When Max Cepeda arrived in Texas, he had $20, a bus ticket, and a quiet determination to survive. Now, as an Environmental Science major at Austin Community College District (ACC), he\u2019s shaping a more sustainable world\u2014one garden bed, one classroom, and one voice at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo me, sustainability isn\u2019t a separate issue; it\u2019s braided into everything. You can\u2019t talk about environmental protection without addressing those who lack access to clean air, healthy food, clean water, or those who go without access to education. These issues intersect with race, class, gender, and the very thing that makes us human\u2026 community. I believe that healing the planet means healing people, too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Exiled from his family for being queer, Max found himself homeless before eventually joining the Navy. After years of survival and self-rebuilding, Max made his way to ACC\u2014seeking not only an education but a future rooted in healing, accountability, and hope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor a long time, survival was the only priority. It took years and a lot of healing for me to even imagine a future where I could pursue education. ACC gave me that chance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At first, Max planned to keep his head down. Just classes. Just tutoring. No frills. But that changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs time went on, I felt safe enough to participate in the community, attend events, and collaborate with students in the Environmental Science program. My world split wide open, and light poured in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A chance conversation with a passionate park ranger during his work as a thermographer lit the initial spark, reminding Max of his childhood in Arizona, where water shortages, pesticide exposure, and environmental injustice were part of everyday life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA singular deep conversation with a passionate park ranger, who probably doesn\u2019t even remember me, lit a fire in me that changed the course of my life. That was the moment I knew I wanted to pursue an education and become a steward of the land.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through his studies and community involvement at ACC, those early experiences crystallized into a mission: environmental justice is people justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Max is most proud of his work on a community garden developed as part of a capstone project for his 1302 Issues in Environmental Science class. The garden created a living classroom for students and neighbors alike, grounding abstract conversations about sustainability in something tangible, rooted in shared work and mutual care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Max, sustainability isn\u2019t a siloed concept\u2014it\u2019s intersectional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t talk about clean water without talking about who doesn\u2019t have it. Or clean energy without considering who can afford it,\u201d he explains. \u201cHealing the planet means healing people. And that means justice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He sees science as a tool, and people as the force behind meaningful change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStudents are the heart and soul of any movement here at ACC. We bring fresh perspectives, lived experiences, and the hunger to make change. At ACC, students have the power to advocate for green policies, build community-led solutions, and so much more. We\u2019re not just participants. We are architects.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His advice to those looking to get started: \u201cStart with what speaks to you. Whether it\u2019s food insecurity, clean energy, climate education, or art, there\u2019s space for everyone in this work. Join a club, go to a workshop, or volunteer in any way you can. You don\u2019t need to know everything; you just need to be willing to learn and show up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information about ACC\u2019s Environmental Science program, click here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n