Our Mission
The Environmental Defense Initiative is an international youth-led initiative dedicated to raising awareness of environmental issues and providing a platform for people to take action to create long-lasting change.
Our Story
The Environmental Defense Initiative was founded in Hopewell Junction, New York by Emma Mazzotta. Emma has been passionate about environmental issues from a young age and started TEDI to further develop her passion in a way that can make an impact across the US.
Through writing blogs on current issues in our environment, creating petitions to advocate for policy
change, educating others on our social media platforms, and hosting informational webinars, we hope to
expand TEDI's reach to thousands of people and do our part in shaping a better world for future generations
to live in.
Our Values
Passion
We believe that long-lasting change cannot be achieved without passion. All members of our team love the environment and are passionate about protecting it from human carelessness. Passion is the core of TEDI's mission.
Inspiration
Our mission is to inspire individuals to take action on environmental issues in their own communities. In order to inspire people to engage in environmental advocacy, we provide opportunities for people to learn about our environment.
Creativity
We believe that creativity is the key to success and channel it in all of our campaigns. TEDI aims to stand out, not blend in. Instead of offering volunteer opportunities, we focus on creating petitions that can be used to make sustainable policy change.
Meet Our Directors
Emma Mazzotta
Founder & Executive Director
Hopewell Junction, NY, USA
From a young age, Emma has exhibited a remarkable talent for leadership and passion for protecting the environment. She not only coordinates and engages in clean-up projects, but conducts research on the ecological impacts of water pollution. She founded TEDI to build upon her passion for environmental advocacy and achieve long-lasting, impactful change on an international level.
Karen Wong
Blog Director
Hopewell Junction, NY, USA
Karen has loved animals from a very young age. In her preschool years, she loved to care for turtles that wandered into her yard from a nearby creek. Growing up, she has been passionate about preserving animal habitats and saving the environment, often reading articles about animal life. TEDI allows her to use her voice to spread awareness for her interests and make a difference in this world.
Isabella Morelli
Petition Director
Lakeland, NY, USA
Isabella has been interested in nature since she was in elementary school when she tried to start a nature club with her friends. Recently, Isabella has become even more passionate about the environment upon witnessing the damage climate change has done to our world. She joined TEDI because she saw an opportunity to create change and use her voice for good.
Karen Peng
Campaign Director
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Karen has always been intrigued by forest ecosystems and how they sustain themselves. She is fascinated by environmental policy and advocating for sustainability in developing cities. She joined TEDI to express her passion for environmental science and to meet likeminded peers who also hope to solve current environmental issues.
Maggie Yang
Creative Director & Blog Writer
Hopewell Junction, NY, USA
Maggie has always appreciated and been fascinated by the beauty of nature. She believes in protecting our world so that future generations can experience the same wonder and beauty she has. Maggie hopes to make a difference in our world and preserve our environment by working with TEDI.
Emilia Lugo
Fundraising Director
Miami, Florida, USA
Emily has always been passionate about preserving the Earth and she is especially interested in the use of technology to solve current environmental issues. Her interest began in school, when she learned about how ecosystems function as well as how pollution harms these systems. This is when she began getting involved. She knew that TEDI was something she wanted to be a part of because of their genuine interest in protecting the environment, and she hopes to use her voice to spread awareness.
Nash Pillai
Chief Technology Officer
Hopewell Junction, NY, USA
Nash is a software engineer with a passion for environmental conservation. He has worked on projects that use technology to solve environmental problems and is excited to use his skills to help manage the technological aspects of TEDI.
Hiroyuki Sakuma
Senior Director of Website Development
Hopewell Junction, NY, USA
Hiroyuki speaks Japanese with a native proficiency and is interested in robotics, computer science, and mathematics. He is passionate about environmental conservation and is excited to use his skills to help TEDI achieve its mission.
Meet Our Dedicated Creators
Kailey Fitzgerald
Campaign Specialist & TikTok Manager
Hopewell Junction, NY, USA
Kailey has always seen the beauty of our world and is extremely passionate about preserving it. As a kid she was fascinated by nonfiction books about sea creatures and dinosaurs and would go on nature walks during recess at school. She joined TEDI because it allows her to use her voice, regardless of her age, to make a difference in this world.
