2014-01-24

NOI’s inaugural class of Climate Fellows started last week! These fellows are plugging in to support organizing work happening at twenty national, state, and local climate organizations. 

Our fellows are located all across the country, from Seattle to Vermont and down to North Carolina. The fellows all come from many different backgrounds and experiences -- from electoral organizing to police accountability to migrant rights -- but they all come to NOI’s climate program with a dedication to climate justice and building some real people power for change.

We’re looking forward to working and training our inaugural class and seeing the great things they do in their fellowship and beyond! 

Here's a little bit about each of them in their own words. 

 

Zachary Billings -- Clean Wisconsin (Madison, WI)

A graduate student pursuing a MS in Sustainable Management, I am hopeful to start a career through which I can help others live a more sustainable lifestyle while increasing overall prosperity. With undergraduate degrees in economics, environmental studies, and biological aspects of conservation I have a broad understanding of the social and natural sciences.

My years of working in downtown Madison, WI have exposed me to a variety of personalities and I have acquired many years of communication and customer relations experience. In addition, working in the capital has allowed me to meet and interact with politicians, lobbyists and prominent members of the business and non-profit sectors, which has pique my interest in working with and within government to improve policies to help our society to live more sustainably. 

I have also had the opportunity to work with several environmentally focused non-profit organizations and with the Wisconsin State Legislature over the past 18 months, increasing my exposure to the political and non-profit world.

 

Alex Brott -- FUSE (Seattle, WA)

I grew up In Santa Rosa, California, but fled to the Pacific Northwest to study politics environmental Studies at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. I moved to Seattle after graduating to dive into the progressive political scene here, working on a high-stakes state senate campaign and organizing a rally alongside cup-makers for Starbucks. In my free time I love to backpack, hike & trail run, as well as play guitar, cook, make bread, read, and generally stay positive.

 

Taylor Cook -- Community Power Network (Washington, DC)

Taylor is a Tennissippi girl growing up in the borderlands of her hometown Memphis and current residence Mississippi. For the past three years she's been organizing student-led, grassroots campaigns, trainings and conferences in Mississippi and the broader Southeast (though her thirst for justice started much earlier). Her passions include fighting oppression, allying with real people to take back power, and working to create a just, sustainable future. She is chair of their state network Mississippi Alumni & Students for Sustainability, and has had the pleasure of working with Southern Energy Network, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Mountain Justice, Energy Action Coalition, 350, the Sierra Club, and others to fight for clean energy in the dirty south and abroad.

Most of her organizing experience is in the environmental field, but she believes as MLK Jr. said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" which has led her to work with LGBTQ, racial, immigration, animal rights, and economic justice movements as well. Her crime-fighting sidekick is her cat Professor Kitty and she enjoys fixing things, yoga, talking, traveling, art, live music and craft brew.

 

LaToyia Gilbert -- League of Conservation Voters (Charlotte, NC)



LaToyia Gilbert is the founder and director of One Accord Global, Inc. As a former youth pastor she discovered that taking kids to camp was one of her favorite things to do.  Upon seeing the way the kids came back changed when visiting the outdoors, Gilbert took special interest in studies in which exposure to the outdoors could decrease behavioral problems in youth. 

As a religious leader, Gilbert feels it is an obligation to promote care of the creation as a form of honoring the Creator.  As the mother of a child with asthma, Gilbert is especially concerned for the community in which she resides.  She is passionate about educating her community towards becoming environmentally aware.

Her professional work includes overseeing One Accord Global, an inner-city ministry she founded. Located in Gary, IN with a mission to strengthen the connection between God, people, and their environment using natural, spiritual, and cultural resources. As an outreach organization, One Accord’s goal is to facilitate the development of a more sustained, productive, and spiritually centered cadre of youth, leaders, and community activists who work for environmental justice, social justice, and peace. Gilbert is currently a NOI Fellow with League of Conservation Voters (LCV) in Charlotte, NC.

 

Hamza Giron -- WE ACT for Environmental Justice (New York City, NY)

Hamza Giron is a community organizer, educator, and artist based in NYC. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Hamza began his organizing career with CAIR-NY organizing around police accountability issues such as Stop & Frisk, and the illegal surveillance of Muslim communities in NYC.  

