About

[She/Her/Hers]

Leia Lowery is the Executive Director of The Climate Initiative. She brings over 20 years of experience in education, curriculum development, and community engagement, specializing in facilitating dynamic educational experiences that create critical thinkers, life-long learners, and productive citizens. As a co-founder of the Kennebunkport Climate Initiative, the programs she helped create continue to inspire The Climate Initiative’s programmatic approach and youth impact.

Leia advocates building stronger communities by connecting people through their local landscape and shared history. To her, it’s key to inspiring action and building hope for solutions to the climate crisis.

Leia is a speaker and trainer at national conferences and her passion has led to innovations in local programs. Her work as an educator and community building resulted in her winning the Gulf of Maine Council Visionary Award in 2019, as well as her programs being featured in the National Land Trust Alliance magazine.

Leia earned her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences from Virginia Tech with concentrations in International Development, Women’s Studies and Communications, and a Master’s of Science from Virginia Tech. Leia and her husband Jamie, along with their three children (Marshall, Caroline, and Henry), share a deep love of nature. From working in her garden to hiking to the top of a mountain, Leia enjoys all that the outdoors has to offer.

[She/Her/Hers]

Meagan joins the TCI team with over 15 years of marketing communications experience working for global consumer brands, travel and tourism organizations and outdoor recreation companies. Her primary responsibilities for TCI include managing the organization’s brand identity and content strategy, online communities, website, email communications, and PR/media relations.

Meagan received her Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in Marketing Communications and Public Relations from Emerson College. She’s a Maine native and when she is out of the office, you can find her, along with husband Matt, son Liam and Australian Shepherd Freya, mountain biking or hiking the conservation land in Kennebunkport and beyond.

Nyla McFadden serves as the Assistant Director of Programs and Education Lead for TCI.  Nyla served as an educator for thirteen years. Her professional career exemplified a commitment to student growth. Her belief firmly rests in the importance of education to produce informed and responsible citizens, which was supported with an emphasis on the educational philosophy, Critical Literacy. All instruction designed and facilitated epitomized four essential skills: critical thinking, reading, and writing with a purpose, and to speak up. All these objectives strengthened students’ abilities to actively improve themselves and the society in which they live. This is the heart of Critical Literacy, and the philosophy that Nyla will use to support TCI’s education programs and instruction. 

Nyla’s academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts in English from Johnson C. Smith University, a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Wake Forest University, and a Graduate Teaching Certificate, ELA 9-12, from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. Additionally, I have earned my National Boards Teaching Certification in Adolescent and Young Adult Literature. 

Kate is originally from Wisconsin, but has lived in New Zealand, and more recently in Portland, Maine.  Kate’s background is in public school teaching, specifically English & Language Arts, with an emphasis on inquiry-based learning.  Kate has nearly twenty years of experience in teaching, business, leadership, and entrepreneurship, and is excited to bring these unique skills to the team at TCI.

Kate’s first introduction to environmental and climate action was as a youth in a traveling children’s theater troupe called “To Save the Planet”, where she was lucky enough to perform at the White House for Vice President Al Gore during the United Nations Global Youth Forum.  Ever since then, Kate has been passionate about the power of youth voices in tackling the world’s biggest challenges.

In her free time, Kate enjoys spending time with her husband Ollie and their two daughters Zoey and Natalie.  She enjoys reading, sewing, fishing, cooking, and enjoying the beautiful Maine outdoors.

[She/Her/Hers]

Amanda grew up in Saco, Maine where she spent as much of her childhood by the ocean as possible. She knew she wanted to be in the climate space when her high school, Thornton Academy, did an assembly presentation on the impacts of climate change and was inspired by efforts to mitigate sea level rise.

She joins the team with several years of nonprofit management and fundraising experience, with a focus on organizations that work in the climate and education access space. She holds an MPA from Cornell University, as well as Bachelors in Political Science and Business Administration from Hartwick College.

In her spare time she can often be found exploring bookstores, going on nature walks, hanging out with her fluffy orange cat, rewatching Grey’s Anatomy for the upteenth time or designing candles for her sustainable candle studio, Isle & Wild.

