Look Who it Was Random video

How I became an accidental activist | Mary Peveto | TEDxMtHood

906 views · Published 5 November 2018 · 17:30 · Indexed 23 September 2026

Channel: TEDx Talks · 2018 · Nonprofits & Activism

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Accidental activist, Mary Peveto, describes how she came to fight for clean air because of her children, founded a non-profit dedicated to environmental activism, and gives advice on how others can do similar work. Her main advice: you have three choices: be angry, be overwhelmed, or do something.  Mary Peveto calls herself an “accidental activist.” In 2010, in response to dangerous levels of industrial pollution in the air at her daughter’s school, she founded Neighbors for Clean Air (NCA). Under her leadership, NCA has become a leader in advocacy for Oregon’s air regulations by building grass-roots coalitions in front-line communities impacted by toxic air pollution.  

The NCA recently advanced an unprecedented overhaul of Oregon’s Air Permit program through a bill that created the largest funding increase ever for the Oregon DEQ.

Mary’s committee work includes the Cleaner Air Oregon Rule-making Advisory Committee, the U.S. EPA Clean Air Act Advisory Committee, and the Portland Air Toxics Solutions Advisory Committee. She also chairs the Multnomah County Advisory Committee on Sustainability and Innovation, and its sub-committee on Air Toxins.

Mary holds a BA in History from Macalester College and has worked in marketing and communications for both Nike and Adidas. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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