We are a community.

Nearly 600 people convened over climate and environmental literacy, justice, and action on one day with ECCLPs. Thank you for being part of our community and for advancing climate change education with us!

We look forward to connecting with you at the next event on May 17th online from 9am-3pm PST.

Thank you to those who were able to join us at this event aimed as a call to action to recenter on education as the catalyst for climate action! We brought together over 50 leaders in the climate and environmental space who also believe in the incredible power of PK-12 educators to support a day of engagement and learning. This event will launch new UC-CSU initiatives that continue to focus on the advancement of PK-12 climate and environmental justice literacy through research, teaching and learning, and community partnerships. To view all the session recordings from our incredible partners, please see the link at the bottom of the page and subscribe the ECCLPs newsletter to continue engaging.

Opening Keynotes

Session Title: Opening & Keynote Speakers Morning Session
Session Descriptor: The Teaching Well
Speaker Bio: Lindsey Fuller serves as the Executive Director of The Teaching Well and is an unapologetic and passionate advocate for scholars, educators, and marginalized communities. A paradigm-shifting leader and Restorative Practitioner, she is the embodiment of Angela Davis’ statement, “We must always attempt to lift as we climb.” Lindsey leads through genuine relationships and humor. She has an unmatched ability to see others’ innate gifts and reflect them back in ways that make room for each staff member and client to show up as their most favorite selves in service to their students, communities, and loved ones.
Prior to joining The Teaching Well, Lindsey served as both a teacher and school administrator and also held the role of Regional Director of Student Services for a school network in California. In that role, she supported 11 Bay Area schools and led all non-academic initiatives, including mental health programming, behavioral supports, socio-emotional learning, and crisis management. Lindsey was the co-founder and leader of the network’s first affinity group in 2016, which has now scaled to over 20 affinity spaces across the organization. She also co-founded the inaugural Black Leadership Advocacy Council (B.L.A.C.), endeavoring to amplify the voices of community stakeholders to improve outcomes for Black scholars. Lindsey is highly skilled in navigating complex systems, with an eye towards strategic change management and communication cascades. Lindsey believes that in order to reach collective liberation, we must find ways to sustain adults in our schools to ensure trauma-sensitive continuity of care. With her fierce advocacy for folks on the margins, she builds human-centered, anti-racist systems to inform strong adult school climates. She holds a B.A, California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, and Masters in Teaching (M.A.T.) from Occidental College, her California Preliminary Administrative Credential, as well as serving as a trainer of Restorative Practices (IIRP), and a state-certified Mediator (CCEJ).
Session Title: Opening & Keynote Speakers Morning Session
Session Descriptor: Latino Outdoors, The Outdoorist Oath, & East Bay Regional Parks District
Speaker Bio: José G. González is the Founder of Latino Outdoors and Co-Founder of the Outdoorist Oath, along with a former partner at the Avarna Group. He is a professional educator with training in the fields of education and conservation while engaging in different artistic endeavors with art and messaging—often exploring the intersection of the environment and culture. As a Partner in the Avarna Group and through his own consulting, his work focused on Equity & Inclusion frameworks and practices in the environmental, outdoor, and conservation fields. He is also an illustrator and science communicator. He currently serves as the inaugural Equity Officer for the East Bay Regional Park District.
He received his B.A at the University of California, Davis, and his M.S at the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources & Environment. His teaching coursework was at the Bilingual, Multicultural, Education Department at Sacramento State.
He serves on the boards for Parks California and Resource Media, along with being a Commissioner for the California Boating & Waterways Commission.
You can connect with him on social media @JoseBilingue. Puns welcomed.
Session Title: Opening & Keynote Speakers Morning Session
Session Descriptor: UC-CSU ECCLPs
Speaker Bio: Kelley Lê has been in the educational field for over a decade as a high school science educator, instructional coach, and educational leader. She is currently the executive director of the UC–CSU Environmental and Climate Change Literacy Projects (ECCLPs), former director of the UC Irvine Science Project, Friends of the Planet NCSE Award recipient (2022), and author of Teaching Climate Change for Grades 6-12: Empowering Science Teachers to Take on the Climate Crisis Through NGSS (2021, Coming Soon 2024). She also serves as a CLEAN advisory board member, and a Climate Reality Corps mentor.
Session Title: Opening & Keynote Speakers Morning Session
Session Descriptor: UC-CSU ECCLPs
Speaker Bio: Lilly Lopez is a recent graduate from UCLA with a BA in Geography and Environmental Studies and a minor in Conservation Biology. She has since worked as a naturalist for the Palos Verdes Land Conservancy, where she has helped implement educational outreach programs and helped manage their two nature centers. In addition, she has also collaborated in various community-based research projects and internships that have focused on the ecological composition of the Palos Verdes Peninsula and surrounding areas. Lilly currently supports ECCLPs and the UC Irvine Science Project as a program coordinator.