[She/Her/Hers]

Julia joins TCI with over a decade of experience serving nonprofit organizations. She began her career educating and empowering transitional age youth and most recently worked in development for higher education. She received a Bachelor of Arts with distinction from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa.

Born in the San Francisco Bay Area before moving to Hawaii, Julia was fortunate to grow up in locales where conversations regarding climate challenges and sustainability were at the forefront of everyday life. Benefitting firsthand from this education, she is humbled and delighted to further TCI’s mission of empowering youth voices for climate action.

She currently resides in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, where she serves on a local community engagement committee and is an active participant in local arts. In her spare time Julia can be found exploring nature, and she is well on her way to reaching her goal of visiting every U.S. National Park.

Bethany joins the TCI team with experience in education research, land stewardship, natural resources management, and science communications. At TCI, Bethany works as the program lead for Youth on Boards, a project that creates opportunities for youth to serve on boards of directors. 

Bethany grew up in Deer Isle-Stonington, Maine, and has seen firsthand the ways climate change threatens communities’ wellbeing and survival. She firmly believes that climate change solutions should be designed by and center the voices of people historically excluded from the environmental sector. Bethany is committed to creating opportunities for youth to make their voices heard and push for bold, innovative solutions to the climate crisis. 

Bethany holds a BS in Economics from the University of Maine at Orono. She is also a graduate of the Maine School of Science and Mathematics. 

When not at work, Bethany enjoys hiking, roller skating, reading, and spending time by the ocean. 

Melissa Luetje is a science teacher at Kennebunk High School in RSU 21, which serves the towns of Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, and Arundel in southern Maine. She is certified in both physical and life science and is committed to getting her students out and into the field as much as possible. She is passionate about place-based education and experiential learning. Melissa is a tireless advocate for amplifying youth voices and providing opportunities that give youth agency so that they can make positive impacts in their communities in the fight against climate change.

Ariel joined the TCI team as the Volunteer Coordinator. Since 2018 she has dedicated herself to teaching and youth about climate change through her online Instagram platform @gogreensavegreen. She is an advocate for learning about both climate sciences and the social implications of climate change and its solutions.

Ariel has a background in Fine Arts and utilizes her creativity to the fullest when approaching how to creatively educate, excite and activate youth to engage with the climate crisis.

Based in Los Angeles CA, Ariel has seen firsthand the disproportionate impact climate change has on communities and works to educate others on the not-so-obvious impacts of climate change. In her free-time, she is found in Downtown Los Angeles at her studio. Ariel is formally trained as a ceramicist (both pottery and sculpture) but currently is focused on working as a sculptural artist utilizing upcycled materials. She is currently working on figuring out how to weave sustainability into her art practice and how sustainability translates to the materials used in her work.

Shilton joins The Climate Initiative as a Monitoring and Evaluation Fellow. In this role, he will support building data and learning systems to help TCI assess and improve the impact of their climate justice programs. 

Shilton brings over 7 years of experience managing and supporting impactful programs focused on community empowerment and social impact in Africa and the United States. He holds a BA in Library Science and Economics from the University of Zambia and is currently pursuing his MA in International Affairs at King’s College London. His academic studies and professional experience have sparked his interest in leveraging data and information to drive social impact and address the intersection of climate, development, and inequality through his work.

In his previous role as Data Manager, Shilton developed monitoring frameworks and data tools that strengthened oversight across 3 countries. He is skilled in project management, data analysis, workshop facilitation, and building relationships with diverse stakeholders. 

Shilton is inspired by TCI’s mission to engage and empower communities on the frontlines of climate change. Outside of work, he enjoys mentoring youth, volunteering, and developing his leadership in international development. In his free time, Shilton enjoys traveling, staying up-to-date on technology trends, cooking, and spending quality time with friends.

Caitlin Neal-Jones hails from the mountains of East Tennessee, but she fell in love with Louisiana during her AmeriCorps service year at Lafayette Habitat for Humanity. She’s been fortunate to call Louisiana her permanent home since 2016. Prior to joining TCI, Caitlin spent almost a decade working in clinical mental health, career counseling, and most recently school counseling. She has served in primary, secondary, and postsecondary institutions providing student and educator support.