After completing his undergraduate degree, Hamza served as the NY Regional Director for the MLFA, where he was tasked with hosting educational events around civil liberties violations issues and organizing free legal clinics for the community. 

Hamza also organized in NYC’s ‘Talking Transitions’ campaign, and has collaborated with organizations such as Make the Road and the El Salvador Development Foundation. Hamza also works with the People’s Justice Committee, training and organizing local community members in neighborhood safety patrols, and facilitating Know Your Rights workshops. Hamza has almost four years of experience organizing in NYC, and has worked extensively in coalition building campaigns with NYC's Muslim, Latino, and African American communities. 

Hamza is currently completing his fellowship with We Act for Environmental Justice, based in Harlem. 

 

Zackery Good -- Virginia Conservation Network (Richmond, VA)

I grew up in Indiana, attended undergrad at SUNY Stony Brook on Long Island, and just completed my Masters of Professional Science in marine conservation at University of Miami. I have always loved the ocean, environment, and making a difference through the creation of lasting community relationships.

 

Walter Gustafson -- Vermont Public Interest Research Group (Montpelier, VT)

Walt is the VPIRG organizer for the Fracked Gas Pipeline Campaign. He is a native Vermonter who has organized f

 or campaigns across the United States while working with various groups. He worked as a Field Manager with VPIRG for two summer canvasses, where he worked to close Vermont Yankee and improve Vermont’s energy portfolio.Hehas also worked with the Human Rights Campaign on marriage equality, Environment America on clean air and water regulations, and CALPIRG on cutting subsidies that are going to giant agricultural corporations. He spent a year working with the Fund for Public Interest attending and running activists trainings across the country.Recently he directed the canvass office in Santa Cruz California where he set numerous fundraising records and got the city council to ban plastic bags.

Erana Jackson -- Blacks in Green (BIG) (Chicago, IL)

My name is Erana Jackson I am a native Chicagoan raised in the Hyde Park neighborhood. I learned Agriculture and Horticulture at DuSable High School. I have always been interested in politics and community organizing;  I am a former Local School Council Chairperson serving four years, and was also the Recording Secretary for the former District Eight Local School Council.

In 2005 I was introduced to alternative energy and fuel and how it affects climate change. I wanted to know how to grow biomass bio fuel and bio diesel and I entered the Windy City Harvest sustainable horticulture and agriculture certificate program -- graduating in October 2012. I was introduced to Naomi Davis and Blacks in Green in 2013 volunteering as a grower leader, and now here I am a Climate Fellow with Blacks in Green. I am very excited about all the programs we are working on especially the tree canopy in which we will have residents plant their own fruit and nut trees. We are also working on a plan to grow feedstock for heating and fuel.

 

Dana Johnson -- League of Conservation Voters (Durham, NC)

I grew up in the Northern NJ/NYC area. In my neighbor-'hood's growing up (East Orange/Newark, NJ), the ideas of recycling and sustainability were mythical.almost taboo. To this day, that is still unfortunately the case. It took me beginning high school in Montclair NJ to see recycling and sustainable efforts live and in motion. 

Being a mulatto/product of mixed races, I feel like I was born a sociologist, always taking mental notes of behavior and communication between people, especially in my community. Once I took time to further understand and develop my education on environmental issues, I have since felt a calling of sorts..a social responsibility to educate my hometown and similar neighborhoods/atmospheres on sustainable living, and what we can all do as people from all walks of life to help Mother Earth.

Working with Greenpeace during my first year of college, I was introduced to just how much my voice could be a platform for providing educational awareness, and help advocate for change. I took my knowledge from Greenpeace back to school at West Virginia University and helped develop WECAN, which is now the Office of Sustainability at WVU.

With this opportunity from NOI, I plan to further diversify my knowledge of environmental issues, further develop my understanding and perspective of how these issues affect communities, and help provide a platform for those that feel voice-less to stand up and speak.

 

Khalil Ligon -- Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice (Detroit, MI)

Khalil Ligon is native of Detroit and a graduate of Detroit Public Schools, Kalamazoo College and Wayne State University. She is a past member of the American Planning Association, a founding member of the Wayne State Student Urban Planners (WSSUP), a current member of Michigan Association of Planning, Detroit Young Professionals, and is AmeriCorps Alumna. She has worked in the private, public and nonprofit sectors, ranging from business management, community & economic development, social work, and grant research & writing. She has developed award-winning planning projects and worked with former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm’s Cities of Promise program.

