Environmental Leadership Initiative (ELI) Fellowship

Javier Rodriguez

Javier Rodriguez is a passionate community organizer, educator, and advocate for equity and inclusion. With a B.A. in Anthropology and an M.S.W. from UCLA, Javier is currently a second-year Ed.D. student researching systemic barriers faced by marginalized students, particularly formerly incarcerated individuals, in higher education. Their work focuses on fostering inclusive environments, addressing inequities, and amplifying underrepresented voices. With a background in environmental stewardship and wildland firefighting, including leadership roles as a crew leader, Javier has demonstrated resilience, crisis management, and the ability to lead teams under high-pressure conditions. They are committed to empowering others and creating spaces where individuals feel valued, supported, and inspired to succeed.

Luis Sierra Campos (he/him/él)

Luis Sierra Campos (he/him/él) is a compassionate advocate and visionary leader committed to advancing transformative justice, equity, and belonging in diverse communities. With a rich background as a bilingual (English/Spanish) storyteller, ecological steward, and community organizer, Luis has dedicated his career to amplifying the voices of marginalized and underrepresented groups across California, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Luis’s work is deeply rooted in a spiritual connection to the land and inspired by the wisdom of modern poets and scholars and the transformative energy of social movements led by youth, women, and people of color. Guided by a profound commitment to restoring the sacred relationship between people and the Earth, Luis continues to champion innovative solutions that bridge equity and environmental stewardship.

Araceli Hernandez (they/them)

Araceli Hernandez is a Program Manager at Nature for All, where they are focused on creating access to nature within their community in the San Fernando Valley. Araceli’s passion for environmental justice and creating equitable access to nature led them to start 818hikes, a zine focused on trails that are accessible by bus and a social justice-focused hiking group. “I enjoy working at Nature for All because I get to work in the community I grew up in, connecting systemically and historically underserved youth and families to so many wonderful natural areas in LA, many for the first time! In fact, I was one of those youth, who had never been in the San Gabriel Mountains and only dreamed of what wonders existed. Thanks to Nature for All, I am now a proud steward and CA Naturalist, where I get the privilege to teach kids like me, how to be good relatives to the plants, animals, and the land.”

Rubie Simonsen (she/her)

Rubie Simonsen is a passionate advocate for sustainable agriculture, community empowerment, and the revitalization of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). With over a decade of experience in farming and community organizing, Rubie has collaborated with Indigenous and BIPOC communities to establish food sovereignty programs, train youth in farming, and protect culturally significant seeds and practices. As the founder of First Mother Farms, she integrates regenerative agriculture with education, fostering connections between people, land, and culture. Her expertise spans TEK workshops, herbalism, and program development, emphasizing inclusivity and ecological resilience. Rubie is committed to amplifying Indigenous voices and creating systems that honor environmental stewardship and intergenerational knowledge-sharing. She envisions a future where sustainability and equity go hand in hand, ensuring thriving communities and a healthier planet.

Blue Clara Leopo (they/them)

Blue Clara Leopo, raised in Santa Ana, California has over 7 years in community organizing in food, environmental and land justice work. They are a seed keeper (@sa_seedcollective), teacher and community advocate for indigenous stewardship and rights. They are of P'urhepecha descent and rooted by values taught by their grandmother, Elisa. Blue is excited to be part of the ELI Fellowship and grow along others who share the passion for environmental justice in our communities. You may find them teaching community members about seed harvesting and planting, guiding nature tours to school- aged youth, talking about native plants and playing with their dog, Watson.

Ashley Song (she/her, they/them)

I’m Ash - an environmental justice organizer, youth educator, and traditional Chinese medicine student. I grew up in Texas and am now rooted and based in Oakland, California, on the unceded land of the Chochenyo speaking Ohlone people. I believe that the movement for liberation is intertwined with healing justice, intergenerational connection, and spiritual and ancestral work. I’m excited to be working on an environmental justice curriculum created by and for youth of color in California with my work at Youth on Root. I have visions of bringing traditional healing medicine to all people, stewarding land, growing herbs for medicine, and investing deeply in our communities.