During her time as a school counselor, Caitlin volunteered with the Southern Association of College Admissions Counseling to promote equity and college access for students. She is excited to continue building relationships with Louisiana students and teachers through her work with TCI. Caitlin holds a BA in International Affairs from The George Washington University, an MA in Counseling from East Tennessee State University, and she is currently pursuing an MPA at Louisiana State University.

In her free time, Caitlin loves volunteering in her community. She can often be seen biking around downtown Lafayette; shopping in her favorite independent bookstore, Beausoleil Books; and kayaking in the local lakes and bayous.

Toni joins TCI as the organization’s virtual assistant from the Philippines. She is an accomplished bachelor’s degree graduate at the University of Asia and the Pacific in the field of Entrepreneurial Management, where she graduated with Latin Honors, Cum Laude. Toni achieved the ‘studentpreneur’ award as she has owned and managed businesses since a very young age.

Toni’s skillset involve researching, multi-tasking, task management, and organization. She is excited to use these skills as she supports the day-to-day needs of TCI, remotely.

When she is not working for TCI, Toni enjoys traveling and planning trips to experience new cultures and see different parts of the world. She also loves business planning and ideating around finding solutions to problems. Toni looks to inspire and create an impact for the common good, just like The Climate Initiative.

Originally from New Jersey, Alexa received her BA in Peace & Justice Studies and Political Science from Pace University. Her studies exemplified the intersectionality of social, economic, and political issues, and how each of these are intertwined with our environment. After gaining research and policy experience working with NGOs within the UN, Alexa was excited to expand upon her work as she combined her passion for social activism with environmental justice. She now joins the TCI team from Tampa, Florida where she is studying for her MA in Global Sustainability. Her primary focus is transitioning the tourism industry into one that sustainably supports communities, without damaging their environments, cultures, or economies. Alexa has been inspired by the work of TCI, particularly with their efforts to engage youth in climate action. She is proud to work with a team of passionate activists who live out TCI’s mission every day. Working with the Program’s team, Alexa is excited to continue expanding TCI’s educational and advocacy outreach!

In her free time, Alexa enjoys traveling, spending time with friends, taking a trip to the beach, and baking.

[She/her/hers]

Angie was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois but started calling Virginia home during her undergraduate career. Angie holds a BA in Communication and Digital Studies from the University of Mary Washington and a MS in Library and Information Sciences from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She has years of communications and development experience, with a focus on organizations that work in public health and literacy and education access. Angie is excited to combine her professional background and personal passion for climate justice to drive TCI’s development work. When she’s not working, you can find Angie reading a good book, working on a crochet project, or spending time outdoors.

Becca Ferguson is incredibly excited to be joining the first cohort of LEAF Fellows as the Programs Fellow at TCI, an organization that combines several of her passions including environmental education, youth empowerment, and climate justice advocacy!

Becca recently moved back to Maine after graduating from National Taiwan University with a Master of Science in Climate Change and Sustainable Development. Previously, Becca graduated from Bates College with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies.

Becca has worked as an environmental educator at Boothbay Sea and Science Center, Scarborough Land Trust, and Massachusetts Audubon Society. As a passionate advocate for climate and environmental justice, Becca has also worked as an advocacy intern at the Natural Resources Council of Maine and volunteered with Maine Youth for Climate Justice advocating for policy changes that prioritize climate justice.

In her free time, Becca enjoys making pottery, running, skiing, traveling and singing.

Esperanza De Lara is originally from San Diego, California, but
now splits her time between Los Angeles and New York City. She
is a recent graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles,
where she earned a bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in
Professional Writing. During her studies, Esperanza interned at
the U.S. Senate, Greenpeace, and Stojo, where she acquired
skills in policy analysis, marketing for non-profits, and corporate
sustainability. Now in the early stage of her career, Esperanza
advocates for a greener, cleaner world through effective
communication and storytelling. She joins TCI as the
Communications Fellow, where she hopes to continue using her
voice to empower others in the fight against climate change.

