Rachel Bukowitz [center] at registration table for Pittsburgh Youth Climate Action Summit
By Cait Kearney, 3R Marketing and Brand Ambassador
Rachel Bukowitz is a champion for sustainability in more ways than one.
Not only does she support 3R clients with their corporate sustainability programs, but she also works to advance climate education for Pittsburgh-area youth.
“I’m a huge proponent of everyone using their inherent power to push for change,” said Bukowitz.
Bukowitz, Sustainability and Business Operations Manager at 3R, is the working Board President of a Pittsburgh non-profit called Communitopia. Communitopia provides climate change education to youth, educators, and school districts to develop leaders who will advance equitable solutions to climate change issues. A highlight of the organization is its annual Pittsburgh Youth Climate Action Summit, which 3R sponsors.
“It was incredible,” Bukowitz said, regarding the event.
Rachel Bukowitz
Communitopia paid five youths, named “summiteers,” to plan and lead the summit with the guidance of the Board and Communitopia employees. Over 100 youths attended the event, and the agenda included a keynote speaker, breakout rooms, and other activities.
“[The summit] really focused on building networks between youth at different school districts,” said Bukowitz. “We focus on solutions-oriented climate action and climate hope.”
Bukowitz plans to continue serving as Communitopia’s Board President, helping update the organization’s strategic plan, and building the organization’s capacity through corporate and community partnerships.
For Bukowitz, serving her community has always been an important aspect of her life. Her work with Communitopia is part of her extensive history of community service and volunteer work.
In undergraduate and graduate school, Bukowitz pursued environmental studies and public policy. Afterward, she worked as a Food Justice and Site Development Fellow for the organization Repair the World, serving underprivileged communities in Pittsburgh and Atlanta. She contributed to urban agriculture projects, coordinated fundraising efforts, and built partnerships in the communities she worked in.
“There’s certainly a role that activism, volunteering, and grassroots work has in sustainability,” said Bukowitz.
When asked for advice for corporate professionals who want to get involved in community work, Bukowitz provided sage advice.
“The most impactful volunteering is ongoing, rather than one-off,” she said.
Learn more about Communitopia here.