Elliot Bailey (he/him)

Elliot is a husband to his loving wife Emani Bailey and a father of three beautiful children. He aspires to leave a legacy for his kids and the many generations that will come after him. He is a Navy veteran who served for over nine years in San Diego, CA. While earning his degree in construction management, he discovered his passion for hemp construction, sustainable building and entrepreneurship. “The construction industry allows me to make a difference in my community everyday through teamwork and undying perseverance.” He has high aspirations on building a community with sustainable buildings that are built with low carbon footprints. His current role is as the Community Outreach coordinator for South Tower Community Land Trust leading important projects like the annual Queer Housing Summit and TOPA Fresno. These projects allow him to fully engulf himself into finding solutions to community issues within the South Tower and surrounding areas.

Bailey Ward (she/her)

Bailey, a Richmond, CA native, holds a Master of Public Health from UCLA Fielding School of Public Health (2023) and a Bachelor of Arts in Geography/Environmental Studies from UCLA (2021). She serves as the Environmental Justice Public Policy Associate for Physicians for Social Responsibility's San Francisco chapter, supporting community-driven environmental justice initiatives and advocacy efforts. Driven by her deep connection to Richmond, Bailey is dedicated to advancing environmental and social justice for communities like hers. Through her work with organizations like the UC Berkeley AIM Study, the National Center for Healthy Housing, and the California Breast Cancer Research Program, she has contributed to addressing systemic health and environmental challenges. Across her roles, Bailey advocates for sustainable, equitable solutions to enhance community health, resilience, and well-being.

Tevin Hamilton (he/him)

Tevin Hamilton serves as Coalition Coordinator for the Environmental Justice Communities Against Plastic (EJCAP) Coalition at Physicians for Social Responsibility-LA, leading efforts to combat plastic pollution across its lifecycle in California. His commitment to environmental justice began at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he addressed challenges in communities burdened by petrochemical pollution. To amplify marginalized voices, Tevin earned a master’s in environmental management from Yale, focusing on environmental justice and policy. At Yale, he contributed to the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Sustainability Initiative (JEDSI), conducting impactful research on the intersections of race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status in urban environmental inequality.

Elizabeth Gray Bayne (she/her)

Elizabeth Gray Bayne is an award-winning filmmaker with a focus on public health and social justice. A recipient of generous grants from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Glassbreaker Films, and the Center for Cultural Innovation, her project themes range from reproductive, environmental and climate justice to racial health equity. A former fellow at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, she earned her MPH from Yale University and MFA from the ArtCenter College of Design. Her short “Continuing A Legacy” (2020) won Best Documentary Short at the 2021 BronzeLens and Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festivals. Her feature “Chocolate Milk” received Honorable Mention for the Gordon Parks Black Excellence Award at the 2023 Tallgrass Film Festival and Best Documentary Feature at the 2024 Greater Cleveland Urban and Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festivals.

Hiram "Reno" Anoa'i (he/him)

Hiram Aliʻioaiga Reno Anoa’i, known warmly as Reno, is a second-generation Samoan American raised on Ramaytush Ohlone land, now called the San Francisco Bay Area. Guided by parents devoted to community service, Reno was inspired to study Critical Pacific Island Studies, deepening his commitment to his people. As Senior Program & Advocacy Manager for the Pacific Islander Community Partnership (PICP), he launched initiatives like Pasefika Visions of Resilience, a scholarship showcase empowering Pacific Islander youth to address climate justice. As District 5 Arts & Culture Commissioner in San Mateo County, Reno champions equity and amplifies marginalized voices, shaping a future rooted in justice and inclusion.