Session Title: Opening & Keynote Speakers Morning Session
Session Descriptor: Climate Action Pathways for Schools
Speaker Bio: Estefanía is originally from Costa Rica and has worked in sustainability and transformative education since her mid twenties. She founded and operated a K–12 school for students from low-income families focused on delivering high quality bilingual education that merged social justice and environmental stewardship. Through this role Estefanía worked alongside educators from over a dozen countries creating an evolving dually accredited program of studies that merged international academic standards with sustainability learning principles. The school grew into a model of an institution operating under Education for Sustainable Development and consequently Estefanía was invited as the first research fellow at the Institute for the Built Environment at Colorado State University (CSU). There she published one of the few toolkits available for developing project-based learning at low-budget schools operating in the tropics. Estefanía completed her M.B.A. at CSU in social entrepreneurship focusing on the curricular structure and operations of schools categorized as examples of whole-school sustainability. This experience took her to Bali and Sumatra where she researched schools and education projects developed to provide climate social justice environmental justice and environmental stewardship education. In 2018 Estefanía founded the Hahami Organization in California a social enterprise that specializes in supporting government institutions schools and NGOs that are seeking to adopt and align their education offers with education for sustainable development as part of their efforts to provide youth with climate social justice and environmental education. With Hahami Estefanía collaborates with experts from sustainability education curricular design sustainability corporate governance conservation educational policies and educational technologies in a myriad of projects both in the US and internationally. Currently Estefanía is completing her PhD at the Gevirtz Graduate School of education at the University of California Santa Barbara. Her research focuses on evidence-based pedagogies and design methods to integrate content conducive for learning about and for sustainability challenges within K–12 subject matter content and official curricula. In addition she researches the best methods to train pre-service and in-service teachers in sustainability education including climate social justice and environmental education. Estefanía has published and participated with leading institutions such as UNESCO-IBE ICSS and FAO.
Session Title: Opening & Keynote Speakers Morning Session
Session Descriptor: UCI CalTeach Math & Science Project
Speaker Bio: Naehee Kwun served as a math teacher, instructional coach, mentor, curriculum designer, and consultant. She designs professional learning experiences for teachers. She speaks at and organizes conferences to elevate teachers in their commitments to make education relevant for all learners and foster student agency to fight for justice. Her portfolio can be found at www.mathingforequity.org Naehee is a first generation Korean American, a wife and mother, and an avid baker.
Session Title: Opening & Keynote Speakers Morning Session
Session Descriptor: The Niles Foundation
Speaker Bio: Working with and identifying as a frontline community member, Jakobi Ewart contributes his time solely towards advocating and supporting the voices within BIPOC communities that have been arbitrarily and viciously stamped out. He currently serves as a Board Member and Executive Director for The Niles Foundation, a 501c (3) that focuses on providing urban greening, fresh food access, and environmentally sustainable resources to disadvantaged communities in South Los Angeles. Jakobi applies creative solutions drawn from his diverse background and connections (such as being an active Realtor and affordable housing developer), to cultivate partnerships and collaborative opportunities in creating enriching programs for community development and equity. His belief is that through rigorous examination of self and our values, hard choices, engagement, and collaboration we can mend the disparity and impact inherent in environmental injustices.
Session Title: Opening & Keynote Speakers Morning Session
Session Descriptor: New York University
Speaker Bio: Okhee Lee is a professor in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development at New York University. She is widely known for advancing research, policy, and practice that simultaneously promote science and language learning for all students, particularly multilingual learners. Lee was a member of the NGSS writing team and served as leader for the NGSS Diversity and Equity Team. She also was a member of the Steering Committee for the Understanding Language Initiative at Stanford University. Her research involves integrating science, language, and computational thinking with a focus on multilingual learners. Her latest work addresses justice-centered STEM education with multilingual learners by integrating multiple STEM subjects, including data science and computer science, to address pressing societal challenges using the case of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lee brings research and policy to practice. Her team developed a yearlong fifth-grade science curriculum called Science And Integrated Language, or SAIL, that translates contemporary science standards into classroom practice with multilingual learners. The curriculum is in a field trial at New York City Public Schools with funding from the National Science Foundation. Using the SAIL curriculum, Lee’s team published teacher resources in collaboration with the New York State Education Department. In addition, her team published teacher resources in collaboration with the National Science Teaching Association and made them available nationally.
Session Title: Opening & Keynote Speakers Morning Session
Session Descriptor: UC San Diego
Speaker Bio: Dr. Ramanathan discovered the greenhouse effect of CFCs (cholorofluorocarbons; belongs to family of halocarbons) in 1975 and showed that a ton each of CFC-11 and CFC-12 has more global warming effect than 10000 tons of CO2. This discovery established the now accepted fact that non-CO2 gases are a major contributor to planet warming and also enabled the Montreal protocol to become the first successful climate mitigation policy. For this work, he was awarded the Tyler Prize by Nobel Laureate Sherwood Rowland in 2009. In 1980, Madden and Ramanathan were the first to make a statistical prediction that global warming will be detected above the background noise by 2000, a prediction which was verified by the IPCC-UN experts in 2001. He led a NASA study with its climate satellite to show that clouds had a net cooling effect on the planet and quantified the radiation interactions with water vapor and its amplification of the CO2 warming. He led international field campaigns, developed unmanned aircraft platforms for tracking brown clouds pollution worldwide. His work has led to numerous policies including the formation of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition by the United Nations.
He founded, designed, and leads Project Surya along with daughters Nithya Ramanathan and Tara Ramanathan; an extended effort to characterize and mitigate climate and health impacts of cooking with solid biomass as a way to protect the bottom three billion from climate change. He is now leading a University of California climate solutions effort which has launched a course on climate solutions that is expected to reach a million students or more.
He was honored as the science advisor to Pope Francis’ holy see delegation to the historic 2015 Paris climate summit and in addition advises California Governor Jerry Brown. He was named the UN Climate Champion in 2013; has been elected to the US National Academy and the Royal Swedish Academy which awards the Nobel prizes. Foreign Policy named him a thought leader in 2014 and in 2018, he (with James Hansen) was named the Tang Laureate for sustainability science. He is currently the Edward A. Frieman Endowed Presidential Chair in Climate Sustainability.