Ms. Ligon has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning. Ms. Ligon led the Lower Eastside Action Plan, a critically acclaimed grassroots, multi-sector collaborative community planning project in Detroit exploring viable solutions for vacant land adaptation. She currently works as an independent consultant specializing in urban planning & design and food systems development and chairs the board of the Detroit Eastside Community Collaborative (DECC), which specializes in greenway design, construction and management.

Ms. Ligon is moderately fluent in French and Chinese. In her spare time, Ms. Ligon enjoys watching movies and football, fine arts, concerts and traveling.

 

Ryan Mark-Griffin -- Michigan League of Conservation Voters (Ann Arbor, MI)

I am an Ann Arborite born and raised (old enough to claim the honorary title of "townie") and a University of Michigan graduate with a degree in Social Theory and Practice. My undergraduate studies focused on the intersection of environmental justice, American politics, and urban studies. I am thrilled to be a part of the first NOI Climate Fellowship. In my spare time I enjoy biking, music, local food, and good conversation.

 

Matthew McGlory -- Minneapolis Energy Options (Minneapolis, MN)

A native of north Minneapolis, Matthew most recently completed his master’s degree at the University of Minnesota Duluth in Advocacy & Political Leadership. As a New Organizing Institute Fellow with the Minneapolis Energy Options Campaign Matthew is a strong believer in the potential of Minneapolitans understanding and acting upon alternative creative answers to today's energy challenges. Matthew believes that developing a new economy that will strengthen and sustain humanity and the planet are not mutually exclusive. Matthew is looking forward to the Fellowship and engaging residents, stakeholders, and allies within the Minneapolis Energy Options organization. When Matthew is not engaged in organizing work who may find him reading a book by Walter Mosey, attending a meeting in the community, or going to a Timberwolves game.

 

Jason Merges -- Washington Environmental Council (Seattle, WA)

I am originally from New Hampshire, where I became involved in political campaigns while in high school.  This is when I first realized how important campaign and organizing work was, and I became eager to intern, volunteer, and do anything I could to help issue-based and political campaigns that I believed in. I went to undergrad at Tufts University near Boston, where I majored in Political Science and Environmental Science.  It was here that I truly became aware of the implications of climate change and how important it is for us to act as quickly as possible to mitigate its effects. I began working on university sustainability campaigns, and transitioned to a state-wide clean energy campaign, where we lobbied state legislators to move away from fossil fuel power plants and towards clean energy.

I have been living in Seattle for the last two years, most recently working for the Washington Environmental Council on a push to get high participation rates at a number of Legislative and Executive Climate Change hearings being held by Governor Inslee and a bipartisan workgroup of four legislators. The experience was an amazing one in which I was able to organize as a member of a highly motivated organization, working in tandem with partner organizations towards a common goal. I was truly inspired by the experience and I am excited to work with WEC's sister organization, the Washington Conservation Voters to continue to push for sustainability and climate change legislation in Washington State!

 

HyeMi Ahn -- Maryland League of Conservation Voters (Baltimore, MD) 

I am pursuing my Master of Arts in Sustainable Development at SIT Graduate Institute in Brattleboro, Vermont. My field of interest is participatory community development, engaging community members to produce social change. I spent one year in Cameroon as an organizational development adviser for a non-governmental organization that worked on climate change issues. As a Peace Corps volunteer in Moldova, I worked for senior citizens and at Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS), I facilitated the process of refugee resettlement.

 

Hanna Mitchell -- Greenpeace (Charlotte, NC)

Hanna Mitchell, is a fellow with Greenpeace in Charlotte, North Carolina and is working to bring affordable, solar energy to communities in Charlotte. A recent graduate of Bard College, Hanna is passionate about environmental justice. When she was in school, Hanna organized for renewable energy and local food initiatives on her campus. She has also volunteered with a variety of grassroots organizations such as the Sierra Student Coalition, Grand Aspirations, and the Greenpeace Student Network. When not working, she may be found on her yoga mat or exploring a new running route. 

