Janice Cantieri is an environmental journalist & storyteller from Waukesha, Wisconsin. She graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a degree in International Sustainable Development and a minor in Anthropology, spent a year living in Kiribati on a Fulbright-National Geographic Storytelling Fellowship, and in 2017, completed her MSJ as a Comer Scholar for Environmental Reporting at Medill/Northwestern University.
In what ways does nature inspire or inform your work?
Since I started this work, the impacts of climate change have intensified to the point where it’s hard not to pay attention. Nature is sending messages through wildfires, sea level rise, extreme droughts, and global pandemics that we need to change our lifestyles now. I remain hopeful because I’ve seen many examples of nature rebounding, if given the chance, while covering community efforts to address environmental changes. I believe we have the ability to not only protect what is left of nature, but ensure that we thrive as a species as well. Nature is extremely resilient, forests can grow back. I believe humanity is resilient as well, but we must learn to live more in line with nature. My work is sharing stories that inspire us to do so.