Morning Sessions

Session Title: Climate Kid’s Media: Using Creative Storytelling to Inspire Climate Literacy
Session Descriptor: How can we use media to help our students connect with the climate movement? Award-winning filmmaker Suzie Hicks will share stories, strategies, resources, and songs to help early childhood educators use high-quality children's media as a tool for climate action. This workshop merges science inquiry, environmental education, and social-emotional learning to introduce students to climate role models, inspire community-centered climate action, and assuage climate anxiety.
Speaker Bio: Suzie Hicks is an award-winning filmmaker, author, and television host, specializing in climate and environmental communication for kids of all ages. Their work emphasizes the power of children's media and learning communities — connecting youth advocates and educator allies. Big public media nerd.
Session Title: Nature Journaling for Well-being and Critical Thinking
Session Descriptor: Participants will engage in a nature journaling activity with special attention to making it accessible to those that may feel they are not artists. They will learn the basics of what makes a good nature journal (It's not about pretty pictures - though those may happen!). Participants will learn and discuss the ways in which nature journaling can be facilitated to be primarily a thinking tool when coupled with specific thinking routines that amplify funds of knowledge, sparks curiosity, deepens connection and a sense of belonging to a place, while providing opportunities to explore real-world phenomena and question their own ideas and beliefs.
Speaker Bio: Beth Callaghan is a former field biologist and high school science teacher. Since moving to the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Education Division 12 years ago, she has worked with a highly collaborative team to develop and implement professional development programs for educators that incorporate culturally responsive teaching practices while providing tools for professional growth and space for personal well-being. As Pedagogical Instructional Coach for the Education Division her passion for developing environmental identity through field work, getting students outside, and working with educators to support their professional development and well-being is equaled only by her passion for making the science process engaging, relevant, and accessible to all. Her mission is to empower educators to support the next generation of changemakers.
Session Title: The Teaching Well: Building Stress Resilience & SustainabilityBal
Session Descriptor: Balance your nervous system with multiple somatic/mindful practices woven throughout an engaging session mapping our stress cycles against the Human Function Curve. Learn to read your unique “body cues”, “behavior cues”, and “communication cues” such that you can engage in connected communication with colleagues and mindfully shift yourself/your nervous system back into homeostasis in the work environment. Additionally, you’ll consider the ways in which implicit bias is perpetuated at higher rates by individuals who are stressed and burned out; at The Teaching Well, we believe that to be truly anti-racist, one must also center wellness.
Speaker Bio: Rebecca Bernard serves as the Director of Innovation at The Teaching Well. She is a creative thinker and strategist with a proven track record in the areas of global business, non-profit management, and cradle to career education Her expertise includes entrepreneurship, global marketing and communications, interdisciplinary strategy and entrepreneurship, DEIJ and SEL for youth and adults, arts education and youth program design. She is a skillful facilitator and community builder with an ability to unite teams and inspire meaningful collaboration.
Rebecca began her career in the globalization services industry as a trusted advisor and project manager for multinational corporations in the tech start-up, gaming and mobile industries. She has since held executive management positions in the small business and non-profit space. Her love and commitment to education runs deep, as teaching and school building has been a part of her ancestral lineage for at least three generations. Over the last decade, Rebecca has worked in various capacities in Early Education, K-12 and Out-of-school-time Learning. With the intention of bringing high quality, child-led, dual-language programming to her community in South Los Angeles, Rebecca helped to found two schools–a progressive bilingual play-based early education center and a dual-language public elementary school. She has managed youth programs for hundreds of children through her non-profit work, consulted for a variety of education organizations, and designed place-based summer learning programs in countries around the globe through her travel company Family Go Global. Rebecca holds a BA in World Arts & Cultures from UCLA, a Masters in Communication Management from USC, and a Master's in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Rebecca is passionate about uplifting future generations and reimagining systems for learning around the globe.
Session Title: The Teaching Well: Building Stress Resilience & SustainabilityBal
Session Descriptor: Balance your nervous system with multiple somatic/mindful practices woven throughout an engaging session mapping our stress cycles against the Human Function Curve. Learn to read your unique “body cues”, “behavior cues”, and “communication cues” such that you can engage in connected communication with colleagues and mindfully shift yourself/your nervous system back into homeostasis in the work environment. Additionally, you’ll consider the ways in which implicit bias is perpetuated at higher rates by individuals who are stressed and burned out; at The Teaching Well, we believe that to be truly anti-racist, one must also center wellness.
Speaker Bio: Lindsey Fuller serves as the Executive Director of The Teaching Well and is an unapologetic and passionate advocate for scholars, educators, and marginalized communities. A paradigm-shifting leader and Restorative Practitioner, she is the embodiment of Angela Davis’ statement, “We must always attempt to lift as we climb.” Lindsey leads through genuine relationships and humor. She has an unmatched ability to see others’ innate gifts and reflect them back in ways that make room for each staff member and client to show up as their most favorite selves in service to their students, communities, and loved ones.
Prior to joining The Teaching Well, Lindsey served as both a teacher and school administrator and also held the role of Regional Director of Student Services for a school network in California. In that role, she supported 11 Bay Area schools and led all non-academic initiatives, including mental health programming, behavioral supports, socio-emotional learning, and crisis management. Lindsey was the co-founder and leader of the network’s first affinity group in 2016, which has now scaled to over 20 affinity spaces across the organization. She also co-founded the inaugural Black Leadership Advocacy Council (B.L.A.C.), endeavoring to amplify the voices of community stakeholders to improve outcomes for Black scholars. Lindsey is highly skilled in navigating complex systems, with an eye towards strategic change management and communication cascades. Lindsey believes that in order to reach collective liberation, we must find ways to sustain adults in our schools to ensure trauma-sensitive continuity of care. With her fierce advocacy for folks on the margins, she builds human-centered, anti-racist systems to inform strong adult school climates. She holds a B.A, California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, and Masters in Teaching (M.A.T.) from Occidental College, her California Preliminary Administrative Credential, as well as serving as a trainer of Restorative Practices (IIRP), and a state-certified Mediator (CCEJ).
Session Title: Climate Solutions & Collaboration: Drawdown Action
Session Descriptor: In hearts and minds around the world, climate change conjures images of death, destruction, and imminent peril. That state of fear and helplessness challenges our collective ability to create a future where both people and the planet thrive. Thankfully, Project Drawdown, the world's leading resource for climate solutions, shares a framework for climate solutions that are in hand, today, for us to reverse climate change. Join Dr. Elizabeth Bagley in a discussion about the mosaic of climate solutions that can lead to a "win state" for our climate.
Speaker Bio: Elizabeth Bagley, Ph.D., is an interdisciplinary environmental scientist and learning scientist with experience spanning academia, business, and the nonprofit sector.
As managing director, Elizabeth guides Project Drawdown’s overall strategy and keeps programs and operations functioning smoothly across the organization. Before joining Project Drawdown she led higher education-focused climate workforce development at SEI, directed sustainability efforts at the California Academy of Sciences, and designed the science content for video games at LeapFrog.
Elizabeth frequently speaks about climate solutions and was invited to create two LinkedIn Learning courses focused on sustainability that have engaged tens of thousands of learners from around the world. An experienced environmental educator, Elizabeth worked as a naturalist in Glacier National Park, taught middle and high school science in Louisiana, created K–12 professional development programs for teachers, and designed a science communication course for graduate students.
Elizabeth holds joint Ph.D.s in Environment & Resources and Educational Psychology from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where she studied how video games can encourage systems thinking about complex environmental topics. Outside of work, Elizabeth enjoys volunteering on her community’s Sustainability Commission and Science Center board, hiking, reading romance novels, berry picking, and adventuring with her family and friends.