In her free time, Esperanza enjoys vintage shopping, reading
Russian literature, and visiting her local tide pools.

Marilyn Soliven Martinez is a second-year USC graduate student pursuing an MPH with a concentration in global health. Her primary focus lies in collaborating with NGOs to address the impact of climate change on the health of marginalized communities in low-income nations. Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of California, Riverside. Exploring the evolution of societies, understanding the pivotal role of health in civilizations, and embracing the significance of cultural diversity during her undergrad journey fueled her passion to advocate for change through public health initiatives. Presently, she serves as a teaching assistant within her community, drawing from a diverse range of experiences – from working with children at a non-profit to interning in marketing for a student-led newspaper and a film nonprofit’s social media team. Her skill set encompasses program development, agenda structuring, organization, time management, and fostering collaborative teamwork. She prides herself on being a quick learner, a keen observer, and a
dedicated team player!

Aniqa Ahmed is a recent graduate from the University of Florida where she studied Political Science, where she took the opportunity to focus on environmental and educational policy. She has a vested interest in program/project/non-profit management and in how policy can directly impact communities facing inequities. She had spent the past few years developing her project management, policy development, and relationship building skills through diverse work experiences. When she’s not at The Climate Initiative, she actively contributes as a board member for the Florida Community Innovation Foundation, employing civic technology to enhance the lives of Floridians. She is excited to join TCI as a Policy Fellow and cannot wait to see what she will co-create in the next few months!

Bruce, dubbed the “Father of Cause Marketing,” is renowned for crafting the most successful cross-sector promotional and fundraising campaign in March of Dimes’ history.

He elevated public affairs for Marriott Corporation and revolutionized public relations for the family entertainment business during his tenure with the United States Olympic Committee. Additionally, Bruce made significant contributions to the American Red Cross Bay Area, leading groundbreaking campaigns like Prepare Bay Area.

He remains passionate about empowering youth through initiatives like the Youth Poster Contest, providing a platform for students to voice their concerns. Recognized for his exemplary work, Bruce has received accolades from the United States Congress, the California State Legislature, and other esteemed institutions.

Full Bio

Anne Giblin is the Senior Scientist and Interim Director of Ecosystems Center at the Marine Biological Laboratory, at Woods Hole. Her research focuses on the effects of climate change and sea-level rise on salt marshes. She is committed to bringing science to youth and youth to science.

Full Bio

Katharine Hayhoe is an accomplished atmospheric scientist who studies climate change and why it matters to us here and now. She is also a remarkable communicator who has received the American Geophysical Union’s climate communication prize, the Stephen Schneider Climate Communication award, the United Nations Champion of the Earth award, and been named to a number of lists including Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People, Foreign Policy’s 100 Leading Thinkers, and FORTUNE magazine’s World’s Greatest Leaders.

Katharine is currently the Political Science Endowed Professor in Public Policy and Public Law and co-directs the Climate Center at Texas Tech University. She has a B.Sc. in Physics from the University of Toronto and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science from the University of Illinois, and has been awarded honorary doctorates from Colgate University and Victoria University at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Somya Joshi is an Associate Professor in Governance and Sustainability at Stockholm University, whilst currently holding the position of Head of Division at Stockholm Environment Institute. At the latter she leads a dynamic team of experts on intersecting thematic areas such as SDGs, Climate Adaptation & Mitigation, Data complexity in global supply chains as well as Energy & Industry Transitions. Somya’s academic career has traversed the fields of technology innovation and disruption, with regard to societal and ecosystem transitions. She is particularly interested in how local grassroots engagement can be designed into decision making processes within the context of earth system governance.

Houston Kraft is a professional speaker, leadership consultant, and kindness advocate who speaks at schools, conferences, and events internationally. Houston is also the co-founder of CharacterStrong.

Full Bio

Veerabhadran Ramanathan is the Edward A. Frieman Endowed Presidential Chair in Climate Sustainability and editor of “Bending the Curve: Climate Change Solutions” at the University of California at San Diego.

