Cecilia Verónica Calvo
Senior Director of Environmental Research
Cecilia Verónica Calvo was born in Minneapolis and is of Peruvian heritage. Her parents, who continue to speak their native language, Quechua, immigrated to Minnesota from Cusco, Peru. They have planted in her a deep appreciation for the importance of cultural identity and respect for all people and nuestra Madre Tierra.
Cecilia is an expert on environmental justice, climate change, children’s health and natural resource policy, and has worked domestically and internationally to help respond to these challenges. Her passion for the social justice dimensions surrounding environmental concerns stems from the impact of environmental degradation on the lives, health, and rights of vulnerable people and communities.
“I believe a true and just response to climate change and environmental harm requires listening to and learning from communities of color, low-income communities, and Tribal and Indigenous communities who directly experience the effects of pollution and climate disruption where they live, work, play and pray.”
Most recently, as Director of Advocacy and Inclusion from 2022 through 2024 at the Minnesota Environmental Partnership, Cecilia brought together diverse coalition partners to contribute to historic legislative victories that protect the environment, climate, and public health, and advance environmental justice in Minnesota.
Cecilia combined her faith, concern for the environment and commitment to human rights by helping to lead the environmental justice efforts of the U.S. Catholic Church for over 15 years in Washington DC. From 2016 to 2021, Cecilia led the environmental justice efforts of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States as their Senior Advisor on Environmental Justice. From 2007 to 2016, Cecilia led the U.S. bishops’ Environmental Justice Program, where she coordinated the education, outreach and advocacy efforts. In this capacity, she played a key role in the promotion of Pope Francis’ environmental encyclical, Laudato Si’.
Throughout her career, she has accompanied Indigenous and community leaders who are protecting their land, culture, health and livelihoods from the impacts of extractive industries and pollution, and opened up spaces before the Minnesota Legislature, U.S. Congress and international organizations where their voices can be heard.
Cecilia holds a master’s degree in law and diplomacy with a concentration in international environment and resource policy from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and Spanish from Wellesley College. She also has received training in the field of mediation and conflict resolution.