Building a green talent pipeline: A Q&A with Miranda Frausto

This Q&A series highlights McKinney Climate Fellows alumni and their professional journeys within Indiana and beyond. The McKinney Climate Fellows program, administered by Indiana University’s Environmental Resilience Institute and Integrated Program in the Environment, connects IU undergraduate and graduate students interested in climate, sustainability, and community resilience with career experiences.

Born in Mexico City and raised in Toronto and Carmel, Ind., Miranda Frausto grew up in a Latino family that cared about the environment. This special connection led Frausto to become a youth climate leader in high school and to get involved with sustainability organizations as a student at IUPUI.

In 2019 and 2020, Frausto seized the opportunity to put her advocacy work into action, becoming a McKinney Climate Fellow and working with the City of Carmel to develop the city’s first greenhouse gas inventory and climate action plan.

Having graduated with a degree in sustainability management and policy, Frausto was recently hired to be the first Hispanic and Latino Outreach Coordinator for Earth Charter Indiana and is working to engage the Latino/x/e community across the state with the organization’s climate-conscious mission. The following interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

What project(s) did you work on during your McKinney Climate Fellow placement?

The first year I was focused on doing Carmel’s first greenhouse gas inventories. Then the next summer I focused more on the climate action planning process. We took the emissions information and made a plan for next steps, but I mainly focused on community engagement during the climate action planning portion of my fellowship.

The community engagement was during COVID, so we were all adjusting. I hosted virtual town halls back in the day when people still enjoyed getting on Zoom together. I also held focus groups with people across and beyond the city who had actual control and a stake in reducing our emissions. Obviously, we can make a climate action plan, but if we don't have stakeholder support for certain action items then we can’t get very far in our plan.

What did you learn during your experience and how has it informed your career path so far?

I think McKinney Climate Fellows was a really cool experience in technical sustainability work. I had never done greenhouse gas inventories before, especially at that large of a scale, so I got to turn on that part of my brain, which eventually informed my career path by teaching me how to balance that technical work with soft skill work.

How do you feel that McKinney Climate Fellows and your role in it helped prepare you for your current role?

I think the biggest thing was confidence. Before I did the greenhouse gas inventories, I struggled with imposter syndrome. I thought, “Am I going to be able to do this as successfully as my colleagues in the cohort?” But then through figuring it out on my own and relying on my support system, I realized that I can do it. I think it really helped me to know that I shouldn't be intimidated by a career in sustainability, and I have everything I need to succeed in me. 

What called you to pursue a career in climate and sustainability?

I remember caring about the environment and community from a young age. I got it from my grandpa. He instilled a lot of those values. And then when I was older, I realized that those values from my Mexican culture align with what sustainability is. I just didn't know the word for it until I was in college.

It was also motivating to work on the youth-led climate resolution for the City of Carmel in high school; then as a McKinney Climate Fellow, get to see some of my work in my younger years come full circle.

What is your current position and what responsibilities does your job include?

I am the Hispanic and Latino Outreach Coordinator for Earth Charter Indiana. I just started a few months ago, but it's very cool because this position hasn't existed before as far as state-wide Latino community engagement in the sustainability field.

The main principles are community engagement for the Latino community, getting Latino young people and families involved with Earth Charter’s programs, and most importantly, seeing how I can support the Latino/x/e community in their sustainability endeavors through my role. For example, a week-and-a-half ago, I found out that we got a grant that I co-wrote which will supply eco-therapy supplies and programming for Latino/x/e youth in the Indianapolis area. So I'll get to engage with young people about how we can use nature as a tool to improve our well-being, as well as talking with them about sustainability and the impact they can have when they express their voice. Earth Charter Indiana is serious about youth empowerment and leadership, and I'm really excited about that.

What else do you like about your position?

It sounds corny, but it really is my dream job. When I was in college, learning about sustainability and getting my foot in the door, I didn't really know a lot of other Latinos going into the environmental sustainability field. So the opportunity to connect my passion for sustainability with my culture and community is a great experience for me.

What advice do you have for students who are considering a career in sustainability or in the environment?

I say do it! We need all the bright minds in the field we can get, especially in Indiana due to brain drain. Environmental sustainability is not a very diverse field, so the more voices and representation we have, the better work we can accomplish.

Looking forward, what do you think young professionals interested in climate and sustainability careers should know as they enter the workforce?

The sustainability and climate field can be very heavy, very intense work. It can put a lot of weight on our shoulders. But I think the great balance is that everybody who works in the field is so easygoing and kind and generous. You work with great people who check in with you and can bond with you over the nature of the field. You also get to counteract the difficulty with the difference you see your work make for your community.

About the Environmental Resilience Institute

Indiana University’s Environmental Resilience Institute brings together a broad coalition of government, business, nonprofit, and community leaders to help Indiana and the Midwest better prepare for the challenges of environmental change. By integrating research, education, and community, ERI is working to create a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future. Learn more at eri.iu.edu.

About the Integrated Program in the Environment

Bringing together faculty, students and staff across 10 Indiana University schools, the Integrated Program in the Environment is a hub for academics, research, and activities focused on the environment. Administered by the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, the School of Public Health, and College of Arts and Sciences, IPE is preparing the next generation of environmental and sustainability leaders. Learn more at environment.indiana.edu.