Full Bio

Ambassador Francis Rooney represents Florida’s 19th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. He is the Republican co-chair of the Climate Solutions Caucus and a member of the bi-partisan Everglades and Estuary caucuses, which focus on restoring Florida’s ecosystems.

Full Bio

John D. Sterman is the Jay W. Forrester Professor of Management at the MIT Sloan School of Management and a Professor in the MIT Institute for Data, Systems, and Society. He is also the Director of the MIT System Dynamics Group and the MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative.

Full Bio

Kathryn has over twenty years of experience leading sustainable development, corporate social responsibility, and entrepreneurship projects around the world. She recently moved to Boulder, CO where she serves on the TCI Advisory Council.

Prior to living in Boulder, Kathryn was the Director of Program Delivery at Stanford University’s Institute for Innovation in Developing Economies (Stanford Seed), where she was responsible for managing core operations that support the organization’s innovation centers in Africa and India. Kathryn was previously a Global Social Performance Advisor at Chevron Corporation, where she managed corporate social responsibility and community engagement initiatives around the world.

Earlier in her career, Kathryn was a Sustainable Development Specialist at the World Bank, Program Manager at the Emerging Markets Private Equity Association (EMPEA), Peace Corps Volunteer in Ecuador, and Microloan Officer at Accion. Kathryn holds an MBA from UC Berkeley, an MA in Cultural Anthropology from Yale, and a BA with honors from Dartmouth College.

Atrijo Bhattacharyya is from Singapore and will be pursuing a degree in Economics & Management at the University of Oxford. He was part of his high school’s Student Council and supported sustainability initiatives and publicity. Atrijo also took part in various opportunities relating to environmental chemistry and business. These undertakings include, conducting research on optimising Dye Sensitised Solar Cells that utilise organic dyes from fruits, winning the Chemistry Communication Challenge for presenting on carbon capture solutions as a team, and a top 4 team finish for pitching an idea for reducing food waste in Singapore in the Spark Asia Challenge . He is currently involved with Vertex Holdings, a venture capital firm, as an investment intern with a focus on sustainability. Atrijo’s interests lie in the intersection between finance and sustainability as a potent force for driving change as well as leveraging education as a catalyst for uplifting communities around the globe. He hopes to lead his own sustainable investment fund someday!

Rachel Brzezicki (she/her) is originally from Delaware and currently studies Sustainable Development at Columbia University. She is the President of the Student Union for Sustainable Development on campus where she is working to rebuild and re-envision the organization following its derecognition during the pandemic. Rachel strives to use SUSD as a means of prioritizing inclusivity, community, and exploration both within and outside of the department. Last summer, she became interested in urban sustainability, public health, and the built environment, as she served Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center as a Green Teams intern through the Montclair State University PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies. Through the program, she explored the scientific basis for green and healthy design strategies, focusing particularly on biomimicry, active lighting and design, and materials procurement. She has also been involved with the World Water Hub as Project & Outreach Coordinator, where she has collaborated with team members from the US, India, and France to share resources and synergize water restoration projects around the world.

Rory Hogan has a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Stockton University where he is now a graduate student studying coastal zone management. His research focuses on creating a standard method of assessing habitat suitability for endangered species along the Delaware Bay. Rory also works to include coastal communities in coastal management and studies ways to better include coastal communities in scientific research. Other research projects include studying biodiversity and efficiency of nursery habitat in the Sedge Island Marine Conservation Zone in New Jersey and identifying aging infrastructure that was leading to bacteria pollution in his community. Rory got his start in the climate movement when he began volunteering at Jenkinson’s Aquarium at 14 years old. He has worked with Jenkinson’s Aquarium for the past nine and a half years as an assistant aquarist and interpreter helping with conservation and educational inititiatives. In addition to being on the Youth Advisory Council, Rory serves on the Save Barnegat Bay student grant committee where he helps guide student research along the Barnegat Bay.

