After seeing the shocking disparity of wealth in her birth country of Brazil when she was 15, Illene was sent on a path of seeking social justice through education for all. Years later she immigrated to Canada with her husband and children when Reagan was president and wanted to launch satellites with nuclear weapons. She went to graduate school when she was 50 because her five children were grown and she wanted to create learning environments that nurtured people and nature.

“Every act to protect our environment requires collaboration and gratitude for life’s gifts. Working together we can help!” – Illene Pevec

Illene returned to Colorado in 2003 and worked for Randy Udall at the Community Office for Resource Efficiency. “Randy’s public presentations on the impact of the petroleum industry on climate and his work to create sustainable building codes for Pitkin County educated me and many others,” said Illene. “He asked me to write a grant to Xcel for photovoltaic panels for the Carbondale Town Hall. Solar Energy International students installed the panels and we became the first town in Colorado with a solar powered town hall in 2004.”

In 2005 she went to CU to do a PhD in Environmental Design and Planning. Once she finished the course work and was doing research on the impact on adolescents of growing food in school and community gardens she worked for Solar Energy International (SEI) writing grants for their programs that teach students all over the world how to install solar systems, wind, and micro hydro to generate clean energy.

Illene has had a tremendous impact in the community of the roaring fork valley. With Fat City Farmers she supported Roaring Fork High to start an agricultural Biology class with a dome greenhouse, a school garden, and a large community garden. She and others planted many fruit trees on 350.org day in October 2010 as well.

Not long after that Illene became involved with 350 Colorado through the Roaring Fork Team! What started as signing petitions and making donations, turned into working closely with others on the team to organize locally. She was a part of another community that was leading the way in the face of the climate crisis.

“She is knowledgeable about the region, brings thoughtful ideas to the table, and is realistic and positive at the same time,” said Steve Kuschner, Roaring Fork Team Coordinator. Without people like Illene and others local organizing is very difficult if not impossible.

And over the years the Roaring Fork Team has campaigned on top issues and won! From seeing Pitkin County divest from fossil fuels, and helping block the Uinta Basin Railway project just last year, Illene and others exemplify what it takes to stay connected and committed to causes.

In just a few days on February 8th, Illene and the Roaring Fork Team will prune the high school fruit trees with collaboration of Age Friendly Carbondale, Fat City Farmers, and the Garfield County Extension Service from CSU. If you would like to support this event or learn more about it please email steve@350colorado.org.

Illene also has a book! “Growing A Life: Teen Gardeners Harvest Food, Health and Joy”, available at book stores and electronically here.

Illène creating a Silt library garden with the children from story hour