By Marvin V Church, Associate Executive Director of Environmental Leaders of Color
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y.—July 27, 2026 — Students in Environmental Leaders of Color’s (ELOC) summer program got a firsthand look at what it means to build a career protecting and revitalizing local ecosystems when John Pavacic, a natural resources scientist with Con Edison, visited the organization’s New Rochelle site at the Booker T. Washington program on Wednesday, July 22nd.
The visit was part of ELOC’s summer program curriculum, which this year centers on the theme of “Ecosystems”. Students will spend the summer exploring how plants, animals, water, and humans interact with and depend on one another in the communities where students live.
As a subject matter expert in Con Edison’s Environmental, Health & Safety department, Pavacic guides the utility’s projects through environmental regulatory processes, negotiating permits and terms with agencies such as NYC Parks, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He also leads Con Edison’s sustainability programs, including its Rewilding Initiative, living shoreline projects, and efforts to incorporate green infrastructure into the company’s work. He is also one of the authors of Con Edison’s Biodiversity Plan.
Pavacic walked students through the wide range of projects he leads and supports at Con Edison, from eradicating invasive species that crowd out native plants to designing rain gardens that capture stormwater before it overwhelms local sewers and waterways to rewilding initiatives that reintroduce native species and pollinators to areas where they had previously disappeared. He also shared projects the utility is planning, giving students a look at how green infrastructure is shaping the region’s future.
As valuable as the science was, the key message was that a career in environmental studies is possible. Pavacic’s visit showed students that the environmental concepts they study each week translate into real careers where scientists dedicate their time to restoring habitats, managing stormwater, and bringing pollinators back to their neighborhoods. For many students, it was their first time meeting a working natural resources scientist and hearing how someone turns a passion for the environment into a profession.
“Our students see environmental science in textbooks every week, but moments like this show them it’s also a real career, one where you can spend your days restoring wetlands, protecting shorelines, and bringing pollinators back to neighborhoods like theirs. When they meet someone like John, who’s doing that work at a company as large as Con Edison, it becomes tangible. They start to see themselves in that role, not just as students learning about ecosystems, but as future scientists and stewards of their own communities,” said Marvin V. Church, Associate Executive Director of Environmental Leaders of Color.
The guest speaker engagement reflects ELOC’s ongoing commitment to connecting Westchester youth with environmental professionals and demonstrating pathways into the green workforce. ELOC thanks the Booker T. Washington program for its partnership and Con Edison for supporting environmental education in the community.
About Environmental Leaders of Color (ELOC)
Environmental Leaders of Color (ELOC) is a Westchester County-based nonprofit organization dedicated to engaging, educating, and empowering young people to become leaders in environmental justice. Through hands-on environmental programming, civic partnerships, leadership development, and academic support, ELOC equips the next generation with the knowledge and skills to create healthier, more sustainable communities.
For more information, visit www.eloc.earth.
