On April 23rd, Community Environmental Council’s (CEC) Santa Barbara Earth Day event brought our community together in celebration of local efforts to protect the environment, and to inspire further action. After two years of no public in-person events, it also provided a great opportunity to connect with eco-minded individuals, organizations, and businesses—and in at least one case, receive a job offer out of it!

*Eva Haro and Priscilla Vargas volunteering at Santa Barbara Earth Day 2022*

Volunteer Eva Haro had just such an experience at this year’s event, which was held in and around the Arlington Theatre on State Street and featured interactive exhibits and tables from nearly 40 CEC partners. We spoke with Eva about her chance visit to a table hosted by Toad&Co (a retail company that produces socially and environmentally conscious clothing) that sparked a meaningful conversation and ultimately led to a new job opportunity. Toad&Co supports a number of key local environmental nonprofits as part of their mission to give back to the community. Eva’s experience was a great reminder that volunteering with environmental nonprofits offers a myriad of benefits—it’s a great way to learn about important issues in depth; to build relationships with individuals and organizations; and to gain the skills and confidence to take bold climate action.

CEC: What brought you to Santa Barbara Earth Day this year?

Eva: I heard about Earth Day through my roommate Olivia, who works at CEC as a Climate Education & Leadership Associate. I had mentioned to her that I was interested in doing more volunteer work to get involved in the community.

*Toad&Co team members Kelly Milazzo and Anthony Nguyen with Kelly's daughter at the Toad&Co table.*

CEC: How did you come to know about Toad&Co?

Eva: I learned about Toad&Co on Earth Day! I visited their display table and chatted with members of their team. I love shopping for clothes, but over the past two years I’ve become more aware of where I shop. I’m trying to do my part when it comes to staying away from “fast fashion”* due to the environmental and ethical impacts. I want to support brands that make an effort towards sustainability. I thought Toad&Co had really cute clothes, and while talking to the representatives at Earth Day I learned about their commitment to provide 1% of their gross profits for the planet. As a potential customer I walked away feeling good that the money I was spending was also contributing to something greater.

CEC: Tell us how your introduction to Toad&Co at Santa Barbara Earth Day led to a new job opportunity.

Eva: A few weeks after Earth Day, I decided I wanted to branch out from my current job. I went on Indeed (a job search website) to see what was available and Toad&Co was one of the first businesses to pop up! Having recently learned about their commitment to social and environmental sustainability, I applied right away. Earth Day provided me with an introduction to Toad&Co and opened the door for me to apply to work there. Soon after, I got the job! I happen to work directly under the person who ran the Earth Day tabling event. My role is as an administrative assistant. I apply my technical skills and attention to detail to ensure that all tasks are completed with accuracy. While I love administrative work, sometimes it can get tedious, so it has become very important to me to work for a company or organization that cultivates an inclusive culture, celebrates its employees, and contributes to the broader community. Toad&Co has made it onto Outside Magazine’s annual 50 Best Places to Work list twelve times, so it was not a hard sell for me. Earth Day provided me with that first introduction to Toad&Co, and I’m grateful it led to a new stage in my career.

Are you interested in cultivating your own climate action? One way to connect, network, and engage with environmental nonprofits is to volunteer. Subscribe to CEC’s email newsletter to stay updated on volunteer opportunities – you just might find a new career path.

*More information on fast fashion: What is Fast Fashion and Why is it a Problem?