Nathaly Moreno (she/her)

As the daughter of Salvadoran war refugees, Nathaly’s experiences with injustice have motivated her to address the root causes of the climate crisis. She is an Engagement Manager at Sphericql, where her goal is support help deeply rooted community-based organizations design and build living infrastructure that helps people and places thrive in the face of climate change. Nathaly’s previous experience leading justice-driven initiatives at two climate technology startup incubators enables her to weave innovative strategies to accelerate community-driven projects via philanthropy, government, nonprofit and for-profit social enterprise. In her free time, you can find Nathaly cuddling a baby goat at Lopez Urban Farm or twirling on the dance floor of her local salsa social.

Rhian Reyes (she/her)

Rhian Reyes was born and raised in the Coachella Valley, where she developed a deep connection to the desert landscape surrounding her home. Passionate about political theory and intersectionality, Rhian earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in History from California State University, San Bernardino. She began her conservation and Environmental Justice journey as an intern for the Protect California Desert Coalition, advocating for the establishment of the Chuckwalla National Monument in the Eastern Coachella Valley. Through her work at a local nonprofit, Rhian continues to advocate for the health and wellness of her community through community education about the Salton Sea and her sustained advocacy for Chuckwalla National Monument.

Isaac Michael Ybarra (he/him)

Isaac Michael, a visual artist and storyteller, is Xicano, Tongva, & Chumash. He utilizes film, photography, and poetry to amplify decolonization narratives and reclaim indigenous pedagogies. He embraces the values of Indigenous Futurism to retell the past and present, envisioning a future guided by his community's stories, visions, and desires. Isaac Michael weaves together diverse mediums, crafting evocative narratives that honor his ancestral homelands and uplift his communities.

Chloe Ballard (she/her)

Born and raised in San Francisco, Chloe enjoys being a part of positive change in the city she grew up in. As a Chico State University graduate with a B.A. in Organizational Communications and a minor in Business, her career started in corporate management. While living in Hawai’i, she changed vocations to join the food security movement by teaching others to grow food, designing an edible plant nursery that offered home deliveries, and securing a USDA Food Security Micro-Grant from Hawai’i’s Department of Agriculture. Feeling inspired, Chloe earned an Urban Agriculture Certificate from Oregon State University. Now back in SF, her work as a Community Programs Manager at Literacy for Environmental Justice has integrated her passion for the environment, food security, social justice, and community.

Kiarra Jean (she/her)

I am a certified environmental urban planning professional and project manager with a strong foundation in sustainable development and regulatory compliance. My work focuses on advancing utility research to enhance infrastructure resilience and promote environmental sustainability. I bring experience in managing complex projects, ensuring regulatory compliance, and delivering impactful environmental solutions. Known for my collaborative approach, adaptability, and reliability, I thrive in dynamic environments and excel at aligning stakeholder priorities with sustainable outcomes.

Vivian Breckenridge (she/her)

Vivian’s life work is helping to build a Regeneratiave Economy in which all communities are healthy, green, and overflowing with opportunity and joy. She founded Just Homes in Oakland after a lifetime of witnessing her family and communities experience housing insecurity, environmental and climate injustice, economic marginalization, and gentrification. She comes to this work with a diverse background of advocating for environmental and climate justice policy, supporting community EJ leaders, and educating and mentoring BIPOC children and youth. Most recently she worked at The Greenlining Institute and on the Steering Committee of the CA Green New Deal Coalition on their Green Social Housing Campaign.

Genomé Rodriguez (they/he; el/elle)

Genomé Rodriguez is an intersectional thinker, creative, student of life, ordained minister, energy worker and environmental justice advocate. Genomé is increasing the visibility of Two-Spirit, Transgender, Queer, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in science, promoting engagement with the outdoors, and creating spaces for community learning and healing. They are a Co-founder of TRANScending in Nature, a collective gathering with nature for love, rest, and restoration. Genomé has facilitated workshops at conferences, including People of the Global Majority in the Outdoors, Nature & Environment (PGM ONE) Summit and the LGBTQ Outdoor Summit in 2018, and at the LGBTQ National Creating Change Conference in 2024. Genomé has a Bachelor’s of Science in Ecology, Evolution, Conservation with a minor in Parks and Recreation with an emphasis on Outdoor Education from CSU, Sacramento.

