Melanie Houston: ALC ChangeMakers Podcast Interview
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Audio Only - All Participants: [00:00:00] Hi there. Welcome to the A LC Changemakers Podcast. I'm your host, Jennifer Sconyers, and today I want to welcome Melanie Houston. Welcome, Melanie. Uh, thank you for having me, Jennifer. I'm really excited to be with you for this conversation. Absolutely. So for listeners, Melanie is the Vice President of programs at the Ohio Environmental Council, the OEC.
Um, and Carol Kauffman was on the podcast back in September. So listen to that episode to learn more about the OEC more generally. But today we'll talk to Melanie and I also, I think I've known you, Melanie, for what? It's like almost 10 years been. I think that's right. It's been a while. Yes. It's been a while.
Not longer. I know, I know. Um, so let's start with your leadership journey. What brought you to this work at the OEC? Yeah, thank you, [00:01:00] Jennifer. I, you know, I think it goes back really to, um, my, my youth, my years of youth. Um, and I remember in high school identifying, uh, that I was really interested in, you know, environmental studies and the natural world and, um, protecting.
Um, protecting the natural world, and I didn't know what that would look like exactly. I think at the time I thought, um, you know, that might look like research and pursuing, you know, doctoral work. Um, I think through my educational journey, um, after college actually, I had the opportunity to do an AmeriCorps program and I was placed with, um, an advocacy organization doing, uh, parks advocacy in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Um. Through an AmeriCorps internship, and I really found that I enjoyed that, um, that advocacy setting and going to meetings. In that case it was with, um, their county supervisors had oversight over parks and, um, really [00:02:00] enjoyed, you know, being in that setting of trying to influence and push, you know, decision makers in the direction of taking care of our natural environment.
In that case it was parks advocacy at the OEC, you know, we do clean water, clean land, um. Excuse me, public lands, clean water, clean energy, and from democracy work as well. So I found myself, I did go back to graduate school and earned a master's degree in the School of Environment and Natural Resources at Ohio State University after studying environmental studies at Denison.
But I was, uh, but getting close to about 30 when, um, I had had, had my eye on the organization, the OEC and A position opened up on the water team and I joined, I believe it was end of 2011. Um, so I met about, um, 13 plus years of, um, of professional advocacy work at the Ohio Environmental Council, and it's been a great journey there.
That's wonderful. Um, you know, I think it's, it's very [00:03:00] telling when people figure out their passion and what they wanna do and then make it happen. I'm always, um, in awe and curious about the journey. Tell us a bit about the work at OEC and, and like you've been doing it from, you started in the water team, which is how I met you when you were on that team, and now you're really overseeing all the programs.
So tell us a bit about that evolution and. Maybe some, the uniqueness of the approaches and like the work that you're doing at the OAC c. So I know, you know, not everyone has exposure to, when people ask me what, what I do, I say, well, I do professional advocacy, and not everyone has exposure to what that is and what it looks like.
And it, it's a lot, a lot. There's a lot to it in terms of, um, the variety of the work, which is part of why, why I love the job. Um, we work on. Issue campaigns would be a way to think about it. Yeah. Um, so not, you know, you have a political campaign where you're working hard to kind of, um, [00:04:00] try to advance a candidate to win, in that case an election on issues.
We're trying to oftentimes win a policy, right? Or sometimes it could be a program, sometimes it could be a regulation. But we're trying to achieve something that will have the end, um, outcome of, you know, again, protecting our. Uh, public lands, you know, or growing our public lands in Ohio. Um, helping advance a clean energy economy in Ohio, which is good for, um, uh, addressing climate change, but also makes for cleaner air for Ohioans.
Um, trying to, to get clean water, you know, both safe drinking water and access to that, that drinking water, but also, um, you know, clean rivers and streams and a, a beautiful clean lake Erie. So we're doing a set of things to try to achieve those outcomes and, and primary to that is really. Lawmaker education and engagement, you know, [00:05:00] um, it could be testifying, uh, through our affiliated Action fund, OEC Action Fund, testifying at the State House.
That's an a thing that we do very often to talking to a reporter about our issue to, to try to, um, keep the drumbeat going, you know, um, and helping the public to understand better. The, the work that we're doing to, um, going and presenting to a group of high schoolers or a, a rotary group, you know, about the work that we're doing.
So there's a lot of variety. Every issue that we work on, um, to advance clean air, uh, clean energy, clean air, clean water, public lands, we have, um, you know, a set of, of strategies and we have a set of tactics that we are, uh, continuously kind of chipping away at and working on to try to achieve those end goals.
