In a world where the bigger picture is often forgotten, Lauren Beriont knows the importance of long-term, structural change. As a 2013 SEAS graduate, Beriont was drawn to her program’s approach to holistic sustainability and how she was able to explore the interconnectedness between economic, social, and environmental systems, ultimately leading to her work as a community organizer. 

Beriont’s work with Mosaic is especially telling of her passion for tackling systemic injustice while fostering deep relationships with those around her. The national initiative’s mission is to develop critical infrastructure to support a variety of environmental movements, such as climate stabilization and clean air and water. The work in this system-wide effort encompasses racial healing, reimagining the relationship between grantees and funders, and providing channels for coordination between nonprofits. 

These focal points are also the driving force behind Emergence Collective, a capacity building consultancy that Beriont co-founded with two other women in 2017. In partnership with organizations that are based in social impact and nonprofit sectors, Emergence Collective is focused on impact evaluation, strategic planning, and social justice, and Beriont collaborates with foundations, nonprofits, and other consultants across the country to ensure that their work is actively in service to equity. Beriont’s time at SEAS includes experiences in geology, environmental science, and sustainability work, as well as the Graham Scholars program, all of which ultimately equipped her with the skills and well-rounded versatility that have allowed her to bring a variety of perspectives to Emergence Collective’s consulting work. 

Working through the obstacles of creating a start-up and building a reputable name as a business, Beriont has found that her focus on structural change is challenged by overarching ideals of professionalism in the US, where work is incentivized by short term ideas of success. “This makes a lot of my work simultaneously difficult and rewarding because we are talking about trying to effect change on timelines that might exceed our own lifespan or with communities that we are less familiar with,” Beriont said. “As a result, the part of my work that takes a lot of creative brain power is getting people motivated and committed to large scale systemic change. I firmly believe we need to be addressing these less tangible and more structural aspects of change if we are to hope for a world with environmental health and social equity.”