I grew up in Champaign, and the first time I took action on a social issue was when Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated—I was in college and marched with other demonstrators at the county courthouse in Urbana.

Since then, I’ve endeavored to support organizations that get at root causes of problems in our society, as seemingly normal consumer and lifestyle choices often have effects beyond our initial perception. I like that PIRG digs down and finds ways the system has been rigged against our long-term welfare and tries to translate that into legislative and legal action at the state, local and national levels. Problems like plastic waste in particular need this multi-pronged approach—and I know PIRG will keep working until the job’s done.