Whitney Terrill: Nurturing Communities through Environmental Justice, Art, and Agriculture

Whitney Terrill’s environmental justice work is multi-faceted and community-oriented.

We met with Whitney over Zoom on an early summer day as she was on her way to her studio to pick up prints for an upcoming campaign. Throughout the interview we peppered her with questions about her passions and projects in hopes of learning what we could do to follow in her footsteps. It became clear that it is not just her achievements that make her efforts so valuable, but also her deep-rooted connection to nature and her caring and creative approach to organizing.

Whitney grew up in Minneapolis, primarily in the Marcy-Holmes neighborhood, and spent a significant amount of time in the Rondo community of Saint Paul. She describes herself as always having a spiritual home in these communities. When we asked her if the places she inhabited growing up at all inspired her journey as an environmental justice activist, she explained that although the places themselves did not directly inspire her, it was the people within these communities that had a profound impact on her, and continue to influence her decisions today. Being part of these communities made her constantly think about how she could solve problems with, and for, her community members, leading her to feel accountable to them and driving her passion for environmental justice. Whitney’s connection and dedication to her communities was clear to us throughout our interview with her.

In explaining how she started on her path to becoming an environmental justice advocate, Whitney recalled the significance of her middle school trip to the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center near Lake Superior. Spending a few days with her classmates in this natural setting gave her an early experience in nature, which she now notes was instrumental in shaping her decisions, both spiritually and professionally.

After graduating from college, Whitney initially pursued a career at an investment bank. However, she found that this path did not fulfill her and left her yearning for a deeper sense of purpose. Upon reflecting on a time she did feel fulfilled, the memories of her transformative trip to Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center resurfaced. It made her question how she could make a meaningful impact on the people and communities in North Minneapolis and Rondo, where she had personal connections. The dissonance between her career in investment banking and her aspirations to help her community pushed Whitney to seek fulfillment in another way.

“In her current role, she works to strengthen communities most affected by environmental injustices, and she herself is motivated by her communities growing up and the ones she surrounds herself with now.”

Recalling the influence of Wolf Ridge, Whitney sought to align her career and lifestyle choices with her passion for environmental justice. She pursued further education at Columbia University, earning a certificate in Conservation and Environmental Sustainability. She embarked on several trips to Nicaragua, after which she decided to prioritize consuming fair trade and organic food. This commitment to environmental justice continued to grow, shaping both her career path and personal lifestyle. Whitney became the Environmental Justice Program Manager for Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light (MNIPL), a non-profit that works in partnership with faith and spiritual communities to address the climate crisis. After a number of years with MNIPL, Whitney joined the Sierra Club, North Star Chapter, as an Environmental Justice Organizer.

Whitney described how she has found particular meaning in her current work focused on shutting down HERC (Hennepin Energy Recovery Center). HERC is a trash incinerator located in North Minneapolis, a neighborhood that has been targeted for more than its share of toxic facilities. HERC has become a focal point of concern and opposition in Whitney’s environmental justice efforts. It’s primary function is to burn off municipal solid waste in order to decrease the volume of trash that Hennepin County has to deal with. As a byproduct of the incineration, HERC also generates energy. However, because of the cumulative impacts of the pollution generated by HERC and other nearby facilities, it has garnered significant criticism from environmental justice activists and community members alike. The adverse health and environmental impacts experienced by the neighborhoods surrounding HERC have sparked a widespread call for its shutdown. Whitney has dedicated herself to this cause, finding profound meaning in these efforts.

We were delighted to hear about how she uses public art to engage the community in campaigns such as this one. To raise awareness for the campaign, she has organized five group exhibitions featuring murals on buildings as well as portable murals to reach out to community members and create visibility. Whitney also invites community members to participate in art builds, where they create the art used in demonstrations, such as those to shut down HERC. She enjoys using her skills as a printer to create posters and prints for outreach to the public. For example, she was excited to share with us her plans to raise awareness during an upcoming Minnesota Twins game by giving away “HERC Hankies,” a clever play on the traditional Homer Hankies.

In our interview we learned about an additional dimension to Whitney’s life: she is a small-scale organic vegetable farmer. Cultivating crops like pumpkins and sweet potatoes, she has developed a deep connection to the land and the agricultural practices that sustain it. Whitney’s experience as a farmer enables her to engage in conversations with rural farmers on an equal footing. She cannot be dismissed or excluded from discussions about farm issues because she shares similar experiences and challenges. Additionally, her role as an environmental justice organizer brings an invaluable perspective to these conversations. She can approach farming-related issues from both an agricultural and environmental justice standpoint, bridging the gap between these two spheres. Whitney describes her combination of perspectives as the “secret sauce.”

Operating her farm in Washington County, Whitney is conscious of the policy side of farming, and she actively engages in discussions about land access, recognizing the importance of equitable distribution of resources and opportunities for farmers. Her involvement in these conversations amplifies the voices of farmers who are often marginalized and ensures that the perspectives of environmental justice organizers are integrated into agricultural policy.

When she first entered farming, her initial focus was on growing healthy food and saving on her budget, however, she described to us how her understanding of farming has expanded to encompass broader considerations such as soil health and water access. She now appreciates the multifaceted nature of farming, recognizing that it involves much more than simply growing vegetables. Her dual role allows her to navigate the complexities of farming while advocating for a more just and sustainable food system. By actively participating in urban and rural dialogues, she strives to create positive change and promote equitable access to healthy food and agricultural resources.

As a mother, organizer, farmer, and artist, Whitney’s efforts and energy extend across many communities and, like many other activists involved in environmental justice, Whitney encounters barriers and burnout. Yet, in our conversation with her, it is clear that she never falters from her goal and she is powered by her community. When we asked her how she cares for herself while working tirelessly to make a difference in her communities, she replied,, “I don’t know, I’m still figuring it out”. Whitney attributes her endurance for the environmental justice movement to “trying to do work in a way that’s not mechanical, but instead allows for it to be sustainable”. She does this by putting effort into meals for herself and her community, focusing on doing things with care and beauty rather than convenience and having a good time in a whirlwind of work. Unlike many in the working world, Whitney expressed to us that she does not believe in the separation of work and family life, and often brings her children to organizing: “I think the way I’m trying to sustain it is to blur the lines a little bit between like professional and personal in a way that’s mostly respectful and productive.”

“As a mother, organizer, farmer, and artist, Whitney’s efforts and energy extend across many communities and, like many other activists involved in environmental justice, Whitney encounters barriers and burnout. Yet, in our conversation with her, it is clear that she never falters from her goal and she is powered by her community.”

Towards the end of the interview, in a state of awe and inspiration, we asked Whitney what she recommends young activists do to get involved in environmental justice work. Without hesitation, Whitney told us to spend time outside in order to create a foundation while learning about your favorite natural places and how you can protect them. In the environmental justice world, even if you’re not ready to engage politically or on a larger scale, the first step is to interact with nature and appreciate it.

We finished our interview with Whiteny feeling nothing short of inspired. Whitney brings passion and art and a sense of family to the environmental justice movement and the work that she, and so many others, are doing. Her efforts pave the way for true, purposeful progress.