Q&A: Meet Houston Organizer Haley Schulz

Haley Schulz is a Houston-based community organizer for Public Citizen’s Texas office. Haley is a born and raised Houstonian and looks forward to advocating on behalf of the people of Texas by mobilizing communities and building coalitions.

Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a Houston native and grew up in Sugar Land, just southwest of Houston. I’ve always been a curious person and I love asking “why” and I really feel like that’s led me on a unique path when it comes to my career. I am constantly looking for opportunities to learn and understand. Turning my work toward public rights advocacy is very rewarding and humbling. I enjoy reading and playing French horn with the Texas Medical Center Orchestra in my free time. I LOVE the music and rich cultural scene that Houston has to offer. My family and I also love to travel and enjoy the outdoors as much as possible.

What did you do before joining Public Citizen?
My winding career has taken me through MANY different industries. Starting with a summer job at a cough syrup lab, I studied music business at the University of Houston because of my love for music. I had a major in performance with a minor in marketing and wanted to get into the performing arts on the administrative/nonprofit side. I worked with the Houston Symphony and then shifted my career to accreditation. I learned a lot about process improvement and account management. From there I moved into the energy sector within a company that provides surplus solutions to energy sector clients. It was there that I gained insight into the oil and gas industry and realized its influence on Houston and the world. Over the past few years, I’ve made it my personal mission to discover what the environmental justice landscape looks like in Houston. I started attending weekday meetings, town halls, and signing up for any seminar to learn about the climate movement. I continued to look for opportunities to advocate for my community. These experiences led me to Public Citizen and the fantastic work this organization does nationally and here in my home state.

It’s an interesting context! How does your experience influence your approach to organizing?
During my professional and personal journey, I have met many people from different backgrounds. Being empathetic and hyper-aware, I love connecting with people, but I also want to do right by them. So when I became aware of social justice issues here in Houston, I felt deeply connected to my neighbors and empowered to take action. My experiences each give me a unique perspective on the work I do today. With my recent work in the energy sector and coming from an industry deeply rooted in our economy and daily lives (hello Houston, the “Energy Capitol of the World”), I understand the players and hope propose creative solutions. solutions to problems. I also have a journalistic approach to understanding scenarios, so my curiosity keeps me informed and moving toward solutions. I think these attributes all play a vital role in my work.

Since working at Public Citizen, what have you observed about Houston as it relates to the areas the Texas office works in?
This is all very relevant and there is much needed work here in Houston. Houston is home to more than 5,000 energy-related companies, representing more than 42 percent of the nation’s base petrochemical capacity. Our coastal location bodes well for trade and exports with the Houston Ship Channel. Industrial development in Houston and along the coast is immense, which also means that sacrificed areas and communities bear the brunt of the consequences. Public Citizen is part of many coalitions tackling various advocacy issues across the state, and I look forward to joining these conversations and making real change.

What advice would you give to someone starting out in the social justice or public advocacy field?
To make a difference, start by showing compassion and asking questions. If we are open-minded, if we take the time to listen and act in everyone’s best interest, we can do so much good in the world. My journey began with curiosity and empathy, but now I put in the work every day to advocate for my community. I believe that we, as people, are innovative and creative and that we have solutions for a better future. But obstacles keep us from moving forward, and my job is to remove them. I hope to inspire empathy and action, as many others have done for me, so that we can work together and inspire the next generations.

A final comment for our readers?
I look forward to meeting you ! This vital work we do at Public Citizen is impossible without connection. I may have started out as a “concerned citizen,” but I am excited and proud to have a career in this field.

I look forward to helping build a better future for Texans with you.