Reflecting On My 2025 Hazel M. Johnson Fellowship
By Alexis Rollings
When looking back on my time as a Hazel M. Johnson Fellow, I am forever grateful for the experience and what I've gained from it. First, I've gained a better idea of what I want to do in the future. Before this internship, corporate sustainability was something that interested me, although I truly did not know what it entailed. Through this internship, I've gotten to learn what that term actually means and what it looks like to work at a company with a genuine value and commitment to sustainability. I've had the opportunity to work with talented and knowledgeable people and learn so much more about what corporate sustainability means in practice, including developing environmental impact strategies and implementing measurable sustainability goals that align with business objectives.
Additionally, I've gotten to learn so much from my fellowship cohort, and the Hazel M. Johnson Fellowship community has been such a gift to me. Creating space for and by Black girl environmentalists allows for a safe space to share about experiences in the climate space. This kind of intentional community-building is essential because it provides a foundation where we can be authentic about both our passion for environmental work and the unique challenges we face as Black women in predominantly white spaces. Having peers who understand the intersection of racial and environmental justice creates an environment where vulnerability and growth can flourish, while also building the professional networks and mentorship relationships that are often harder to access in traditional environmental circles.
One of my favorite parts of the fellowship was being able to convene with all the other fellows in person at the retreat. I have never been to Washington before this summer, so getting to explore different parts of it is something I'm grateful for. I felt simultaneously relaxed and energized by being around other Black individuals also passionate about the environment. I also enjoyed the activities I participated in at the retreat. The kayaking, zip lining, and hiking gave us meaningful time to spend together outdoors. These moments reminded me why environmental work matters on such a personal level and the vital connection between environmental protection and community wellbeing. At the retreat, we each had a chance to present to the cohort about our internships and the projects we worked on. It was so interesting to learn more in-depth about what the other fellows worked on, and it was beautiful to see the range of environmental work that we as Black women participated in.
After my experience as a Hazel M. Johnson Fellow, I feel encouraged to continue on my path of pursuing a career in climate. As someone who has worked in the environmental nonprofit space before this internship, I am grateful for the opportunity to explore what sustainability work looks like in the private sector through this experience. This internship has confirmed to me that I would like to work in the corporate sustainability field in the future, helping companies integrate sustainability into their strategy and operations rather than treating it as an afterthought or marketing initiative. Looking forward, I aim to be an advocate within a company, ensuring that it not only makes a surface-level commitment to sustainability but also genuinely integrates it into all aspects of its operations.
I am grateful for this fellowship for not only providing me with a better idea of what I would like to do professionally, but more importantly, providing me with a community of fellow Black female and gender-marginalized individuals in the climate space I can always lean on and support. The relationships I've built and the confidence I've gained will continue to sustain me as I navigate my career in environmental work, knowing that I'm part of a network of changemakers committed to both environmental protection and social justice.