 

Omololu Omotosho -- League of Conservation Voters (Raleigh, NC) 

My name is Omololu Omotosho. I am an ex-fellow with Organizing for Action and a substitute teacher at a local school district in Houston, Texas. I earned a B.B.A in Accounting from Texas Southern University in May 2010. I love reading, poetry, respectful conversations, basketball, traveling, soccer, bowling, and history.

 

Melanie Prasad -- Clean Air Coalition of Western New York (Buffalo, NY)

Melanie graduated from the University of Rochester in 2012, with a dual degree in Political Science and French. Upon graduation, she was hired as the Upstate Organizer for the Working Families Party. Since then she has directed four issue based campaigns and four electoral campaigns, as well as directed a fundraising canvass which raised over $20,000. She currently lives in Buffalo, NY and will be attending SUNY Buffalo Law School in the Fall.

 

Victor Puertas -- Peaceful Uprising (Salt Lake City, UT)

I am originally from Peru, but I moved to the United States several years ago. As a native person from my country the way that I grew up, the communal lifestyle, gave me a deep understanding of different social issues, especially issues around the preservation of land, cultures, and traditions. Living all these years in the U.S. as an immigrant made me understand firsthand the issues of oppression and privilege. I started my activism fighting for migrant rights especially in my local undocumented Latino community. From there my organizing evolved as I deepened my analysis, and began working with different organizations such as Peaceful Uprising, and Utah Tar Sands Resistance. Over the last few years I began working at the intersections of climate justice, migrant justice, and indigenous sovereignty, bringing together these seemingly disparate movement sectors in my community with the goal of strengthening these relationships and create a regional front of climate justice activists.

 

Herrick Sullivan -- League of Conservation Voters (Des Moines, IA)

I grew up on a small farmstead in rural New Hampshire. My awareness of climate change issues developed while I was a student at the Williams-Mystic Maritime Studies Program. After graduating from Williams College in 2013, I travelled to Seward, Alaska to pursue my passion for backpacking and mountain climbing. Living in proximity to the Harding Icefield, I witnessed firsthand  the alarming retreat of glacial ice and snowpack.

 

Dorthea Thomas -- WE ACT for Environmental Justice (Washington, DC)

Dorthea Thomas, based in Detroit, MI, is an Americorps Green Schools Coordinator, NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Co- Lead, and the Founder of The Minority Women in Leadership Commission and the Grand Aspirations supported program HOPE for GREEN. She has experience in energy auditing, community organizing, environmental and climate justice and works in the Detroit Public Schools Office of Energy and Sustainability. She also ran for City Council in this past election with an environmental justice platform. She is interested in expanding her knowledge around growing organizations, networking, education, and federal environmental policy, and is also looking to build relationships that can help her grow a career advocating for Environmental Justice. 

 

Loyd Trimmer -- League of Conservation Voters (Iowa City, IA) 

My interest and passion for conservation issues comes from spending childhood years fishing and running though the woods. I recently graduated from UNC Asheville's Economics and Environmental Studies programs. My current interests include household energy efficiency and biochar. I stay busy riding bikes, running, and playing basketball.

 

Rebekah Whilden -- Western North Carolina Alliance (Asheville, NC)

I am lucky enough to have been able to call Asheville my home since I was two years old. Growing up I was very 

involved in my youth group at Central United Methodist Church and in the YMCA Leaders Club.  As a young child I would follow my parents around to different political events and as a result I would start volunteering for candidates and causes that I truly believed in.

I graduated from Appalachian State University in 2012 with my Bachelors degree in Political Science with a concentration in Public Policy. After college I continued to volunteer on other political campaigns including NC House, Congress, and Presidential campaigns. In May of 2013 I jumped head first into a campaign manager job for a successful City Council election.

During my relaxation periods I enjoy drives and hikes on the Blue Ridge Parkway. When I am driving, you’ll more than likely see me dancing and singing along to the music of choice.

I am excited to participate in this Climate Fellowship with Western North Carolina Alliance and help make the community that I grew up in even better for future generations.

 

Chuck Wongus -- League of Conservation Voters (Greensboro, NC)

I recently graduated from Longwood University with a degree in Music. While in college I was Chapter President of my fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and a Resident Assistant. Following graduation, I worked with NextGen Climate Action as the Campus Organizer for James Madison University. While not working, I enjoy playing Magic the Gathering and playing bass trombone.

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