Charlotte Wang
Instagram Manager & Blog Editor
Stormville, NY, USA
Charlotte is passionate about the environment and finding ways to reduce humanity’s negative impact upon it. She is currently conducting research in school related to bioplastics as part of her mission to do so. She joined TEDI because it provides a platform for spreading awareness and information to other people, and there is always strength in numbers when creating change.
Ann Catechis
Website Manager
Lakeland, NY, USA
Ann has always been passionate about preserving the Earth. From learning about recycling as a child, to studying how climate change affects marine species in the ocean, Ann knew TEDI was something she wanted to be a part of. Through TEDI, Ann is able to use her voice to express the increasing need for change to preserve the Earth for future generations.
Ina Sabarre
Blog Writer & Video Content Creator
Hopewell Junction, NY, USA
Ina has always loved being out in nature and researching different animals. Ina's main environmental interests include endangered species, natural disasters, and the contributions of large corporations to climate change. She joined TEDI to use her love and talent for writing to educate others about important environmental issues in our world.
Kylie Yap
Video Editor
Hopewell Junction, NY, USA
Kylie has always been captivated by nature and various forms of wildlife. She is extremely passionate about helping the millions of species that face extinction by preventing further habitat loss. She joined TEDI as a video editor to raise awareness of the impact of humans on wildlife and the environment.
Charlotte North
Digital Creator
Verona, NJ, USA
Charlotte’s passion for environmental science started as a kid when she lived in Oregon. She was surrounded by people who felt as passionately about the outdoors as she did. This summer she spent weekdays volunteering for local youth programs to help educate young children about the environment. TEDI is an opportunity for her to continue doing her part to help the environment!
Ashley Curtiss
Digital Creator
Hopewell Junction, NY, USA
Ashley has always been passionate about protecting the environment from a young age. She is fascinated by renewable energy sources, weather patterns, ecosystems, and the protection of endangered species. Before joining TEDI, Ashley was a counselor at a local zoo where she cared for endangered species and educated the public about them. She is excited to educate people about the environment and share her passion through TEDI.
Cassidy Fisher
Blog Writer
Warrington, Pennsylvania, USA
Cassidy is passionate about the environment and studying the impacts of changes in the environment on human health and wellbeing. She has conducted extensive research on environmental inequities in minority communities and joined TEDI to raise awareness of these inequities and other environmental issues.
Priya Connelly
Blog Writer
Hopewell Junction, NY, USA
Priya has always been passionate about the Earth and is constantly looking for more ways to preserve it for future generations. She loves all things nature, especially animals, and wants to raise awareness of environmental problems that lack public attention. She has witnessed the impacts of environmental problems on our Earth first-hand and joined TEDI to speak up about these important issues.
Alexa Segovia
Blog Editor
New York City, New York, USA
Alexa has always has a strong interest in environmental conservation and ensuring a better future for generations to come. She has a special passion for animals, especially pandas. She wants to pursue a degree in biology and study ways in which we can help our environment thrive. TEDI is a great way to spread awareness and motivate others to take action in order to make the world a better place!
Madeline Cabral
Blog Editor
Taunton, Massachusetts, USA
Madeline’s love for the environment began at a young age. She is an aspiring hydrologist who enjoys studying water and soil sciences. She has seen how pollution and negligence affect her local watershed and hopes to help spread awareness about current environmental issues through TEDI.
Partnerships
Thank you to all of our partners for working with us to achieve sustainable, long-lasting change. Learn more about these partnerships by following us on Instagram.
PLANT A CHANGE
PLASTIC 2 BRICK
"Collaborating with your team on our project has been an exceptional experience. Your dedication, creativity, and professionalism were evident in every phase of our partnership. The insights and solutions you provided significantly enhanced our project, and the seamless collaboration process made it all the more enjoyable."
-- Plant A Change--
"Collaborating with the Environmental Defense Initiative on inspiring reels and a microplastic pollution petition was an experience nothing short of amazing. Their unwavering dedication to protecting our planet and educating the community on sustainable practices is truly commendable. We’re proud to stand alongside such a passionate and impactful organization in our shared mission to make the world a greener place."