Session Title: Good Fire: Indigenous Cultural Burning as an Ecosystem and Climate Stabilizer
Session Descriptor: Prior to colonization, Indigenous Peoples routinely, deliberately, and methodically applied fire as an ecosystem and soil regeneration tool. By buying the meadows and prairies they maintained healthy grasslands for herbivores, reduced competition among trees to maintain healthy old-growth stands, as well as nourished soil systems with periodic injections of nutrient-dense ash. Fire was arguably Indigenous Peoples' most influential land management tool. It maintained grasslands for herbivores, supporting bast herds of bison, sheep, antelope, deer, elk, etc. From a climate perspective, these fires preventing catastrophic fires by reducing fuel loads in the understory and maintaining fewer, healthier trees per acre. Catastrophic fires throughout the US and Australia are not only due to climate change but are mostly due to the prohibition and suppression of the Indigenous land management practice of routine "cultural" burning. Indigenous burning strategies also create a mosaic of burnt and unburnt patches that are in different stages of regrowth, each with different sets of flora and fauna, ultimately giving rise to ecosystem biodiversity.
Speaker Bio: Dr. Lyla June Johnston (aka Lyla June) is an Indigenous musician, author, and community organizer of Diné (Navajo), Tsétsêhéstâhese (Cheyenne) and European lineages. Her multi-genre presentation style has engaged audiences across the globe towards personal, collective, and ecological healing. She blends her study of Human Ecology at Stanford, graduate work in Indigenous Pedagogy, and the traditional worldview she grew up with to inform her music, perspectives and solutions. Her doctoral research focused on the ways in which pre-colonial Indigenous Nations shaped large regions of Turtle Island (aka the Americas) to produce abundant food systems for humans and non-humans.
Session Title: The Power of Climate Storytelling in Empowering Classroom Learning
Session Descriptor: Now a widely recognized strategy in climate communications for building public and political will for solutions, storytelling, when utilized in the classroom, supports academic learning by connecting to personal experience, which is necessary for meaningful dialogue and action. By creating spaces where students feel encouraged to share their unique perspectives, identities, cultural ways, lived experiences, and reimagined futures, educators can support the next generation of leaders to realize they are capable of rich climate dialogue and decision-making.
Speaker Bio: Jothsna is the founder of Change Narrative, which exists to build capacity in the climate justice movement through the power of our stories. Through a coaching practice, Jothsna works with people to craft climate narratives to advocate for solutions. Specifically centering voices excluded from mainstream media, climate discussions, and decision-making. Jothsna is the recipient of the 2023 Creative Climate Communications Award from the Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership, and is a 2023 Obama USA Leader, recognized as one of 100 changemakers across our nation working to strengthen democracy.
Session Title: Regenerating for the Next Gen
Session Descriptor: This session supports teachers and students to explore what is factory farming and regenerative agriculture through video shorts and a case study to support students as change agents on this issue. Students are positioned at the launch of the lesson as the drivers of their own learning, and teachers play an important role in facilitating student understanding through deep questioning and discourse moves. Teachers do not need to be experts on this topic to teach this lesson. This is designed as an opportunity for learning. A lesson plan will be provided to teachers/educators to take back to their learner
Speaker Bio: As a lifelong Floridian, Ashley (she/her) has a strong affinity for the outdoors and preservation. She has been a vocal environmental advocate for over 14 years. She earned a Bachelor Degree in Economics at the University of South Florida in 2015 and returned to complete a Master’s in Global Sustainability with concentrations in Sustainable Business and Renewable Energy. In 2023 she was chosen as a CEE-Change Fellow with the North American Association for Environmental Educators. Ashley feels called to this work because she sees Florida on the front lines of climate change, and while most Floridians seem to notice climate weirding they’re also reconciling a lot of misinformation. As the former Director of Education, Ashley worked with Our Climate Our Future (ourclimateourfuture.org) and Action for the Climate Emergency (acespace.org) to provide resources and in-person assemblies that empower teachers and students nationwide to learn about climate science and climate justice. In her free time, Ashley enjoys swing dancing, playing with her dog and backyard chickens, and being a mother to her daughter born near the end of 2020.
Session Title: Visualizing Climate Change: Fostering Empathy through AI
Session Descriptor: In Tina's workshop, STEM educators will learn about integrating climate change communication into their teaching, focusing on skills such as data visualization and storytelling. This hands-on session will guide participants through the process of creating engaging narratives and visualizing climate data to make it more understandable and impactful for students. Tina aims to give educators effective tools for interactive storytelling, helping them inspire their students to engage with climate change topics.
Speaker Bio: Tina, an Assistant Professor at San José State, is passionate about using design to communicate important socio-cultural messages to diverse groups of learners, with a particular focus on climate conservation and communication. Her work centers on two primary areas at the forefront of her research: leveraging new media and technology to enhance learning, equity, and accessibility, and using interactive and immersive storytelling to foster empathy and enhance message delivery. As the co-founder of San José State’s Storytelling Lab, Tina is a faculty advisor who familiarizes students with emerging technologies and improves their critical thinking, teamwork, and innovation skills. As an Adobe Education Leader, Tina is renowned for her innovative teaching methods and successful integration of technology in the classroom. Her work has garnered numerous grants and awards, including funding from Adobe, META, Unity, the City of San José, AGU, CUAHSI, and several others.

Late Morning Sessions

Session Title: An Ocean Generation
Session Descriptor: Oceanology is a subject that isn't on the curriculum in any country. It is rarely even talked about. Yet it is key to understanding our world, understanding climate change and even solving the issue. In this workshop, educators will learn how biased environmental education can be and how a little oceanology, delivered creatively, can empower students with a different and more positive view of the world.
Speaker Bio: Before diving into ocean and coral reef conservation, Richard Vevers first worked at top London advertising agencies and then as an artist and underwater photographer. This background guided his unique creative and business-thinking approach to ocean conservation. His work, which reveals what is happening to our oceans, is some of the most viewed underwater imagery of all time, and, thanks to his ideas, projects and public speaking, he is a leading voice in the fight to save coral reefs.
His projects successes include inventing the SVII camera and taking Google Street View underwater, pioneering virtual reality ocean education – currently available to over 90 million children – and creating the XL Catlin Seaview Survey, the most comprehensive underwater photographic survey and record of coral reefs with over one million images captured and analyzed. Vevers was instrumental in revealing the crisis facing coral reefs in the Netflix Original Documentary “Chasing Coral”, which won the 2018 Emmy for Outstanding Nature Documentary. He has also played a key role in 50 Reefs, a global scientific study to help target and inspire effective conservation support and action, resulting in $86 million in funding for science and conservation.
Session Title: Green Job Board & Browngirl Green: How to Navigate Building a Green Career
Session Descriptor: Green Jobs are on the rise, but not many people know how to navigate and build a long-term climate career pathway. This will be a workshop breaking down the state of green jobs, opportunities for job seekers to turn their passion into a thriving career to sustain their climate activism.
Speaker Bio: Kristy Drutman, otherwise known as “Browngirl Green” is a speaker, consultant, media producer, and environmental educator passionate about working at the intersections between media, diversity, and environmentalism. As an entrepreneur and climate communications expert, Kristy has educated hundreds of thousands of people across the globe about modern-day environmental issues through speeches and media content as well as facilitates workshops centered around environmental media and storytelling in cities across the United States. She has been invited to the White House multiple times as an on-ground reporter, was featured in Teen Vogue, NY Times, Refinery 29 among many other publications, is a Grist 50 under 50 recipient and a Create and Cultivate Top 100 creator. Kristy is also the Co-Founder of the Green Jobs Board, a climate tech start-up bridging the equity and inclusion gap within the green economy through conversations, resources, and pathways to bring more diverse talent into the environmental field.
Session Title: Strategies for Bringing TEK and EJ Education into the Classroom
Session Descriptor: Incorporating Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and Environmental Justice (EJ) into educational curricula enriches students' understanding of diverse cultural perspectives on sustainability and stewardship. This integration fosters a more holistic approach to environmental education, bridging the gap between Indigenous knowledge and contemporary ecological practices. It encourages teachers and students to develop relationships with the original stewards of the land and to become active participants in their communities, advocating for equitable and informed environmental decision-making.
Speaker Bio: Dr. Joely Proudfit, (Luiseño/Payómkawichum and Tongva), Chairs the American Indian Studies department and is the Director of the California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center at CSU San Marcos. She was named to the National Advisory Council on Indian Education by President Obama in 2016 and was the first Indigenous woman on California's Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, appointed by Governor Newsom in 2021. An award-winning activist, author, educator, and media maker, Dr. Proudfit is a leading voice in California Indian issues and Indigenous representation.
Session Title: Strategies for Bringing TEK and EJ Education into the Classroom
Session Descriptor: Incorporating Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and Environmental Justice (EJ) into educational curricula enriches students' understanding of diverse cultural perspectives on sustainability and stewardship. This integration fosters a more holistic approach to environmental education, bridging the gap between Indigenous knowledge and contemporary ecological practices. It encourages teachers and students to develop relationships with the original stewards of the land and to become active participants in their communities, advocating for equitable and informed environmental decision-making.
Speaker Bio: Dina Gilio-Whitaker (Colville Confederated Tribes descendant) is a renowned Native American studies scholar and journalist, especially on the topics of environmental justice, Indigenous knowledge, and identity. Her most recent book is the award-winning "As Long As Grass Grows: The Indigenous Fight for Environmental Justice", from "Colonization to Standing Rock" released in 2019 and her forthcoming book, "Indians for Sale: Pretendians, Disenrollment, and NativeAmerican Identity in Late Capitalism" is scheduled for release in spring 2025 from Beacon Press.