Agustin Angel Bernabe (he/him)

Agustín, a co-founder of Leaders4EARTH, is a first-generation graduate from San Francisco State University, holding a B.S. in Health Education with double minors in Holistic Health and Community Health. Migrating from Guerrero, Mexico, he is passionate about public health, environmental justice, and community engagement. Agustín's dedication as a community organizer and youth educator began in Salinas Valley and Bayview Hunters Point, mentoring emerging leaders in environmental and social justice. He builds relationships with advocates and partners across nonprofits, government, activism, and healthcare, extending his commitment to serving the local, state, and global community. As an agent for positive societal change and environmental health activism, Agustín not only leads impactful initiatives but also enjoys hiking, exploring eateries, listening to music, and embracing the outdoors.

Ana Rosa Rizo-Centino (she/her)

Ana Rosa Rizo-Centino (ella/she/her) comes from a working class Mexican immigrant family desde Guadalajara, Jalisco. She has fought for and continues to fight for racial, environmental, economic and social justice on local, state and national levels. She is the network manager for the Central Coast Climate Justice Network, is on the Central Coast steering committee for the California Working Families Party, is the board president for the Central Coast Environmental Voters, is the national board chairwoman for Transition US, has a radio show and podcast called “¡Que Madre!” and most importantly she is the mom of two daughters: Adelita and Gloria.

Andrea Luna (she/her)

Andrea Luna grew up in Huntington Park and now lives in the City of Bell. She became passionate about social, environmental, and food justice during her first year at East Los Angeles College, where she became involved with East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice. Andrea then transferred to the University of California, Berkeley graduating with a B.S. in Society and Environment and a B.A. in Ethnic Studies, and a minor in Race and Law. Andrea is dedicated to challenging social, environmental, and food injustices impacting her community and communities like hers.

Carla Mays (she/her)

Mays is the Co Founder and Head of Global Policy and Research at #SmartCohort and a Founding Principal at Mays Civic Innovation, LLC in San Francisco. Born and raised in Southern California, Mays has 10+ years of experience in equitable smart cities planning, digital transformation, and transportation equity analysis, policy, program development and public sector strategy. Mays received both Bachelor and Master of Public Administration from San Francisco State University, is an alumna of UC Berkeley - Haas School of Business Executive Program, the Executive Global Cities and Future Cities Programs at the London School of Economics and Harvard Graduate School of Design.

Catherine Baltazar (she/they)

Catherine Baltazar, a native Angeleno, holds a degree in Environmental Studies and Cinema and Media Studies from Wellesley College. Post-graduation, she contributed to the Urban Heat Island Reduction Plan of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, emphasizing tree planting, green spaces, and cool roof initiatives for environmental justice. At Catalyst San Gabriel Valley, she supported the “Life is Better with Trees” project, planting 2,000 trees in East Los Angeles, Bassett, and Walnut Park, fostering environmental education and public health with local schools and organizations. During the pandemic, she immersed herself in the local bicycle community, gaining insights into cyclists' transportation needs.

Devin Murphy (he/him)

Devin T. Murphy is a collaborative leader and democracy entrepreneur dedicated to shaping a regenerative economy that fosters prosperity while preserving our natural systems and advancing a more just, inclusive democracy. With over a decade of experience in environmental and civic advocacy, Devin has contributed to organizations such as Sol Community Village, Communities for a Better Environment, and California Environmental Voters. As the Mayor of the City of Pinole and a Board Member of MCE Clean Energy, California's pioneering community choice aggregator, Devin plays a pivotal role in providing clean electricity to over 540,000 customers across Contra Costa, Napa, Marin, and Solano counties. A graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he served as Student Body President, Devin enjoys reading, long-distance walking, and quality time with his nieces, nephews, and his "Rottador", Miles.

