Devon Mearns, Making Choices That Make A Difference

This interview was originally published in the March 2020 SSGN newsletter.

Devon is a 24-year-old adventurer, runner, traveler, cow enthusiast, and advocate of the planet living in Denver, Colorado. She works as a Development Assist at Trout Unlimited, a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of freshwater streams, rivers, and associated upland habitats for trout, salmon, other aquatic species. We spoke to her about her career in conservation and passion for the earth.

What does your position as Development Assistant entail?

At Trout Unlimited, our goal is to raise money to fund projects that conserve, protect, and restore North America’s coldwater fisheries and watersheds. As a development Assistant, I help our fundraisers get out the door and connect with individuals and foundations who can support our mission. I plan events to bring our donors together and coordinate communications between our field and office staff. I report on our successes, and help spread the word of our great work across the country!

Why are you passionate about caring for the earth? When did this passion start?

I am passionate about caring for our earth because I want the world to be a beautiful place for my kids, their kids, and their kid’s kids. I feel I have to leave the world better than I found it! This passion started at a very young age. I was always outside enjoying nature and it would upset me when I’d see litter on the beaches I played on, or people throwing away items that could be recycled. Little things like that would get to me. It wasn’t until I was nearly 18 that I realized I needed to do more than just pick up some trash and recycle my cans. I wanted to make a career out of it. I made firm choices in my own life to align with these values—from the clothes I bought, to the foods I ate, the way I traveled from place to place, and now the organization I work for. These choices are a reflection of my passion for the environment and I feel proud to be able to continue to do good for our planet!

How has the current world state impacted Trout Unlimited? Has the organization observed any positive changes in rivers and streams across the country?

I think more and more people are starting to feel a responsibility to give back to protect our planet. People are becoming aware of their effect on the environment and making choices big and small to make a positive difference. Trout Unlimited has steadily grown over the past several years. We now have over 300,000 members and supporters who contribute each year! This allows us to work on more restoration projects, hire more staff, and protect more streams across the country. With the current administration, we have experienced some setbacks though. Government funding of the EPA has been slashed, Clean Water Act regulations have been weakened, many mines that put the health of our rivers and streams at risk have taken steps forward to begin operating. We have a dedicated team that works tirelessly on Capitol Hill to help protect our public lands, and fights many projected mines across the U.S.
Despite the few setbacks we’ve faced, overall I’ve noticed an incredible gain in momentum from the anglers and environmentalists in our country to take charge!

What can you tell us about the future of sustainability for America, and the world as a whole? Are you hopeful?

I am incredibly hopeful! I firmly believe that more people are starting to take steps toward living sustainability and conserving our natural resources. There is more awareness among the population; we can no longer pretend not to see how our world is being impacted by our actions and choices. Like the choices I made in my own life to live more sustainably, I believe many people are also supporting businesses that align with these values and making changes in their lifestyles to reduce their impact on the planet.