SRAP is pleased to welcome Rachel Casteel to the SRAP team as a regional representative!

Rachel grew up outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where the ever-looming industry kindled her passion for community organizing, environmental and social justice, and advocacy. She is a graduate from Thiel College with a degree in environmental science and minors in food and agricultural biology, and wildlife biology.

She began her career with the Greenville Area Economic Development Corporation, where alongside the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, she worked on land use issues affecting differentially exposed populations.

Rachel said:

Nationwide, our communities are facing a web of injustices inhibiting their right to a healthy and accessible environment, economy, and life. I am beyond excited for the opportunity to join SRAP in building grassroots power to advocate for socially responsible agriculture, and ensure communities are heard, respected, and have their needs met.

Rachel is an experienced organizer, and built grassroots campaigns around climate justice and social justice issues.

Rachel’s passions led her to the Allegheny County Health Department in Pittsburgh, where she worked as an environmental health specialist. After spending time in local government, Rachel chased her roots back to community organizing.

She relocated to Maryland where she completed a 14-month environmental health and justice fellowship with the Center for Community Engagement, Environmental Justice, and Health at the University of Maryland under Dr. Sacoby Wilson, helping to connect folks with resources and empower the fight for their right to a clean, healthy, and accessible environment.

SRAP informs and educates the general public about the negative effects of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs)—also known as factory farms—while working directly with U.S. communities impacted by this destructive form of industrial animal agriculture. Through public education, issue advocacy, and local community organizing, SRAP empowers rural residents to protect their public health, environmental quality, natural resources and local economies from the damaging impacts of factory farms. For more information on SRAP, visit www.sraproject.org.