Don McCown works in rural land-use policy and advocacy for the Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC). PEC is a community-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and accredited land trust in Virginia, and a nationally-recognized leader in land-use policy, land conservation, historic preservation, and climate action. Founded in 1972, its mission is to protect and restore the lands and waters of the Virginia Piedmont, while building stronger, more sustainable communities.
Prior to joining PEC, Don served for over 20 years in a variety of community service roles, including as a supervisor in Virginia’s court system and as AmeriCorps program director for Habitat for Humanity of North Carolina. Don is a fifth-generation Texan who grew up in Odessa and now lives in Virginia. Don’s family has owned mineral rights in Texas for nearly 100 years. Concerns about climate change, sustainability and environmental justice motivate his work to be a responsible steward and to organize for common cause with like-minded owners and communities. To that end, Don serves as co-coordinator for the Mineral Rights Action Network, a nationwide alliance of oil and gas mineral rights owners organizing to redefine family legacy by directing resources and influence toward environmental protection, community well-being, and industry accountability. Don received his B.A. in sociology from the University of Oklahoma and his J.D. from The Catholic University of America.