I love that. Well, I know you all are always busy. I feel like. You all are everywhere for listeners. Yeah. And I, I am a bit biased, as listeners know, I am the president of O'S [00:06:00] board, so I, I do have a perspective, I'll just name, um, but there's just so much, so much activity, Melanie, and I'm super curious, you know, given the current political landscape and all that's at stake mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm. Um, you know, for folks who are wherever they are in the environmental. Space there was such an investment, I'll just name with the Biden administration. Mm-hmm. Um, that so many groups were able to take advantage of. Um, and, you know, unhappily, we've just seen so many rollbacks. Mm-hmm. Um, that it felt quite devastating, frankly.
Yeah. The work, um. I'm curious from your perspective as VP of programs, the ways that you all have been adjusting mm-hmm. Um, you know, trying to meet the moment while still doing this really critical work. Yeah, yeah. It's a great question and probably a lot of different directions I could go. I mean, I think I'll [00:07:00] start with one.
Um. Just kind of nature positive. That's the nature of our organization, is that we are focused a lot on state level policy. And so, um, you know, we, but though we are certainly impacted by the federal landscape, um, I think. We've been able to accomplish some things at the state level. I'll name in our clean energy body of work, for example, this past year that is just incredible progress in the face of, um, what we see with our, our federal landscape.
So we had a kind of sweeping, um, clean energy policy reform in Ohio, getting rid of, um, bailouts for old dirty coal plants. Um, adding more transparency to the system and. Um, just, just some really important kind of guardrails on the regulatory side of things and just setting a landscape for more progress in Ohio related to clean energy development.
[00:08:00] There's also a couple of pieces of legislation that made progress, um, moved out of committee, um, related to community energy projects. Solar falls in that bucket and related to something called demand response, which is, um, kind of related to energy efficiency. It will allow, um, utilities to be able to basically ask customers, do you wanna turn down or turn up your thermostat during peak demand times, which takes pressure off of our system or distribution and, and, um, system and the grid.
And so we had some really positive. Things happen on energy, uh, in Ohio at the same time that of course we know, we saw the rollbacks in the, um, big climate, uh, legislation. That was the inflation reduction actor IRA. So I think there's, um, there's reason to be hopeful that we can make progress at the state level.
We're seeing some great strides, um, and we're gonna continue to show up. And defend, you know, at the federal level. So [00:09:00] one example of that in our Clean Water program, Jennifer, is for many, many years there has been, um, a protective regulation under the Clean Water Act called the what's called Waters of the US rule.
People will refer to it as TUS for short, and it's one of those things that's been like a ping pong ball back and forth. It, depending on the administration, so a more protective. Rule, uh, that encompasses more waters and defines waters of the state more broadly to a more, um, narrow rule. And taking protections away from waters by defining waters of the United States is something much more narrow.
Um, of course, we're in a period where, um, this current federal administration would like to narrow that role and, and, and really, um, scale back protections for, for clean water and streams and, um, wetlands. And so we will be commenting and, um, kind of rallying our supporters and Ohioans to join us and in making the call for that role [00:10:00] to stay strong.
And, um, you know, again, we have the ability to, to work with our state agency, Ohio, EPA High Department of Natural Resources and try to, um. Do what we can at the state level to keep the state regulatory framework strong in the face of what's happening at the federal level. So a couple examples there. Um, but you know, it's certainly, um, extraordinary times that we're living in Absolutely.
That, that feels like a. Such an understatement for where we are. Yeah. Um, and I just wanna say for listeners what I've appreciated, because on the podcast we talk to folks who are making different pivots in different ways and the ways they're showing agility on this timeline and. What I really appreciated about the OEC is it's, it's pragmatic.
Mm-hmm. You know what I mean? Like, it's an organization that is data driven, but it also cares about people and the impact on people. You know, Carol mm-hmm. [00:11:00] Made a comment that in her podcast episode, you know, it's a, it's an environmental issue and a justice issue. Right. So it's, it's one of those things truly being.
Clear about the impact. And what I'm hearing you say, Melanie, is, you know, federally, that's kind of doing what it's doing, there's things you can do, um, but the organization programmatically is focusing on the state. You know, what can we do here in Ohio? Um, I'm super curious, you know, as we think forward, right?
This is airing in 2026, what are some types of. Programs or strategies or things you feel comfortable naming for listeners that you know you're going to do right. Other ways. Mm-hmm. You're gonna thoughtfully keep pushing and moving the needle forward. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Thank you Jennifer. I think, um, well I mentioned a little bit about some of the energy legislation that we wanna keep moving.