Suzanna Schofield (she/any) was born in Burien, Washington and lives in Sykesville, MD. In 2024, Suzanna graduated from Wellesley College with a double major in Environmental Studies & Peace and Justice Studies, concentrating in sustainable community development, water, agriculture, and mitigating human-wildlife conflicts. Having gotten Lyme Disease when she was in sixth grade, Suzanna is pursuing a career in One Health and how conservation can be used as a tool to mitigate climate change and increase environmental health. A National Environmental Leadership Fellow for the Rachel Carson Council, the Outreach and Communications Director for World Water Hub, President of Wellesley College EnAct, and as founder of SHIRA Foundation, Suzanna has volunteered, interned, and worked for many environmental organizations focused on sustainability, climate activism, and climate justice. In 2023, Suzanna was a Fellow for the Madeleine Korbel Albright Institute for Global Affairs at Wellesley College and in 2024, served as a Fellow Mentor for the next cohort. During the 2023-2024 school year, Suzanna served as a Ministrare Peer Leader at Wellesley College and supported the Civic Action Lab, the pilot program for the Hillary Rodham Clinton Center for Democracy. Suzanna is also very passionate about mental health and caregiver advocacy, and serves as an Advisory Council Member for Professionals Who Care.

Sarah Robison is from Tampa, Florida. She is a third-year biology student studying environmental studies and sustainability pursuing a career in conservation veterinary medicine and delving into her passion for environmental advocacy. She is the founder and president of the CARE Club, a global, environmental organization for high school and college students dedicated to creating positive change through youth education and group initiatives. In 2023, she was an active member of the Bow Seat’s Future Blue Youth Council where she was on the mentoring teams for three youth-led environmental projects, served on the social media team, engaged in environmental writing, and had the opportunity to speak at the United Nations Science Summit. Sarah continues to collaborate with fellow youth leaders in environmental advocacy and within the climate action space. In 2020, Sarah received the A Voice for Animals award which is a notable, international prize from the Humane Education Network for her short video documentary. Her special interests include biodiversity, climate science, conservation biology, green engineering, plastic pollution reduction, youth empowerment, and conservation psychology. Sarah is currently a Guest Engagement Ambassador at ZooTampa and assists at a veterinary clinic. She enjoys volunteering and spending time with her seven pets in her free time. Her favorite hobbies include exploring nature, traveling, painting, and music. Sarah is excited for an active two-year term on the The Climate Initiative’s Youth Advisory Council.

Gavin McKay (he/him) is currently a junior at the University of Florida and a Future Leader Climate Fellow at the Aspen Institute, where he most recently interned in the Future Leaders Climate Initiative and Energy & Environment Program. Gavin is passionate about sustainable cities, biodiversity conservation, environmental justice, and environmental media. He has previously volunteered for climate justice, healthcare, science advocacy, and voter registration nonprofits. In January 2023, Gavin was selected to join the Clinton Global Initiative University in partnership with Vanderbilt University for his work at the intersection of gender equity, sustainable cities, and plastic pollution.

Kaylin Lemajeur, is a climate professional and poet with a passion for bridging storytelling, art, and science. She serves as a Climate Mitigation Program Associate for an environmental nonprofit organization and holds a Bachelors of Science in Environment & Sustainability from Cornell University. Kaylin has experience in climate change adaptation planning and natural resource management from her time working at a federally recognized tribe in Southeast Alaska. She is currently pursuing a Masters of Fine Arts in Poetry at Northwestern University.

Tom Bradbury has served as the President, and now Executive Director, for the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust, since 1978. In Tom’s time at the trust, the organization has protected nearly 2,400 acres of land on which over 20 miles of trails have been built. Tom’s conservation efforts were recognized when he became the first recipient of the American Land Conservation Award, becoming the leading citizen conservationist in the United States. Tom was also recognized in 2004 with the U.S. EPA New England Region “Lifetime Achievement” award.

[He/Him/His]

Jono joins TCI’s Board after serving as the organization’s Executive Director for three years. Previously, Jono served as the Head of Disaster and Crisis, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for the Americas and Caribbean region, based in Panama, Panama. In this role, Jono led the team overseeing Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change, Shelter, Migration, Livelihoods, Disaster Response and Recovery, and International Disaster Law.

