Sea Star of the Month: Tayyaba Shahzad

Tayyaba Shahzad, Eco-Action Accelerator alum and current Ocean Action Grantee 

Tayyaba got into sustainability work outside of her regular 9–5 to cope with some of the anxiety she was feeling around climate change. She knew she couldn’t be the only one carrying those feelings, so she wanted to create spaces for intergenerational conversations around the issues we were witnessing, the barriers to getting involved, and the responsibilities and actions we each hold. Having organized and managed projects in the past, Tayyaba became interested in exploring community initiatives through a sustainability lens. 

One of these initiatives, funded through Ocean Wise’s Eco-Action Accelerator Program, is called Conservation Connections. Tayyaba’s workshop series explores different forms of conservation, beginning with an ethnobotany walk through an Indigenous lens, rooted in respectful harvesting practices and deepening participants’ relationship with nature. Building on that intention setting, Tayyaba is hosting workshops on clothing upcycling, notebook binding, and heirloom seed sowing this Spring, all facilitated by passionate local professionals, eager to share their knowledge. She will be moving onto the Ocean Action Grant program to build on this work even further.  

The goal for Tayyaba and her team isn’t just about skill-building but encouraging people to rethink their relationship with the land, consumption, and waste. Through these gatherings, they invite participants to unlearn habits shaped by mass media and overconsumption, while rediscovering the value of repairing, reusing, and creating with what we already have. Tayyaba hopes this work encourages people to consume less, move away from the constant pressure to keep up with new trends and appreciate the process of making things for ourselves.