We are so excited to introduce you to Tess Freeman who has come on board at TEC to lead our DEQ Materials Management grant-funded Multifamily Recycling Project over the next year! Born and raised in Carbondale, Colorado, Tess became an Oregonian when she attended the U of O. She has lived in Bend for 5 years sharing stories with the community through her videography at the Bulletin. Her background in and passion for photojournalism will be an asset to her new position enabling her to connect with all kinds of folks. And is she passionate about other things? You betcha!: sustainability, reducing waste in her home, and DIY projects to name a few. She is also curious about the way things work, and excited about sharing knowledge. We’re lucky to have her with us.
Below are a few questions and answers I asked Tess to learn a little more about her background and interests — I’m sharing them with you so you can get to know her better, too. We hope you think she’s as rad as we do!
What do you appreciate or enjoy about living in Central Oregon?
I enjoy living in a place where I can access the trails from my backyard and be in the mountains within a short drive. The access to the outdoors along with the combination of music, art and the emerging discussions about diversity is what keeps me in Central Oregon. Growing up in Colorado, I love living in a similar climate where we get to experience the magic of all four seasons.
What’s one thing you’re looking forward to this year?
This year is an exciting one in many ways! I feel very fortunate to join the staff at The Environmental Center and for the opportunity to use my creativity to work on a new pilot project that focuses on reducing waste and recycling. I am also very excited about my sister’s book, No Option but North, which comes out in April. She spent a year interviewing Central American migrants on their journey to the United States and I was able to join her to photograph some of the migrants whose stories are featured in her book. I believe the stories, combined with the portraits, create empathy for the people who make the difficult journey across Mexico to the U.S. border. I’m hopeful that this book will help give much needed insight into such a complex issue like immigration.
What book are you currently reading? Or a film you’ve seen recently?
I’m currently reading Samantha Power’s memoir The Education of a Young Idealist. Power was Obama’s human rights advisor and then later was the youngest American appointed to be the US ambassador for the UN. She interweaves her career track with her personal life in a unique way that makes her struggles and accomplishments relatable. This narrative is especially inspiring to see from a person who has held such a high level position in our government.
If you were to facilitate a discussion on one topic you’re passionate about, what would it be?
I am incredibly passionate about photojournalism, storytelling with imagery and the way the use of images has changed even in the short time that I’ve been in the working world. To me, this discussion focuses on the approach and purpose of photography instead of the technical aspects of cameras, which is very easy to get distracted by because cameras are very cool gadgets. I believe that capturing raw, truthful moments of humanity with photography is important art to protect and I love diving into all the discussions surrounding the changing world of journalism.
Welcome Tess! Cant wait to see how your creativity and passion for storytelling translates into this excellent new TEC program for recycling in multifamily units – a much needed link in our attempts to reuse materials and reduce waste. It seems like a great time to connect in with folks who may not have the benefit of curbside recycling. I think people are facing a new paradigm in this time of crisis in terms of looking at resource management, and am hopeful that this will translate into better environmental stewardship across the board.
So glad you are part of our team, Tess! Can I borrow Samantha Power’s book after your done? And when things open up, maybe we can host a talk about your sister’s book and a book signing?
Thanks Mike! I finished it so I’ll leave a copy on your desk this week. That’s a great idea (and something to look forward to) to host a book signing for No Option but North when things open up again.
Welcome to TEC, Tess! I can’t wait to see what young minds like yourself will do for reducing and recycling waste. Photography and reading seem to be some of your other interests. Would love to see some of the photos you’ve taken. And thanks for mentioning Samantha Power’s book. I’ve made a mental note to read it.