. Hey, if anyone can do it, it’s the moms of the world.

Here, EcoMom Alliance's Nicole MacNaughton, the director of special projects, talks to THE FAMILY GROOVE about the organization that’s calling on women to take this global mission to the streets of their communities and putting them on the front lines of the fight to save the world.

THE FAMILY GROOVE: What inspired you to start EcoMom Alliance?
NICOLE MACNAUGHTON: My background in sustainability began at an early age, so I’ve been a longtime social entrepreneur, and I’ve always loved bringing people together. The idea for EcoMom was quite literally a “light bulb moment.” I had co-produced an event for the United Nations World Environment Day, and several weeks later I was with a group of mom friends at a picnic on Donner Lake. My friend, who had attended the event, started talking about how the event had inspired her to change all her light bulbs to CFLs. I was really excited—and touched, of course—but what happened next was really great. All the other moms joined in and started asking questions about how they could be more eco-friendly, and I started thinking about the power of mothers, not only as role models for the next generation, but as a significant market force. The seed was planted, and a few months later EcoMom was born.

TFG: What is the mission of the organization?
NM: The EcoMom Alliance is a global organization, inspiring and empowering
thousands of women through education and community action to help reduce the
climate crisis and create an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable
future. Looking toward biomimicry, we believe that every “queen bee” knows
her “hive” best. Using that model, we create and launch strategic campaigns,
programs and collaborations for our EcoMom Community Leaders to effect positive
change through local, regional, and international education and action. The EcoMom
Alliance is a global network of women as well as a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization.

TFG: What are the short-term and long-term goals of the organization?
NM: The short-term goals for EcoMom are to raise awareness of the climate crisis and issues of sustainability facing us. EcoMom wants to offer resources and education to those wishing to become involved with solutions. Long term, we are looking to build the strength of our worldwide membership into a strong and active body that can advocate for change at local, federal and global levels as well as offer a variety of programs, including vocational training, micro-lending and more.

TFG: Part of your vision is to “help propel an environmentally, socially and economically vibrant and healthy future.” How does our reader get started in that direction?
NM: Any reader wishing to get started can visit the EcoMom website, take the EcoMom Challenge, become educated on a variety of issues and decide how involved she would like to become. She can start in her home, with her own family, and assess the decisions she makes on purchasing (which can also be done on the website), cleaning products, food, waste, etc. There is also the opportunity to become more involved as an EcoMom Community Leader and convene groups of friends and neighbors to spread her knowledge and help them learn more.

There is also the option to share ideas on the EcoMom Community page on the website, or participate in global actions, like Sowing Hope: EcoMom Congo Project, which strives to help women on the other side of the world recover from the violence in their region, and learn how to support themselves and their families.

TFG: What three things can a budding eco-avenger do today to get on the sustainable path?
NM: Our goal isn’t to make life onerous for EcoMoms; we just hope they will rethink what they already do. Buy different products—nontoxic cosmetics and household cleaners like Seventh Generation, available at Target. It’s easy. Other suggestions are to:
1. Plant a tree, which can absorb one ton of carbon dioxide.
2. Drive more efficiently: carpool, drive a hybrid, drive less.
3. Shop local, fair-trade and organic. Most food travels an average of 1,200 miles before it reaches your table, so by walking down to your local farmers market, you’ll not only reduce fossil fuel waste, you might also reduce your own waist. You can shop from organic, fair-trade businesses like www.ecomom.com.

TFG: How can one become an EcoLeader?
NM: Becoming an EcoLeader is very easy. Just e-mail us at www.ecomom.com and we will send you an introductory package to learn more. Return via e-mail or hard copy your commitment form and we will send you a leaders’ manual.

TFG: Tell us about the EcoParties and Circles.
NM: EcoMom strives to ensure that EcoMom parties and other events are inclusive, relaxed and fun. We don’t want anyone involved in our Alliance to feel stressed or overwhelmed by the gravity of these issues or to feel that they are not doing enough, which is a reoccurring theme that comes up at talks. We want those leaving EM parties to feel relaxed, encouraged and inspired, and to know that their actions combined with those of everyone else will indeed have an impact.

EcoMom leaders can host parties or other EM events themselves or motivate and encourage friends and acquaintances to host their own events. Party hosts are welcomed and encouraged to decide upon a party theme that is relevant and of interest to their community and/or individual party guests. EM parties have been hosted in homes, parks, community centers and even local organic shops. We have found local businesses very receptive to offering space to our leaders to host parties. Some party hosts focus on the 10 steps of the EcoMom Challenge, discussing each step and how participants can implement them in their lives. Agreeing as a group to change certain behaviors, like following the 10 steps, helps participants stay motivated and believe that their individual actions, when combined with those of others, really do add up and make a difference.

Some of the leaders have set up booths at local fairs and farmers markets, educating people on the small steps that they can take to make a difference. Other leaders have invited guest speakers such as organic farmers and/or cooperative farm representatives, representatives from their local recycling agencies, experts in plastics or cosmetic toxics, and organic gardening experts to present. Many of our leaders have used our materials to implement waste-free lunch programs at their local schools. Some have hosted clothing or toy exchange parties, where guests either trade or shop for gently used toys and clothing for their children instead of buying their own. We have started webcasting many local EcoMom events to share information globally and also suggest party topic ideas to our leaders and members.

TFG: Kimberly Danek Pinkson, EcoMom founder and president, is speaking to PTAs across the country and at events worldwide. What common themes/questions/concerns is she finding on the mind of moms everywhere?
NM: The common theme seems to be how so many moms are overwhelmed with the information about sustainability and global warming and a lot of doom, gloom and guilt. We try to alleviate that and make it something simple, which is why we started the EcoMom Challenge. Most moms want to make their homes healthier and less toxic, and they are also interested in how to be green on a budget.

TFG: What do our readers need to know about creating a sustainable life?
NM: I just want to rephrase the question to creating a sustainable lifestyle, if that’s okay. Our life isn’t sustainable since we all eventually die, but our lifestyle can be. The most important thing to focus on is that we can take action. There are things each and every one of us can do—some are big and some are little. It’s up to you to decide. We just don’t want people to get overwhelmed with all the information and then do nothing. When I became a mom, I realized I had to start taking more steps for a sustainable future. First it was just buying organic food. Then came the organic shampoos, conditioners and toothpastes. Eventually, it was organic cotton clothes and bed linens. And now the EcoMom Alliance. It’s up to you to decide how far you want to go. Sustainability means that we matter and what we do matters. For thousands of years, indigenous people have known what contemporary science has now “proven.” We are all connected, and what we drop into one corner of the ocean impacts all the other corners, too.

TFG: What else can our readers do to help the cause?
NM: First of all, we want you to take better care of yourself. So take a deep breath, relax those shoulders and take a moment to thank yourself for all the good you’re already doing. Second, well, we think it’s a tie between joining (so go join!) and becoming part of the Sowing Circle. Donations are tax-deductible and even the tiniest amounts add up. We are an almost all-volunteer organization, but our core team still has to eat, so your help is much appreciated.

Oh, and of course we want you to host an EcoMom party or become an EcoMom Leader! Both are great ways to move from eco-angst to eco-action. At whatever level you can, there are ways to work together for a sustainable future, and we are honored to share the journey.