Fatima Malik (we/ours)

Fatima is a public health professional and health equity practitioner dedicated to advancing social justice in disadvantaged communities. She is an alumni of the 2021 Partners Advancing Climate Equity cohort led by SGC. As the volunteer CEO for the Del Paso Heights Growers’ Alliance, she creates poverty intervention strategies that work to directly benefit vulnerable populations. Her life’s work includes urban agriculture education, edible landscaping, organizing community gardens, and long-term neighborhood planning efforts to increase social, economic, and environmental well-being. She serves on the board of Solar Rights Alliance and CivicThread. Fatima loves to cook, garden, and travel. As the fifth of six kids, from an immigrant family, who was raised by a single-mother, she humbly supports new arrivals and those with limited English speaking skills navigate systems with dignity. Malik earned a Master of Public Health at SJSU and a degree in International Agricultural Development at UC Davis.

Hasibe Caballero-Gomez (she/her)

Itzel Flores Castillo Wang (she/her)

Itzel is a queer, indigenous, woman of color. She was born and raised in Puebla, Mexico until ten years old when her family came to Los Angeles and reunited with her dad. Her organizing journey began with the May Day March in 2006 and continued to grow as she completed her B.A. in Environmental Studies and learned more about the impacts that systems of oppression, colonialism and more have had on her and her communities. In Promesa Boyle Heights, Itzel deepened her understanding of community organizing and leadership to advocate for what they need and deserve. She currently leads the Healthy Environments work at Promesa working alongside an amazing group of Promotoras de Salud Ambiental in informing and engaging the community to build a more resilient and healthier community. Outside of work, she loves spending time with her family, dancing, and visiting Mother Nature to reconnect and reground herself.

Jamani Ashé (any pronouns)

Jamani Ashé is an Afro-Indigenous, gender-free, community organizer, earth-tender and time-traveller living in Northern California. She is a survivor and a survivalist - and has committed her life's work to building critical skills for disaster preparedness and climate resilience. She is the founder and steward of Sankofa Roots - a land-based learning and healing organization that leads outdoor preparedness and climate resilience trainings for Black, Indigenous and Queer folks on the frontlines of climate crisis and housing displacement. Their work meets at the intersections of critical survival skills, ancestral remembrance, and re-indigenizing our relationship to the land. In their free time, you can catch them foraging, making music, or swimming in the local Yuba river.

Laura Hernandez (they/them|elle)

Laura (they/them | elle) was born and raised in Stockton, California (Yokuts and Miwok lands) and moved to San Francisco where they graduated with honors with a B.S. in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism from San Francisco State University. Since then, they co-created an Air Quality Monitoring summer program for Literacy for Environmental Justice and GreenAction, and for the past 3.5 years, they have been working as the Outdoor Educators Institute Program Coordinator at Justice Outside fighting for racial justice in the outdoors. They do this work by supporting other young folks to live in their vision to achieve their goals. Outside of work, they are proud Queer Latine activist, anti-capitalist, radical rest advocate, comic enthusiast, Dungeons and Dragons nerd, and aspiring curandere.

Mark Sanchez Guerra Santos (they/them)

Hi, My name is Mark, I use They/Them pronouns and I am a filmmaker currently based in San Luis Obispo County. I come from a family activist and farm workers, and for a good majority of my life I've been trying to find my voice in relation to what activism means to me and how I can best show up for it. Being in filmmaking, much like any career path, means having to work within the constraints of capitalism, and as a result I've been searching for a group of people who are seeking to dismantle and decolonize not only their career but there lifepaths, I strongly feel I found this within the ELI fellowship :)

Miriam Eide (they/them)

Miriam Eide (they/them) is the Executive Director at Fossil Free California. They are passionate about the intersection of labor and climate which they view as critical to implementing just solutions to the climate crisis. They also are part of Rich City Rays - a Richmond "kayactivism" group combining direct action with kayaking and reconnecting with the water. In summer of 2021, Miriam returned to their home state of Minnesota to join Indigenous leaders in fighting to stop the construction of the Line 3 tar sands oil pipeline. Miriam won the Hamrie Community Service award for founding a free menstrual cup program on the Macalester College campus where they graduated with degrees in Environmental Studies and International Studies. In their free time they enjoy climbing, swimming, backpacking, and reading – especially fantasy.

