Date: January 26 2003
Source: Just Within Reach
An interview with its founder and president, Kevin Richardson
By Linda Hughes
January 26th, 2003 marks a very important day in the life of Kevin Richardson's environmental foundation, Just Within Reach. It
was on this day two years ago that the foundation incorporated and to recognize this anniversary Kevin Richardson very graciously
agreed to answer some questions
that were sent to him via JWR Director of Public Relations, Vicki Hanna. The questions were submitted by a number of people from
"Earth Loving Friends" and Kevin recently answered them via a phone conversation with Vicki Hanna while in New York rehearsing for
his Broadway debut in "Chicago".
Question: First of all, congratulations on the first two successful years as the president and founder of Just Within Reach. What
would you describe as your greatest accomplishment so far? What are you most proud of that JWR has done in the past two years?
Kevin Richardson: Well first off, let me thank everyone who has supported and helped Just Within Reach to this point. It's been a
pretty quick two years already and we know that we could not have accomplished everything we have without the help of many people.
So thank you. I think our greatest accomplishment, besides just making a lot more people aware of environmental issues, is the fact
that we put mountaintop removal coal mining on the radar screens of Congress and the Natural Resources Defense Council. That is a
big win for us and we're proud that we played a role in getting it on NRDC's list of priorities for the year. Now we just have to work
to turn that into more direct action and make sure that these companies are held responsible and accountable for their actions. We
need to pressure government agencies and our leaders to uphold the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act and make polluting companies
clean up their acts. It is the law.
Question: How far back do you remember feeling a desire to make a difference with respect to the health of the earth?
Kevin Richardson: I've wanted to do something to protect the environment for quite a while. I can't even remember when I first
started thinking about it, but I think it was when we first started touring. I'd come back from a show and hang out in the hotel room
and watch the news or CNN, and I couldn't believe all the stories of all the horrible things going on out there. And I kept thinking,
"Do people understand that we're killing ourselves with the way we live and the way we put poisons in the air and water?" I thought a
lot about it before I actually got involved and started talking about it. And I've loved hanging out in nature and the great outdoors
since I was a kid in Kentucky.
Question: In October of 2000 you received a proposal from James and Vicki Hanna outlining some of the things that you could do to
help raise awareness about the environment. What went through your mind when you first read that proposal?
Kevin Richardson: At first I was just kind of surprised. I mean, out of the blue, come these people who want to help me make a
difference, and I had never really even thought of some of the things they outlined for me. It was overwhelming at first -- and it's still
overwhelming at times -- because they gave me a huge list of things we could possibly do. But when I started to really think about it, I
got excited and thought, "We could totally do this and really have an impact." I wanted to use my celebrity to help improve the world
and Jim and Vick wanted to use their expertise and skills to improve the world. So we started with that and built on it from there.
Question: Realizing that your "celebrity" status has opened certain doors for you to reach the general public, to the opposite degree,
how do you feel that your "celebrity" status has hindered you? By this I mean, those times where people mistakenly think you are only
a "figure-head" to your foundation?
Kevin Richardson: There are times when it's appropriate to be a "figure-head" of your organization. It's okay to be the spokesperson
and allow your staff and volunteers to really do the grassroots work. Most of the time it doesn't really bother me if people don't know
if I'm involved directly. I mean, I am involved with everything from the scholarship program to fundraisers to what kind of paper our
letterhead is on. But that doesn't really matter. What does matter is that the organization does good work and educates people. That's
our mission. Having "celebrity" status is good because it provides us access to the media and other audiences so we can get the issues
out to the public, but on the flip side it's frustrating because some people assume that because I'm a celebrity, I don't know anything.
We've had experiences where my message was downplayed because I'm an entertainer, which is offensive to me. Just because I
perform for a living doesn't mean I don't know the issues and can't have an opinion or work to make a difference. What's sad is that
too often it takes someone with "celebrity" status to get the media or politicians to pay attention to the issues. When citizens of
Kentucky, West Virginia and Tennessee voiced their concerns about the condition of their water and air and the destruction of their
land, nobody listened. When I, as a Kentucky native, showed up at a Senate hearing press conference, the room was full of reporters
and cameras. That's how my celebrity status works for the positive. Now if we could just get the media and Senators to focus on the
message instead of who is delivering the message, then we'd be in business.
Question: If you were suddenly given the power to change ONE thing about the environment and you knew for certain that you would
wake up tomorrow and it would be a reality, what would you choose to change?
Kevin Richardson: If I were given the power to change one thing, I would advocate for new technology so the United States would get
its power from alternative energy sources and no longer depend on fossil fuels. I think fossil fuels are going to be the death of us and
if I could wake up tomorrow and know that I could make the world run on solar, wind and other green energy technologies, I would do
that first. Fossil fuels affect everything in one way or another -- water and air quality, climate change, health issues, foreign relations
and world peace, you name it. I only get _one_ thing? I would need a lot more than _one_. I have a lot of things I want to change.
*laughter*
Question: After your experience on Capitol Hill, do you ever see yourself running for an elected office?
Kevin Richardson: I don't know that I'd ever run for office, but don't count me out for sure. I like the idea of doing good for a lot of
people and representing them, but I get tired of the political games that are played and I don't know how good I'd be at it. I don't
like to see people hurt. I guess we'll see what the future brings.
Question: What is the most difficult lesson you have learned in dealing with politicians and those that make governmental policy?
Kevin Richardson: It amazes me that when it comes to making and enforcing policy, too often our government agencies use the word of
big business lobbyists over science and common sense. I have a hard time understanding how political leaders can put the health and
welfare of citizens behind greed. You watch the news. You see the corruption and the lawbreaking that goes on. And it's all for money
and power and greed. It doesn't appear that anyone looks at our world in the long-term; it's all about the here-and-now and "what can
I get out of it?" I think it's sad. While politicians and companies play with our future, who gets the bad end of it? The future
generations -- the kids. And no kid deserves to have his future stolen out from under him by people who won't be alive to clean up the
messes they've made.
Question: Do you feel that being an "environmentalist" in the present time has become any easier, or do you still feel that there is
some ridicule and misunderstanding among the general society?
Kevin Richardson: I think the stereotypical view of an environmentalist is still there for some people. We've been called "tree
huggers" and "dirt worshippers." Rush Limbaugh likes to call me an "environmental whacko". He can call me whatever he wants because
I know the truth and no label is going to change the truth. Before, the image of an environmentalist was kind of a "hippie" type person.
But today, I think environmental advocates are more than just the free-spirited, free-thinking people. Today there are moms who care
about their kids' futures, religious leaders who see the value in protecting the creation, companies that see that being
environmentally-friendly not only reaches different customers but also helps the bottom line. There are teachers recycling pounds of
paper in their classrooms, office workers starting recycling programs, and little kids teaching their parents how to read organic food
labels. I think the sorry state of our environment is what is making a larger variety of people get involved. We have to get involved
before it's too late. The people who refuse to hear us and continue to criticize what we do and falsely label us will do so for whatever
reason -- but I'm here to tell you, science doesn't lie.
Next month I'll be bringing you the second half of this wonderful interview with Kevin Richardson, so stay tuned!!