Session Title: Using Art to Tell the Story of Climate Change
Session Descriptor: Environmental Graphiti® is a collection of over 100 digital paintings, each derived from a graph, chart, map, word, or number reflecting a key fact about climate change. The series was created based on the belief that art can be a powerful tool to help communicate the science of climate change.
ART makes the science more accessible. SCIENCE makes the art more meaningful. It’s a powerful combination.
This presentation will feature various digital images from the Environmental Graphiti series, as well as ideas and suggestions for incorporating the art into the climate change curriculum.
Speaker Bio: Alisa Singer is a self-taught artist from the Chicago area. In 2014, after retiring from a long career as a corporate attorney, she began the series Environmental Graphiti - The Art of Climate Change, a collection of over 100 digital paintings that use art as a vehicle to enhance the public’s understanding of the science of climate change. Vivid, seemingly abstract images attract viewers who are then intrigued to learn that each painting is not abstract after all, but rather derived from a graph, chart, map, word or number representing a key fact about climate science. This discovery process results in a greater engagement with both the art and the underlying science.
Environmental Graphiti art has been extensively collected and exhibited in the US and other parts of the world and was commissioned for the covers of three recent major UN (IPCC) climate change reports. The art is owned by dozens of universities and can also be found at The Ontario Science Centre (Toronto) and the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (Chicago).
To view the full collection of the art and learn more about the Environmental Graphiti (EG) project please visit the website:
https://www.environmentalgraphiti.org
Session Title: Sophie's Great American ELECTRIC Road Trip: finding science, comedy, and climate solutions across the USA
Session Descriptor: Join science comedy TV host and creator Sophie Shrand on her biggest experiment yet: driving an electric car from Los Angeles to Boston and back! Sophie will share stories from the road, show sneak peeks of her upcoming docuseries, describe her unconventional career path, and offer tips on using your voice to change the world. You'll leave this session ready to start telling your own stories, with emphasis on using comedy to help people learn.
Speaker Bio: Sophie Shrand [Science With Sophie, Theory of Awesome, The Second City] is an award-winning science educator, actor, comedian, and producer with degrees in Behavioral Neuroscience and Theatre. Through joyful entertainment, Sophie aims to normalize women in STEM and spark generations of compassionate, curious minds. She has brought science comedy to more than 2 million families worldwide.
Sophie is the Creator and Host of Telly Award-winning science comedy series Science With Sophie, Executive Producer at Cool Jacket Productions, and Host of streaming series Theory of Awesome. Sophie can also be seen in educational series for Indeed.com, and is a consulting writer for institutions such as the Museum of Science, Boston. Sophie has been called "The Next Bill Nye" by Inverse.
As a STEM professional and educator, Sophie has taught over 25,000 students and hundreds of thousands of families at world-renowned museums across the United States. Sophie is an international speaker, entrepreneur, and Camelback Ventures Fellow.
Sophie just wrapped production on her latest project: driving an electric car coast-to-coast, round-trip across the USA to answer the questions “can it be done?” and “can it be FUN?!” Along the way, She explored the science of sustainable travel, found the country’s most spectacular sights, and met people working today to build a brighter tomorrow.
Fasten your seatbelt and join Sophie on The Great American [Electric] Roadtrip! Head to sciencewithsophie.com for updates, trailer drops, future screenings, and events
Session Title: California Water and Climate Change
Session Descriptor: Attendees will participate in the Project WET (Water Education Today) activity “The Long Haul.” This activity can be completed from the comfort of their home/office, moving water from a full cup to an empty cup over a specified distance using only a spoon to simulate the challenges/efforts around moving water in California. From there, attendees will learn a brief overview of California’s water management, its challenges under a changing climate, and finally how the Department of Water Resources, in partnership with educators, is providing hands on guidance and classroom activities such as the “Long Haul” to educate students and highlight important opportunities for them to be participants and leaders in the social and STEM fields of water management.
Speaker Bio: Jenn Swart is a Senior Public Affairs Representative at the Water Replenishment District, a groundwater management agency that serves 4 million residents in southern Los Angeles County.
In her role at WRD, Jenn engages with a multitude of audiences and stakeholders on the topics of groundwater, recycled water, and water conservation. She manages the district’s community education programs and facilitates stakeholder tours of WRD’s water treatment facilities. Jenn was a project lead for the development and installation of the state-of-the-art exhibit hall at the Albert Robles Center for Water Recycling & Environmental Learning (ARC). Jenn has a Bachelor of Science in Geography degree from the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and taught English in South Korea to Pre K - 8th grade students for 4 years.
Session Title: California Water and Climate Change
Session Descriptor: Attendees will participate in the Project WET (Water Education Today) activity “The Long Haul.” This activity can be completed from the comfort of their home/office, moving water from a full cup to an empty cup over a specified distance using only a spoon to simulate the challenges/efforts around moving water in California. From there, attendees will learn a brief overview of California’s water management, its challenges under a changing climate, and finally how the Department of Water Resources, in partnership with educators, is providing hands on guidance and classroom activities such as the “Long Haul” to educate students and highlight important opportunities for them to be participants and leaders in the social and STEM fields of water management.
Speaker Bio: Jordi is an Environmental Scientist with the California Department of Water Resources working from the South Central Region Office in Fresno for the Climate Change Program. He works to help develop and implement programs designed to increase and promote energy efficiency, water conservation, water recycling, and low impact development in order to reduce energy consumption related to water use in California. Jordi graduated from UC Santa Cruz in June 2017 with a BS in Earth Sciences and came to work in the water sector after consecutive internships at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.
Session Title: Igniting Change: Fostering Climate Literacy and Action through Storytelling
Session Descriptor: In an era where the climate crisis demands urgent action and comprehensive understanding, storytelling emerges as a powerful tool to educate, inspire, and mobilize. Flywheelstories.org proudly presents "Igniting Change," a transformative presentation that delves into the heart of climate and environmental literacy through the art of storytelling. Join us as we journey through captivating narratives crafted by acclaimed photojournalist and filmmaker Mimi Chakarova and National Geographic Explorer and photographer Chris Rainier, whose work embodies the intersection of human emotion, environmental advocacy, and visual storytelling.
This presentation aims to equip attendees from diverse backgrounds, including PK-12 to higher education students and educators, university faculty, and environmental-focused community partners, with interdisciplinary insights and actionable strategies to tackle climate challenges. Through a series of engaging stories, we will explore how narratives can bridge gaps between science and society, empower individuals with knowledge and skills, and foster meaningful connections across sectors.
Speaker Bio: Andy, with a remarkable entrepreneurial journey spanning over four decades, has been a pivotal figure in blending visual storytelling, technology, and design. This unique intersection has been the foundation of his work in both nonprofit and for-profit sectors. Throughout his career, Andy has co-founded and successfully led eight organizations, showcasing his versatile leadership and innovative mindset.
His commitment extends beyond his entrepreneurial ventures, as evidenced by his role as a board member for several notable organizations. He has contributed his insights and expertise to Mother Jones magazine, actively participated in the preservation of Tibetan culture through Richard Gere's Foundation, supported Streetwise in empowering underrepresented, unhoused voices, and engaged in advancing the understanding of human sexuality at the Kinsey Institute.
Currently, Andy is at the helm of his newest venture, Flywheel. This innovative initiative is dedicated to reshaping the narrative around climate change. Through Flywheel, Andy continues to demonstrate his unwavering dedication to creating meaningful impact and fostering positive change in critical global issues.

