by Megan Churchill

Maturing in Polk County Florida, Hunter Miller has actually constantly valued the natural world; it wasn’t till 2017 that he had the ability to utilize his regard for the Earth to sustain his profession. Miller finished from Flagler College in 2011 with a degree in public administration, and he now holds the position of Field Project Supervisor at Oceana.

Oceana is the world’s biggest global advocacy company working to maintain the oceans. The group works to increase biodiversity by avoiding overfishing, environment damage and plastic and oil contamination.

Miller didn’t look for his position at Oceana straight after college.

” I actually do not have a normal story when it concerns how I got here,” Miller stated.

The economy remained in a bad location when Miller finished from Flagler in 2011. As he searched for task chances he kept St. Augustine in mind.

” After college I understood I wished to remain in St. Augustine. I had no desire to leave, I enjoyed the neighborhood,” Miller stated.

Miller started operating at the regional St. Augustine service, Southern Cultivation. While working he likewise promoted for environmental management, arranging for the group Environmental Youth Council.

” For several years I did that [worked at Southern Horticulture], I worked my task and after that in my extra time I was basically an activist and an organizer,” stated Miller.

Miller stated that in 2015, President Obama proposed opening the Atlantic Ocean to brand-new overseas oil drilling. Miller and the Environmental Youth Council got to work arranging projects to avoid this from occurring.

In their efforts they went to the White Home, lobbying on capitol hill, and they arranged marches in St. Augustine. They eventually won the project and stopped Obama from putting oil well on the Atlantic shoreline.

Miller discovered promoting for the environment crucial despite whether he earned money for his efforts. In those very first years after finishing from Flagler, he made time to dedicate to advocacy while likewise working.

” I never ever actually believed I might earn money to do this type of ecological advocacy work, however I ultimately partnered with Oceana on a number of things, and after that, they saw the worth that I might give their company and motivated me to use to a task with them,” Miller stated.

Miller’s work at Oceana

In 2017 Miller was worked with for the position he now holds as Field Project Supervisor for Oceana.

In this position, Miller works to harness neighborhood assistance substantial adequate to affect congress to pass brand-new laws or alter old ones.

In the broad image, Oceana works to win policy success for the Ocean.

” We do that by winning science based policies, so attempting to alter laws that safeguard our oceans,” Miller stated.

Oceana has actually branches stationed worldwide and spread out throughout the U.S.

” I deal with a group of supporters that live around the nation, that operate in particular areas or states which support our projects,” Miller stated.

In his everyday work Miller engages a lot with the neighborhood. He stated Oceana collects project assistance through a mix of grassroots arranging, political advocacy and tactical interaction.

Miller has actually just recently been working some projects.

” An excellent example that I’m actually pleased with that simply occurred– we have actually been promoting for the last couple years to prohibit the deliberate release of balloons … we had the ability to construct a terrific varied union and work to get a costs passed this legal session in the state legislature to prohibit deliberate balloon releases,” Miller stated.

Up until this law was passed each person in Florida was lawfully permitted to launch as much as 10 balloons daily and an endless variety of naturally degradable balloons.

Miller stated event substantial assistance is required even to pass laws which looks like good sense.

” It does not simply take place, it takes union structure, and interactions, and clever advocacy and federal government relations work.”

Miller’s Flagler Experience

Miller’s experience at Flagler prepared him for his profession after college.

He achieved abilities from his significant in public administration, however individuals– both teachers and trainees– were what left more of an effect.

” Over the time I was here [at Flagler] I fulfilled individuals that actually taught me about our private obligation for making certain that we safeguard locations and types and land for future generations …,” he stated.

A number of individuals Miller fulfilled at Flagler were public servants. He had an impactful experience at Flagler.

” It prepared me in a great deal of methods to be a much better individual and more geared up to be reliable at my task,” Miller stated.

When it concerns impacting modification, for Miller the individual connections he felt at Flagler are elements that have actually rollovered to his work now.

Educating, gaining from and persuading others in the neighborhood, is main to his work at Oceana.

” When you get together with your good friends or you get together with your neighborhood, your voice is amplified and your power is greatly more powerful,” he stated.

Miller has huge objectives for the future and his daily truth is assisting him to move towards his objectives.

” I simply wish to do great and establish great relationships with individuals and individuals that I deal with internally and externally,” Miller stated.

Miller enjoys living in St. Augustine with his other half and child and acknowledges that it’s a benefit to do the work he does every day.

Delighting in life matters to him, and the significance of the work Miller does doesn’t originate from his rank or position.

” I’m not very concentrated on status seeking or attempting to race to the top as rapidly as possible. I actually enjoy my life,” he stated.

Miller stated as we go through life it matters that we live sustainably to attempt to conserve the Earth.

” You understand I can simply keep in mind individuals stating, ‘well you’re the next generation, you’re gon na wait all,’ and now I’m hearing that refrain go to the next generation and the next generation, and it keeps getting given …,” Miller stated.

Miller highlighted that it matters that we act now.

” It resembles ‘you understand what? all of us have a part to play, let’s not simply keep handing down the baton to the next generation due to the fact that it resembles there’s excessive to lose and there’s inadequate time, all of us got ta pitch in,” Miller stated.