I stepped into the Communications Fellow role last July after several years of supporting CCJ as a member and resident of Greene County. Working as a Fellow for CCJ gave me the opportunity to bring my background in writing, research, digital communications, and faith-based perspectives on environmental justice to CCJ’s work in my community.
Here are a few highlights and some of the exciting work that stand out to me from the eight months I’ve spent in this role!
In October, I supported the “Faith, Fracking, and Plastics: A Conversation with Sharon Lavigne” MAD-FACTS event, which brought together local students and leaders at Washington & Jefferson College to engage with faith-based perspectives on environmental justice from the Gulf South. Drawing from my background in theological and interfaith studies, I wrote an op-ed for the Observer-Reporter about why people of faith should care about environmental justice and worked with CCJ’s organizing team to pack the room. It was a joy to help cultivate this opportunity for folks in southwest PA to bring their religious and spiritual perspectives to environmental justice issues.
I’m excited to hear that CCJ will continue its faith and environmental justice focus in future programming. Don’t miss MAD-FACTS’s upcoming event, “Working Class Solidarity: Union, Faith, and Environment” on April 22 at UMWA Career Centers Ruff Creek Campus! Register here.
At the end of 2025, CCJ matched donations up to $5,000 in our Giving Tuesday Campaign to support local food banks. This campaign occurred simultaneously with the pause to SNAP benefits during the federal shutdown and was meaningful to me as someone who has relied on SNAP to feed myself and my family. I had the pleasure of being involved in this campaign by researching and writing a blog debunking stereotypes associated with people who use SNAP. I also got the chance to visit Corner Cupboard Food Bank in Waynesburg to learn about their services and interview their executive director, Candace Webster, about the important role the food bank plays in our community.
Since my fellowship began in July 2025, southwest PA has become one of the hotspots of the growing data center industry. I learned a lot from being in the room during the early moments of CCJ’s response to the news of data centers coming to Washington and Greene Counties. In addition to making information about the risks of data centers accessible to our online supporters, I also worked with prominent CCJ member and Greene County resident Karl Hursey to develop a guest blog about the power our communities have to negotiate with data center developers. I was honored to collaborate with Karl to bring out his voice on this important issue.
Throughout my fellowship, I created a 50-page writing style guide for CCJ in collaboration with staff. This resource centralizes CCJ’s processes and guidance around writing on behalf of the organization. The guide will serve as a training tool for new staff and volunteers and an ongoing reference for the team. My hope is that the guide will help the team tell even more meaningful and resonant stories about CCJ’s impact that inspire our supporters to act with us!
I can’t forget to mention the many fairs, events, and community meetings I attended and all of the incredible people that I connected with throughout my fellowship! Building solidarity with community members like you who care deeply about working for healthy and abundant futures for all of us has given me hope for the future of southwest PA.
I’m grateful to everyone who makes CCJ’s work possible–from leaders and staff to the board and volunteers. Thank you for letting me be a part of our work to build communities that are strong and resilient in the face of corporate fossil fuel exploitation. I’m looking forward to being involved as a member again and will see you at CCJ events very soon!
Addie Pazzynski (they/them) is a writer, educator, and theologian from southwest PA. Addie, who grew up in Greene County and remembers falling asleep to the sounds of Emerald Mine, feels a strong connection to the land and people of the region. As a young adult, Addie was diagnosed with several chronic health conditions that are linked to exposure to environmental pollution. Addie is passionate about bringing faith-based perspectives to environmental and social justice work in rural Appalachia.
Addie has a BA in Biblical Ministry Studies from Waynesburg University, an MA in Interreligious Engagement from Union Theological Seminary, and a Master of Sacred Theology from Union Theological Seminary.