Community Action Fellow / Environmental Sustainability
Featured Quote:
“Sometimes it feels like you need permission, but you already have it--the ability to create the future we want is already in us.”
As a Community Action Fellow, Cate McNamara focused on environmental sustainability by helping fashion students better understand the value and use of natural dyes. She organized and led a series of natural dye workshops on 91Ƭ’s campus as part of Rustbelt Fibershed’s student ambassador program, which was designed to strengthen collaboration between the university and the nonprofit. Through that work, Cate helped spark student interest in sustainable design practices while connecting them to a broader regional fashion community in Greater Cleveland. Her project also helped build momentum for future possibilities, including stronger university partnerships and growing interest in a campus dye garden. Along the way, she developed confidence in her ability to organize others, build partnerships, and turn an idea into something tangible.
In Their Words:
On what inspired her work
“I was inspired by the area of Environmental Sustainability, specifically the task of educating fashion students on the use and importance of natural dyes.”
On the impact of the project
“Students in the fashion program have become much more interested in natural dyes and sustainable design techniques, getting them involved in the Rustbelt Fibershed, which then introduces them to the greater Cleveland area fashion community.”
On leadership and change
“Sometimes it feels like you need permission, but you already have it. I think that is something that a lot of us lose sight of in our citizenship.”
What's Next:
Now preparing to graduate in 2026 with a degree in Fashion Merchandising and Design, Cate plans to continue this work in her professional life by staying involved with Rustbelt Fibershed and helping organize regional communities around sustainability, local economies, and change in the fashion industry.