EAST PALESTINE — Ever since a Norfolk Southern train passed through Jessica Conard’s backyard on fire and eventually derailed a short time later, Conard has led the charge to hold the railroad accountable and the agencies responding to the East Palestine rail disaster honest. Through her advocacy work following the derailment and intentional release of one million pounds of vinyl chloride (the VC in PVC plastics) over her village, Conard found another nemesis in her crosshairs — the plastic industry.

On Wednesday, Beyond Plastics — an organization formed in 2019 with the goal of ending plastic pollution — announced Conard has joined their movement as its first-ever Appalachia director.

Conard expressed gratitude for and optimism in her new role with the Vermont-based organization.

“I feel very empowered by this opportunity to contribute to a positive pathway toward a plastic-free future,” Conard said. “Crisis has a way of bringing us all together, and it’s important that the crisis in my hometown of East Palestine not go to waste. The persistent work of Beyond Plastics and others can help prevent this tragedy from happening again. I look forward to being a part of this dynamic team and representing Appalachia as we strive to protect communities like mine from plastic-related disasters.”

According to its official website, Beyond Plastics “pairs the wisdom and experience of environmental policy experts with the energy and creativity of grassroots advocates to build a vibrant and effective movement to end plastic pollution” and relies on “deep policy and advocacy expertise to build a well-informed, effective movement seeking to achieve the institutional, economic, and societal changes needed to save our planet, and ourselves, from the negative health, climate, and environmental impacts of the production, usage, and disposal of plastics.”

Beyond Plastics also announced the hiring of Nyah Estevez as a New York City-based community organizer.

“We are thrilled to have these two highly effective women join our staff and elevate our work with their unique backgrounds,” said Judith Enck, Beyond Plastics president, Bennington College faculty member, and former EPA regional administrator. “As the petrochemical industry ramps up the production of plastic, plastic pollution will only worsen — especially in environmental justice communities where this pollutant is produced, used, transported, and disposed of. Conard and Estevez offer invaluable expertise on plastic’s impacts and on strategies to effect policy change. We are especially excited to have a staff member on the ground in Appalachia, where the petrochemical industry is increasingly expanding its presence to the detriment of local communities.”

Conard, who before the derailment worked as a speech pathologist, joined Beyond Plastics last month in Washington, D.C. when the organization joined Beyond Petrochemicals, River Valley Organizing, Hip Hop Caucus, Moms Clean Air Force, Plastic Free Future, Greenpeace, and others to deliver 27,570 petition signatures to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington, D.C., calling for a ban on vinyl chloride. The groups then met with Michal Freedhoff, assistant administrator in the EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.