Morning Panel Session

Session Title: Panel Session - Innovations in Climate Education: California Teacher Leaders at the Forefront
Session Descriptor: Join us for an inspiring panel discussion featuring four incredible teacher leaders from California who are pioneering innovative approaches to integrating climate change education and initiatives into PK-12 school districts. Gain insights, strategies, and best practices as they share their experiences, challenges, and successes in supporting schools to prepare the next generation to address the urgent challenges of climate change.
Speaker Bio: Gloria Harwood is the coordinator of environmental literacy for the Laguna Beach Unified School District in Orange County, CA. With a Master's in Environmental Studies, a decade of science education, and a love for travel in both the natural and built environment, she connects environmental literacy to interdisciplinary instruction in all classrooms, strengthening relationships and partnerships to assist in district and site sustainability goals. Gloria facilitates green teams into creative hubs, linking facilities to classrooms for experiential learning. Her facilitation ensures tangible contributions to community sustainability through student-led projects and local partnerships. Gloria supports school gardens, integrating theory and practice, and connecting them as an extension of every classroom. Additionally, she provides professional learning opportunities for environmental literacy, empowering educators district-wide.
Session Title: Panel Session - Innovations in Climate Education: California Teacher Leaders at the Forefront
Session Descriptor: Join us for an inspiring panel discussion featuring four incredible teacher leaders from California who are pioneering innovative approaches to integrating climate change education and initiatives into PK-12 school districts. Gain insights, strategies, and best practices as they share their experiences, challenges, and successes in supporting schools to prepare the next generation to address the urgent challenges of climate change.
Speaker Bio: Jerry is the STEAM coordinator for the Division of Instruction at the Los Angeles Unified School District. He has nearly a decade of experience as a district administrator and nearly thirty years as an educator in a variety of roles. He graduated from UC Davis with a BS and is currently a National Board Certified Teacher.
Session Title: Panel Session - Innovations in Climate Education: California Teacher Leaders at the Forefront
Session Descriptor: Join us for an inspiring panel discussion featuring four incredible teacher leaders from California who are pioneering innovative approaches to integrating climate change education and initiatives into PK-12 school districts. Gain insights, strategies, and best practices as they share their experiences, challenges, and successes in supporting schools to prepare the next generation to address the urgent challenges of climate change.
Speaker Bio: With two decades of dedicated service in the field of education, Tiffany Farnsworth has cultivated a deep passion for nurturing young minds and fostering an appreciation for the natural world. Over the past seven years, her role as a STREAM TOSA has been instrumental in enhancing her commitment to environmental stewardship while instilling a love for outdoor and science learning in her students.
Her journey has been guided by a philosophy centered on empowering students through choice, amplifying their voices, and nurturing leadership skills. By facilitating meaningful connections between curriculum and real-world experiences, she aims to inspire lifelong learners who are equipped to positively impact their communities.
Recently, Tiffany had the privilege of spearheading the environmental stewardship initiative at the Solana Beach School District, where she worked tirelessly to cultivate a culture of sustainability and ecological consciousness among students and staff alike.
Now, as an Assistant Principal, she is thrilled to continue her mission of student advocacy and academic excellence on a broader scale. Each day, she is energized by the opportunity to collaborate with both students and educators, driving forward initiatives that will shape a brighter future for all, particularly in the area of environmental literacy.
Tiffany is deeply committed to fostering a learning environment where every student feels valued, empowered, and equipped to thrive. Together, let them embark on a journey of discovery, growth, and positive change.
Session Title: Panel Session - Innovations in Climate Education: California Teacher Leaders at the Forefront
Session Descriptor: Join us for an inspiring panel discussion featuring four incredible teacher leaders from California who are pioneering innovative approaches to integrating climate change education and initiatives into PK-12 school districts. Gain insights, strategies, and best practices as they share their experiences, challenges, and successes in supporting schools to prepare the next generation to address the urgent challenges of climate change.
Speaker Bio: Vanessa Louise Carter is the Environmental Literacy and Climate Resilience Program Administrator for the San Francisco Unified School District. Her career has led her in and out of the secondary classroom in SF, Mexico, and Venezuela, providing student facilitation as well as professional learning opportunities to educators, administrators, and after-school providers, always in the pursuit of Climate Justice. She recently launched San Francisco's first Climate Action Fellowship for high school students across the district to serve as a Youth Climate Advisory Council for city agencies, gain college and career exposure, and be the solutionary change-makers of our time! She and her husband are raising a forest-and-ocean-loving 5-year-old, snuggling with an aging furry feline named Pacha, and building the community love and interdependence that amplifies resilience for our time.
Session Title: Panel Session - Innovations in Climate Education: California Teacher Leaders at the Forefront
Session Descriptor: Join us for an inspiring panel discussion featuring four incredible teacher leaders from California who are pioneering innovative approaches to integrating climate change education and initiatives into PK-12 school districts. Gain insights, strategies, and best practices as they share their experiences, challenges, and successes in supporting schools to prepare the next generation to address the urgent challenges of climate change.
Speaker Bio: Naehee Kwun served as a math teacher, instructional coach, mentor, curriculum designer, and consultant. She designs professional learning experiences for teachers. She speaks at and organizes conferences to elevate teachers in their commitments to make education relevant for all learners and foster student agency to fight for justice. Her portfolio can be found at www.mathingforequity.org Naehee is a first generation Korean American, a wife and mother, and an avid baker.