Previously, Jono was the Vice President of International Services at the American Red Cross based out of Washington, DC. In this role, Jono oversaw disaster preparedness, response, and recovery programming in more than 34 countries, including the Measles and Rubella Initiative which since 2001 has helped vaccinate more than 2 billion children and reduce global measles by 84%…greater than 20.4 million lives. Jono also served as the Global Disaster Response and Relief Partnerships lead for Airbnb for a 16-month engagement to support scaling their social impact programming.

Jono has also served as a Regional Voluntary Agency Liaison at FEMA Region VII with responsibilities for coordinating with voluntary organizations active in disaster and FEMA Mass Care and Emergency programs in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri. Jono has been affiliated with the American Red Cross since 1994. Jono graduated from Creighton University with a BA in Political Science, the University of Nebraska with an MS in Economics, a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Higher Education at the University of Nebraska, and the Harvard School of Public Health and Kennedy School of Government National Preparedness Leadership Initiative, and has earned the International Association of Emergency Management Certified Emergency Manager (CEM®) credential. Jono served as the chair of the Advocacy Committee for the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (National VOAD) from 2012-2015.

Jono’s background and expertise in global disaster and crisis response strengthens and drives his passion towards proactive mitigation and problem solving of the climate crisis. He is committed to serving TCI’s organizational growth trajectory of empowering 10 million youth to climate action by 2025.

Jono and his husband Andy, Gender Equality & Social Inclusion Associate Director at Save the Children, live in Portland, ME and enjoy all things outdoors and their love of family and friends.

Harold Brooks served over 40 years as an executive of the American Red Cross – including as Senior Vice President, International Operations and Chief Executive Officer American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter, Headquartered in San Francisco Chapter, and many other positions – domestic and global – beginning in 1975.

He currently serves as Chief Resilience Officer at the Global Community Resilience Institute where he strives to help community leaders save, restore, and grow the lives of their residents in the face of disruptions, changing conditions, and pressing global and local community issues. Harold also works as a Consultant to the International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent.

He is a Senior Distinguished Fellow at Northeastern University – Global Resilience Institute and volunteers with Resilient Fruitvale Program in the Latin-X community of Oakland, California. Harold is an alumni of Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles.

Alejandra Carrasco is a Dartmouth Student from Lima, Peru. She is a Sociology and education major. Alejandra is involved with Magnuson Student Leadership Board, DartUP (Social Entrepreneurship club), Chess Club, Global Issues Scholars, and Senator at the Student Assembly at Dartmouth. She is also part of the FYSEP community and King Scholars. Before joining Dartmouth, she was former CEO–now Ambassador and CO-Founder of Wawa Laptop, the first eco-friendly laptop made in Peru. Also, she Co-found the ngo AEPEX (Peruvian student’s abroad association) to democratize the information for low-income students about the application process to colleges’ in the US.

Dabreon holds STEM certifications from the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment at Cornell University and a dual bachelor’s degree in environmental studies & sciences and geology from Bucknell University, where he earned the George R. Faint Prize for excellent academic performance and leadership. He is currently an MBA candidate at American University Kogod School of Business as a National Black MBA Association Scholar.

Originally from Buffalo, NY, Dabreon hopes to continue combining his passion for the environment and equity with business, and for a Buffalo Bills Super Bowl win.

Originally from the east coast, Monica has recently relocated to California after nearly a decade in Europe and Asia. After earning her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, Monica practiced law in Philadelphia for several years prior to moving abroad. Currently a stay-at-home mom in the Bay Area, Monica has graciously volunteered her time and energy into management of TCI initiatives such as The Tidal Shift Art Award, in partnership with The Portland Museum of Art and now resides on our Board of Directors.

General Russel Honoré is a decorated 37-year army veteran and a global authority on leadership, disaster management, and climate preparedness. At the request of the Speaker of the House, the General led Task Force 1-6 Capitol Security Review to improve Capitol security following the attacks on January 6, 2021. As the commander of Joint Task Force Katrina, he became known as the “Category 5 General” for his leadership in coordinating military relief efforts in post-hurricane New Orleans.