Naomi Lopez (she/her)

Naomi is a forward-thinking public policy professional interested in the intersection of affordable housing and environmental justice. She earned her Master of Public Policy at the University of California, Riverside, in June 2023. With a Bachelor of Science in Community and Regional Development from the University of California, Davis. She was recently employed at UCR's Office Sustainability hosting environmental justice educational workshops for undergraduate students. Over the summer, she worked to create outreach workshops for UCR's climate vulnerability assessment and report. Naomi brings a robust social justice lens to her diverse project roles. A leader in various organizations, Naomi is dedicated to community building and uplifting community voices and has worked with the undocumented community of the Inland Empire. Her hobbies include hiking, finding new vegetarian recipes, and visiting art galleries and museums.

Robin Gilliam (she/her)

Robin Gilliam is a lifelong resident of South Los Angeles and Co-Founder of the South LA Tree Coalition, a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to closing equity gaps throughout LA’s urban forest and facilitating the preservation, protection and growth of South LA’s tree canopy through progressive advocacy and community-based efforts. Throughout her career, her work has centered on social and environmental justice, access, and equity with a specialization in meaningful approaches to community outreach and engagement. Robin serves as Council District 8 Representative for the City of Los Angeles Community Forest Advisory Committee (CFAC) and is a member of the Los Angeles African American Women's Public Policy Institute. She holds a Master of City Planning from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art from the University of Southern California.

Shana Coleman (she/her)

Shana Coleman is an Environmental Justice Program Coordinator for Pacific Power, Southern California Pacific Islander Community Response Team’s (SoCal PICRT) environmental justice program. She uses this role to advocate for her pacific islander communities back home in the islands as well as here in Southern California.

Sherif Musaji (he/him)

Sharif grew up as a mixed race Muslim in the midwest, which led to many formative encounters and experiences with race. After film school and several years of service in Americorps, his interests and passions were coalescing around social justice, food sovereignty, and addressing the climate crisis. This led to an apprenticeship at Pie Ranch in 2014, and then working as assistant and co-farm manager in 2015. At his first Pie Ranch barn dance, he met his future partner. Yes, really. He left Pie in 2016 to get his Master’s in Social Justice Education from the University of San Francisco and to start a family. He taught Ethnic Studies, U.S. History, and Photography at Berkeley High School, until returning to Pie Ranch as Food and Youth Programs Director. Although he loved being a classroom teacher, he's excited to be back at Pie working on food systems change.

Sim-Marcel Bilal (he/him)

Sim Bilal is a Gen-Z climate organizer from South LA, raised by a single mom. He is a Korean, Black, and Chickasaw. Currently, he serves as a Los Angeles County youth climate commissioner and the lead organizer for Youth Climate Strike Los Angeles. Sim has been a climate activist for over six years, working on banning oil drilling in his neighborhood and fighting for green spaces, green social housing, and climate literacy. Sim is busy in his community fighting for the enrichment of other local South LA youth, supporting elementary, middle, and high schools through mutual aid programs, and volunteering as a robotics and coding instructor for the past three years. Sim has been working on integrating tech, activism, organizing, and legislation into addressing the climate crisis in Los Angeles. As a youth climate organizer, Sim has organized climate strikes in southern California, mobilizing thousands of LA youth to call on divestment from fossil fuels and investment into green jobs, infrastructure, and spaces.

Spenser Jaimes (he/him)

Tina Calderon (she/her)

Zoe Cunliffe (she/her)

Zoe Cunliffe serves as the Environmental Justice Program Coordinator at Black Women for Wellness, a community based non-profit in South LA. She works to address the disproportionate health burdens and reproductive harms borne by Black women and girls, as caused by pollution and toxic chemicals from the built environment. In this role, Zoe’s main areas of focus are the elimination of neighborhood oil drilling, plastic pollution and its impact on health, and water equity.