Roseville Resident Alana Howey sees climate change as one of the most urgent global problems of our time. She believes combating it is her legacy.
“In this age of climate change, I want my children, my neighbors, and my family to know that I did what I could,” Alana said.
Alana has leaned into local volunteer work, education, and advocacy to combat climate change and promote sustainable practices. She rolls up her sleeves and volunteers for the City of Roseville planting trees and removing invasive plants from local parks.
She’s even slipped on some gloves and “guarded the garbage” helping revelers sort compostable and recyclable items into the appropriate bins at zero-waste community events including Juneteenth and Tapped & Uncorked.
Alana said members of the public are often pleased to see the city promoting recycling and composting but can get a bit overwhelmed with thinking about that as an issue and a choice.
“We are doing a lot of education,” said Alana, who works as a physical therapist. “The challenge is to make recycling and composting easier and easier for people. We want businesses to shift their practices and for people to make different choices.”
Roseville Volunteer Manager Rachel Boggs praised Alana’s contributions and said the city is actively recruiting more volunteers who are interested in diving into sustainability projects around the city.
"We are actively trying to grow our sustainability volunteer group and we encourage any interested community member to reach out,” Boggs said. “There are many ways to help us engage others in our community as we promote our sustainability efforts."
Alana also advocates for changes in local policies and practices at Roseville City Hall as a founding member of Resilient Roseville, a coalition of residents contributing to and promoting climate action projects and environmental resilience.
“I felt there was a need to nudge the city to move along those lines,” Alana said.
Alana and her fellow group members educate the public about ways to be more sustainable in their everyday activities including cooking, commuting, shopping, and home and lawn maintenance.
Alana had her husband have incorporated sustainability into their daily lives. The couple was one of the first in the city to install solar panels on the roof of their home and backyard pergola nearly two decades ago. Their front lawn is a native landscape flush with wildflowers and humming with butterflies, bees, and birds. Their backyard includes apple trees, a large vegetable garden, a raspberry patch, and more vibrant blooms. The couple also prioritizes sustainable technology and practices in their property rental business.
“You have to be active and you have to hope. You have to be involved. Otherwise, you just go to despair and that is no way to live,” she said.