General Honoré knows that the future of our national security depends on protecting our environment, and he’s fighting for a brighter future for us all. A Louisiana native, he founded the GreenARMY, a coalition of environmental experts and advocates, to protect against pollution while fighting climate change and the natural disasters it causes.

During his military career, General Honoré held numerous commands, including Vice Director for Operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Commander of the Standing Joint Force Headquarters-Homeland Security.

Louisa McCovey is an Indigenous artist and member of the Yurok tribe in Klamath, CA. She is the Yurok Tribe’s Environmental Program Director, has a BS in Environmental Science from Humbold State University along with minors in Art Studio and Native American Studies.

Louisa’s art is inspired by her Yurok, Hupa, and Karuk culture, as well as guided by her mother’s background as a skilled basket weaver and mixed-media artist. Louisa lives with her husband and four strong children. Her work as an artist and an environmentalist honors the past, present, and future, while also respecting the necessity of using both the logical and the creative sides of her brain.

Fiona is the Engagement and Delivery Manager for the Bezos Earth Fund. In this role, she works closely with the President & CEO to advance the Fund’s strategic priorities and initiatives. Before joining the Earth Fund, she spent four years at the World Resources Institute curating the research and engagements of the President & CEO.

‍Fiona has previously held roles with the White House Office of Management and Budget during the Obama Administration, the Alliance for the Great Lakes, and Action for the Climate Emergency. Fiona holds a B.A. in International Development and Environment from McGill University.

Dr. Pamela Morgan is a Professor in the Department of Environmental Studies at the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine. She teaches courses in conservation, ecological monitoring, wetlands, women and the environment, introductory environmental issues and more. She is dedicated to engaging students in field-based learning whenever possible. Her research focuses on coastal and freshwater wetlands, where she investigates how wetlands are affected by climate change and how they can help mitigate climate change. She also develops and assesses programs designed to connect young people with the natural world.

Amelie Panaccione is from Boulder, CO. She brings the youth voice to TCI and has experience in fundraising over $50,000 through lemonade stands for World Bicycle Relief. Amelie has been involved with TCI since 2020, advocating for wildfire prevention strategies, inclusivity, and equitable solutions, and creating numerous ways for youth to get involved with TCI. She enjoys creating projects and events for donors and youth to connect in her role as a Board member.

Amelie is a member of her school newspaper has won a couple of writing accolades and also directs the donor-advised fund she founded for youth. She is a ski bum and tries to go up and shred the slopes at least once a week during the winter. In the summer, you will find Amelie going on an outdoor adventure either hiking up to an alpine lake to fish or deciding to summit all of her town’s surrounding mountains in one day.

Billy Shore is the founder and executive chair of Share Our Strength, the parent organization for the No Kid Hungry campaign. Since co-founding Share Our Strength in 1984, Billy has led the organization in raising more than $700 million to fight hunger and poverty and has won the support of national leaders in business, government, health, and education, sports and entertainment. Shore is the author of four books focused on social change and was named one of America’s Best Leaders by U.S. News & World Report.

Amy Tchao is Drummond Woodsum’s Practice Group Leader for Municipal Law. For the past two decades, Amy has focused her practice on general municipal law, land use law, and education law.

Based on her experience as a town attorney for several towns along Maine’s coast, and in its lakes regions, Amy has specialized in resolving complex problems arising from shorefront development, access, and permitting issues.

Amy is listed in Best Lawyers in America, a guide to leading lawyers in the country, in the categories of Municipal Law, Litigation-Municipal Law and Education Law and was selected by Best Lawyers as Maine’s 2014 “Lawyer of the Year” in the category of Municipal Litigation. Best Lawyers also named her Maine’s 2012 Education “Lawyer of the Year.”

Angela Zhong is a first-generation Asian-American Harvard sophomore. She is studying economics with a secondary in environmental science public policy and a citation in Mandarin. Hailing from Houston, Angela has felt the impacts of natural disasters and climate change first-hand. Though she is currently on a gap year, she previously served as her school’s first-ever Minister for Climate and Sustainability on the Undergraduate Council Executive Cabinet. Learn more about her at: angelazhong.com.