Afternoon Keynotes

Session Title: Afternoon Keynote Speakers & Breakout Poster Sessions
Session Descriptor: Assemblywoman Representing the 73rd California Assembly District
Speaker Bio: Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris proudly represents California’s 73rd Assembly District, which includes the cities of Costa Mesa, Irvine, and Tustin.
Cottie Petrie-Norris is a businesswoman, mom, and community leader who was elected to the State Assembly in 2018. In the Assembly, Cottie has worked to secure millions of dollars in funding for projects across Orange County and has passed important legislation to protect the California coast, improve access to healthcare, keep our children and communities safe, and help local veterans and small businesses.
Cottie serves as the Chair of the Assembly’s Committee on Utilities and Energy and the Select Committee on Green Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Additionally, she serves on the Assembly’s Committees on Banking & Finance; Insurance; and, Jobs, Economic Development and the Economy. Assemblywoman Representing the 73rd California Assembly District
Cottie and her husband, Colin are the proud parents of two sons, Dylan and Hayden, and their rescue dog, Flounder.
Session Title: Afternoon Keynote Speakers & Breakout Poster Sessions
Session Descriptor: West Los Angeles College
Speaker Bio: Dr. James M. “Jim” Limbaugh has been president of West Los Angeles College (WLAC), a diverse urban dual-purpose college of 10,000 students, since October 2016. During his tenure, the college has established two baccalaureate degree programs (dental hygiene and avionics), developed an associate degree in climate change studies (the only such program in California), and created the California Center for Climate Change Education, designed to support California’s 116 community colleges in curricula design, workforce development, and advocacy initiatives, with a collective focus on social justice.
Within the California community college system, Jimalso served as president of Oxnard College. He previously held leadership positions in master’s level institutions, including the presidency of Montana State University-Northern, vice president and provost at Angelo State University (Texas), and associate vice president at Frostburg State University (Maryland).
Jim received a bachelor’s and a master’s from Texas A&M-Commerce and a doctorate from the University of Maryland focusing on higher education leadership, with an emphasis on curricula and law.
Session Title: Afternoon Keynote Speakers & Breakout Poster Sessions
Session Descriptor: National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO) & Nanotechnology in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)
Speaker Bio: Dr. Branden Brough is the Director of the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO), as well as the Assistant Director for Nanotechnology in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). He serves as the national spokesperson and central point of contact for the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI). In this role, Dr. Brough provides technical and advisory support for Federal nanotechnology research and development, and facilitates interagency communication and coordination across the 20+ Federal Departments and Agencies of the NNI. Previously, Dr. Brough served as the Deputy Director of the Molecular Foundry, a Department of Energy (DOE)-funded nanoscale science research center at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) that provides users from around the world with access to cutting-edge expertise and instrumentation. There, he helped guide the organization’s scientific plans and initiatives, while also managing the center’s operations. Before joining the Molecular Foundry, Dr. Brough worked at the NIH's National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), where he led strategic policy and planning activities, as well as Congressional and public outreach efforts. Dr. Brough received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering – focusing on the integration of synthetic motor molecules and natural self-assembling proteins into micro/nanotechnologies – from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), before becoming a AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow in 2007.
Session Title: Afternoon Keynote Speakers & Breakout Poster Sessions
Session Descriptor: Assemblyman Representing the 66th Assembly District
Speaker Bio: California Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi represents the 66th Assembly District, located in the Los Angeles South Bay and Harbor Area. A champion for public education, Muratsuchi serves as Chair of the Assembly Education Committee and previously served as Chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Funding. He is also fighting climate change as former Chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies, authoring landmark legislation for California to achieve carbon neutrality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent by 2045. Muratsuchi has written laws to fight for education, jobs and the economy, clean energy and environmental justice, public safety, veterans, and small businesses. He has helped deliver billions in increased funding for California public schools and for universal high-speed internet access to close the digital divide.
Session Title: Afternoon Keynote Speakers & Breakout Poster Sessions
Session Descriptor: CSU Chancellor's Office
Speaker Bio: Tamara Wallace is the sustainability programs manager with the California State University, Office of the Chancellor. During her 10-year career in sustainability, she has passionately championed the strategic vision of sustainability in higher education with its unique opportunities for driving organizational change through innovative solutions to tackle today’s challenges of a changing climate. Tamara is the project lead for the development of CSU’s Climate Resilient Infrastructure Guidelines and Framework and represents the CSU with the Alliance of Regional Collaboratives for Climate Adaptation. Tamara is an elected member and current chair of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education Steering Committee, and successfully advocated for systemwide participation in comprehensive university sustainability benchmarking using the STARS reporting platform. Additionally, she is the co-founder and co-editor for the CSU Journal of Sustainability and Climate Change. Tamara is a double-alumna from Cal State Fullerton, a certified change management professional, and a LEED Green Associate.

