Advocating for environmental, social, and economic justice

Garrett Blad ’15

Civic Engagement Director, Faith in Indiana

Major: Sustainable Policy and Development

Supplemental Major: Environmental Science

Garret Blad ’15, though offered other opportunities across the world to fight climate change and engage in activism, chose to return to his home state of Indiana to ignite positive change in the community that raised him.

Since graduating from Notre Dame with a degree in environmental science and sustainable policy, Blad has been a leading voice for young Americans in the fight for social, racial, and climate justice. In 2015, Blad joined the U.S. Youth Delegation to the Paris Climate Talks, helping to cement the most aggressive warming limit in the Paris Agreement. As a part of his role in launching the Sunrise Movement, Blad led a mass demonstration for the Green New Deal in November 2018 — a viral moment that helped to make climate change a political priority.

After moving back to Indiana, Blad became involved in local climate efforts to protect parcels of land subject to bulldozing and paving into industrial parking lots. When an opportunity arose during the pandemic to run for state representative, he took a chance as a rookie candidate on a shoestring budget, running as an openly gay, climate justice-centered candidate. Though losing by a slim margin, Blad did not waver in his commitment to his home state.

Now, as Civic Engagement Director at Faith in Indiana, Blad has played a significant role in working across the aisle to support legislation to make mental health services more accessible across Indiana. Recently, he testified about his family’s personal grief regarding the loss of his brother, which in many ways resulted from failures of the state’s medical system. Blad helped lead the “Call for Care” campaign that passed legislation to invest $100 million to revolutionize Indiana’s mental health care system.

Blad has committed himself to daily community organizing in order to advocate for environmental, social, and economic progress to support the liberation of all people, especially those who are marginalized in society. He maintains a strong tie to the University, pursuing ongoing educational opportunities by auditing classes in the Portuguese department and working with administrators and professors with whom he has fostered deep working relationships.