We are in. In Ohio, our general assembly is in two year cycles, so we're though we're wrapping up [00:12:00] 2025 and 2026, we're still in the same general assembly period, so we'll be able to, basically what that means is we'll pick up with the legislation where we left off and we're gonna keep working to advance.
You know, two really important part, um, energy legislation policies for Ohio with our energy team, which is led by Nolan Rut Shilling. Um, we also have been, um. In 2025, we put together a really powerful, um, kind of broad based, bigger tent coalition related to, um, protecting and advancing long-term funding for a program called H two Ohio.
So for think of, um, clean water, it's a, a science-based, um, water quality program and also, um, investing in water infrastructure. And it's a state program. Um, funding at the level of about 200 plus million every two years. Um, it took some, some funding cuts in the last budget cycle in, uh, this past year. And, [00:13:00] um, what we have been working toward is a long-term funding mechanism that could look like a.
Statewide water bond going to the ballot, you know, to the citizens of Ohio to decide and approve. Um, but it's, it's a heavy lift. It's a tall order because, um, it's, it's gotta go through the step of, of going through the legislature first and having the governor's support and then, um, having a campaign that that runs with that.
A yes campaign that would support that. So, um, that's something that is a real opportunity again in 2026. And then finally, I'll name, uh, in 2026, we're gonna have a, um, uh, camp, uh, you know, an electoral, a gubernatorial electoral race, which is, um, we know the two primary candidates and, um, we will be doing on the OEC side of things, um, for the first four months or so of the year.
Putting together a policy platform and really doing some candidate education to engage [00:14:00] in that, um, in that governor's race. And what that will look like is basically, um, putting on paper our key kind of policy areas and maybe some other emerging issues that are, are hot in Ohio, like data centers and presenting that.
Um, set of, of information and policy recommendations to both candidates. So, um, those are some of the really big things that we're, we're looking to work on, uh, in 2026. And we would love for folks to get engaged with us in that work. I love that. I love that. Um, where can people find you? You know, if they wanna sign up, they wanna get engaged, where they, where should they go?
Where should they look? Yes, so we, um, have a, a website, which is the oec.org. Um, pretty easy to find us there and follow and, and sign up for our newsletter. Um, we are also on all the channels, as I understand. I'm not the one that manages that, but I believe we are on [00:15:00] Instagram, um, X, which formerly Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn.
There may be others that I, I might be missing Jennifer, but all the social, the primary social channels you can think of, you can find us there. Um, the Ohio Environmental Council, and then for our affiliated organization that does our, um, kind of lawmaker accountability and electoral work, that is the OEC Action Fund, and we have those same channels and we have a website as well.
Where you can follow us and that the website for the action fund is theoecactionfund.org. That's great. Well, this is wonderful. I'm wondering, as we close out, if you have any parting thoughts or Yeah. Words of wisdom for listeners as we just continue doing this good work and fighting it. My ear in Ohio.
Yeah. Thank you for that. I, um, you know, I feel like this is something that a colleague of mine. [00:16:00] Said to me at one point in, you know, a tip in, in working in advocacy for my, you know, fellow, um, my, uh, peers, you know, brothers and sisters working in advocacy. Mm-hmm. It's a marathon, it's not a sprint. You know, you really have to, um, you have to pace yourself.
You have to make sure that you have time for rest. Restoring play. You know, it's, it's keeping yourself, I think it's the importance of keeping yourself well and healthy and um, that is a practice is, is something that I've had to develop over time. The ways to do that, because burnout, you know, is real, it's in all sectors, but especially in non-profit where we do wear a lot of different hats and we work toward mission.
I just think it's incredibly important and I think it's. Part of our culture at the OEC as well that we, we really, um, we take some times during the year, this, we're coming upon a season with the holiday season where we're gonna, you know, um, basically close our offices [00:17:00] for a little while and give people a chance to rest and restore so we can come back fresh.
And that's just so important for sustaining, you know, this really critical work that we are doing, uh, to the benefit of all Ohioans for a clean and healthy environment for, for all of us here. I love that. Well, we definitely champion that ALC rest is resistance. We that and love that, you know how to sustain when doing really critical change work.
Mm-hmm. Um, this has been wonderful. You have to come back at some point, Melanie, and share even more. Thank you. Um, thank you, Jennifer. I loved it. You're so welcome. You're so welcome. Um, for listeners, you can learn more about the OEC and their work and the show notes and what we do here at ALC at jennifersconyers.com.
Until next time.
