We had the good fortune of connecting with Clare Margaret Donovan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Clare Margaret, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own nonprofit?
My little brother, Maxwell Acee Donovan, and I started our non-profit – Nature’s Negotiators – because we realized that it was the most effective way to use our platform for good. For us, part of the reason we turned to the entertainment industry in the first place was because we were so drawn to the platform one gains as a creative and how one can use that to make a difference in the world. Environmental activism has always been a huge passion of ours and with Nature’s Negotiators we aimed to create an organization that didn’t have any overhead costs so that we could funnel 100% of donations into the causes we champion. Additionally, when creating our model, we condensed our viewpoint into three action oriented missions. Number one is concerned with curating think tanks of stakeholders on a given issue and coming to a sustainable solution / compromise as a group. We feel this collaborative model is the most likely way of making swift and quantifiable progress. Our second mission focuses on “conservation easements” that would legally protect land that we purchase. We are particularly interested in preserving migration routes of animals like the Mountain Lion. Finally, our third mission is to support the incredible work already being done by wonderful organizations like The Jane Goodall Institute!

Where are you from and how did your background and upbringing impact who you are today?

We grew up in the beautiful mountains of Colorado with an anthropologist mother and conservationist grandfather! Needless to say, that upbringing has made all the impact in the world when it comes to the environmental mission we find ourselves on today. Growing up with that kind of breathtaking beauty around you every day is intoxicating and you realize that you never want to live without it. I can’t tell you how healing the majesty of nature is. My greatest pleasure in life is taking hikes with my family. And I had the luck of living in Vancouver, Canada for about a year…let me tell you, those hikes hit different. Me and my dog, Otis, have never gotten so many steps in a day, I was truly obsessed. As far as the impact that my mother’s genius and endless heart has had on me, it cannot be overstated. Everything that we are is because of our family and this endeavor with Nature’s Negotiators is no different. Her values are infinitely selfless and she seeks justice for this Earth like no one else. Our entire family is intensely linked to nature and we will put everything we have into doing what we can to save as much of it as we can (along with the help of all our incredible friends and peers who are donating and sharing)!!!

What is the most important factor behind your success / the success of your brand?

I think that our brand is hope. And as “The Hunger Games” proves, there is nothing more powerful than hope. Everything to do with climate change and the current state of the environment can feel so overwhelming and dark. Our goal is to spread the message that there really is still time and there really is still A LOT OF HOPE! If we start at the local level and work together one step at a time, there is so much we can do. Each and every person can be a grassroots activist and by saving just one ecosystem at a time, we have the capability to take on this fight for Earth!

What value or principle matters most to you? Why?

I think that we all balance a lot of values in a variety of different situations, but when it comes to Nature’s Negotiators and the missions we’re pursuing there, the main principle we operate under would have to be: collaboration. And not in a stuffy, workplace definition way, but using the word to emphasize how much stake we ALL have in these fights and how the best way to move forward is by working together and really listening to every individual’s voice. We can’t do anything in a vacuum, we need every person who is able to help us. And on that note, we can’t save the world in a vacuum! We need scientists, locals, policy makers, Indigenous peoples, and even the commercial fisherman (as in the case of our “Fight the Current” campaign, more info at https://naturesnegotiators.org/) to come to the table and lend their perspectives so that we can reach a sustainable compromise that doesn’t decimate anyone’s livelihoods, but that still achieves an environmental success. That is what our first mission emphasizes and why we want to facilitate think tanks / summits that deliver on this goal of collaboration.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As a Pisces, the raw emotion which pulses through me daily really requires a creative outlet. I have always been so drawn to the world of acting and writing/screenwriting because I see every character as an opportunity to step into someone else’s shoes and put forth a story that might mean something to someone. It’s such a gift when a film makes you laugh hysterically (or cry hysterically) and I love the act of creating those moments through my work. I’m drawn to personal stories of relationships between deeply unique individuals as they navigate the world they inhabit, oftentimes finding themselves at odds with the status quo. Whether they’re centuries old vampires living in 2014 New Zealand or Catholic school rebels trying to find time for rock and roll in between Ireland’s Troubles, I find that hilariously quirky characters still strongly rooted in a sense of reality are charming and relatable, making audiences reflect on themselves even as they are transported by the art. Not to mention, the Industry allows creators such an incredible platform to advocate for causes they find important! For us of course, that’s Nature’s Negotiators!!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
On the topic of nature, an LA must see is Descanso Gardens. Bonus points if you’re there during their Winter light show, what a truly stunning experience. Runyon Canyon is a phenomenal, trendy hike that gives you the full majesty of the LA skyline and the LA culture. Finally, the LA Zoo is doing a lot of conservation work across the globe and paying them a visit supports this cause, plus offers a fun day out. On to food!! Obviously, there are tons of fantastic vegan and vegetarian eateries throughout the City of Angels and it’s such a simple loving act for the planet to skip meat for even just a day or two! My personal favorite is Monty’s Burger which is 100% plant based and 100% committed to green business practices! Plus, their super cute spokesdog (Monty) helps promote animal rights and pet adoptions! Finally, do yourself a favor and go see a Shakespeare in the Park production this summer in Griffith Park! Bring a picnic and support the Independent Shakespeare Company, they are fantastic artists!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I definitely want to dedicate this shoutout to my mother, Erin Acee Donovan. She is an incredible human being: an archaeologist, anthropologist, professor, mother, producer, and even pilot in training! As far as the impact that my mother’s genius and endless heart has had on me, it cannot be overstated. Everything that we are is because of our family and this endeavor with Nature’s Negotiators is no different. Her values are infinitely selfless and she seeks justice for this Earth like no one else. Our entire family is intensely linked to nature and we will put everything we have into doing what we can to save as much of it as we can (along with the help of all our incredible friends and peers who are donating and sharing)!!!

Website: https://naturesnegotiators.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naturesnegotiators/

Other: https://linktr.ee/ClareDonovan

Image Credits
Jonny Marlow (headshots) JustJaredJr. (red carpet) The rest of the images are personal photos.

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