Afternoon Sessions

Session Title: A New Green Learning Agenda to a Just Transition: Insights and Action Pathways
Session Descriptor: This presentation will touch upon three critical gaps (green jobs gap, green skills gap, and green learning opportunity gaps) threatening the nation's transition to a just and more inclusive economy, while highlighting interlinked pathways to more transformative systems change through the education sector.
Speaker Bio: Christina Kwauk is a social scientist and policy analyst with expertise on girls’ education, 21st century skills and youth empowerment, and the intersections of gender, education, and climate change.
Christina is co-editor of Curriculum and Learning for Climate Action: Toward an SDG 4.7 Roadmap for Systems Change and co-author of What Works in Girls’ Education: Evidence for the World’s Best Investment. She has published numerous policy papers, including “The new green learning agenda: Approaches to quality education for climate empowerment.”
Christina is an education consultant and research director at Unbounded Associates, and co-founder of Unbounded Alliance.
Session Title: Designing with the Margins: Prioritizing Equity in Community Climate Programs
Session Descriptor: Creating equitable and inclusive community programs requires thoughtful approach and well-crafted strategy. Join CEO of Friends of the Los Angeles River, Candice Dickens-Russell, to learn how FoLAR reimagined, authentic community engagement, and what it means to green in place.
Speaker Bio: Candice Dickens-Russell is is the President & CEO of Friends of the LA River and a passionate leader in sustainability, education, environmental literacy, and environmental justice. With nearly 20 years of experience in the non-profit environmental sector, Candice has worked with schools, school districts, government agencies, utilities, and municipalities to develop and deliver high quality sustainability and environmental education programs. She has led large teams and multi-million dollar contracts creating innovative environmental education resources. Candice served as the regional director for environmental education for the State of California Department of Education for 12 years, representing all of Los Angeles County. There she built a strong and vibrant network of L.A. based environmental organizations. In 2015 Candice was selected as one of 47 people statewide to serve on the Blueprint for Environmental Literacy Taskforce for the state and continues to serve on the implementation committee, the California Environmental Literacy Initiative as the Equity Innovation Hub Chair. An equity thought leader with a passion for environmental justice, Candice is also certified in Diversity & Inclusion and Micro-aggressions. She has led organizations in equity strategic planning and organizational development for over five years.
Candice serves on several boards and advisory councils for environmental organizations such as Ten Strands, Friends of the Los Angeles River and USC Sea Grant. She majored in Environmental Studies with an emphasis in Sustainability & Social Justice at San Francisco State University.
Session Title: Empowering Pacific Communities: Exploring Educational Opportunities using the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals
Session Descriptor: Join us as we share our knowledge of the interconnectedness of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and their many potential roles in education. We will be spotlighting several of the Goals and how they empower and inform Pacific communities to create transformative and place-based pedagogies and projects. The United Nations CIFAL Honolulu Sustainability Training Center is one of 33 in the world and one of only two in the United States. Our mission and purpose is to help train experts and actors who foster and inspire sustainability.
Speaker Bio: My name is Rhea Jose and I am from Belau (Palau), a Pacific Island in the Micronesian region. I was born and raised on the island of Guåhan (Guam), also in Micronesia. I moved to the island of O'ahu in Hawai'i in 2017 to pursue a higher education at Chaminade University of Honolulu. I graduated in 2022 with a Bachelors of Science in Environmental Studies and a Bachelors of Arts in English. After graduation, I started my position as the Outreach Coordinator for the United Nations CIFAL Center of Honolulu, which is housed at Chaminade University The CIFAL Center of Honolulu is an education and research center that focuses on sustainability, using the Sustainable Development Goals as one of our major frameworks. I believe we hold a special space where we are able to learn from, educate, and empower our Pacific Island community to enhance our cultural values in service to sustainability in our islands.
Session Title: Empowering Pacific Communities: Exploring Educational Opportunities using the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals
Session Descriptor: Join us as we share our knowledge of the interconnectedness of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and their many potential roles in education. We will be spotlighting several of the Goals and how they empower and inform Pacific communities to create transformative and place-based pedagogies and projects. The United Nations CIFAL Honolulu Sustainability Training Center is one of 33 in the world and one of only two in the United States. Our mission and purpose is to help train experts and actors who foster and inspire sustainability.
Speaker Bio: Dr. Grabowsky began working at Chaminade in 1997 after a two-year post-doc in population genetics at the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Kewalo Marine Laboratory. Dr. Grabowsky has been the Director of Chaminade’s Environmental Studies Program since its inception in 2000. She has published an award-winning book: ‘50 Simple Things You Can Do To Save Hawaii’ and appeared as a “science character” in National Geographic/Sea Studios’ series: The Shape of Life. Gail was appointed by Governors Cayetano and Lingle to serve on the State’s Environmental Council for eight years, the last two as Chair. She has also helped advise on policy and education as a member of the Advisory Council for the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve, now known as Papahanaumokuakea National Marine Monument a World Heritage site in Hawaii.
Session Title: Yo Cuento - Diversifying the Outdoors Though Storytelling, Cultura, and Advocacy
Session Descriptor: Latino Outdoors discusses the power of storytelling and leadership that is community-centered for a more equitable outdoors. The phrase “Yo cuento" means both “I tell a story” and “I count,” and captures personal narratives with the importance of telling stories to give voice and meaning to people and their experiences. Latino Outdoors Theory of Change invites a diverse family-friendly environment that ignites advocacy for the protection of open-spaces and public lands.
Speaker Bio: Jazzari Taylor (Jazz-err-ee) was born in Los Angeles County and raised there and in the San Gabriel Valley. Jazz’s multicultural and racial background helps her bring a unique perspective to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. She has been a community participant and volunteer with Latino Outdoors since 2016 and holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Riverside in Liberal Studies and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration.
Having started volunteering in her community at 12 years old, Jazzari has had a lifelong passion to advocate for her gente. Her advocacy accomplishments include advocacy at the California State Capital on behalf of higher education funding, securing and implementing a Proposition 68 Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program for the City of Baldwin Park, and supporting Latino Outdoors’ ongoing Monumentos public lands protection campaign.
In addition to involvement and participation as an elected California Democratic Party Assembly District Delegate as a representative for assembly district 48, Jazz lends her support towards a solution and action-based efforts for comunidades, Tribal Nations, and various different demographic groups; no matter a person’s economic status or background. As the Advocate For Equity and the Outdoors, Jazzari understands that advocacy starts with community and relationship building. She looks forward to continuing her growing understanding of the landscapes, people, native species, and cultures that utilize green spaces. Jazzari will lead with heart, passion, and the highest moral and ethical principles to support the Latino Community and the public’s needs

Session Title: The Ocean Calls: Exploring Science and Math Beneath the Waves
Session Descriptor: Join us for a captivating workshop where author Tina Cho brings her latest literary masterpiece to life through a mesmerizing reading session. As the pages turn, discover how Tina Cho and the UCI Science Project seamlessly blend science and math concepts into children's literature, igniting curiosity and exploration. Engage in a dynamic Q&A where Tina shares insights into her creative process, and learn how the power of storytelling can inspire a deeper understanding of STEM subjects. Cap off the experience with a hands-on activity designed to spark imagination and curiosity, as we embark on a journey where literature and learning intertwine in the most delightful ways!
Speaker Bio: Tina Cho is the author of Rice from Heaven: The Secret Mission to Feed North Koreans (Little Bee Books 2018), Korean Celebrations (Tuttle 2019), My Breakfast with Jesus: Worshipping God around the World (Harvest House 2020), The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story (Kokila/Penguin Random House 2020), and God’s Little Astronomer (Waterbrook 2024) & God’s Little Oceanographer 2025. Her lyrical middle grade graphic novel, The Other Side of Tomorrow, debuts from Harper Alley in 2024. After living in South Korea for ten years and meeting North Koreans, Tina, her husband, and two kids reside in Iowa where Tina also teaches kindergarten.
Session Title: Climate Alignment: Coping, Strategizing and Being with the Reality of Climate Instability
Session Descriptor: This session will offer a space to process and problem solve our shared climate reality of destabilization through collective talk. Through dialogue, we can do social justice work, process trauma and anxiety, and brainstorm action. Expect access to an increased awareness of institutionalized environmental harm, shared coping mechanisms and understandings, and motivation for personal investment in ourselves and climate solutions.
Speaker Bio: Dr. Megan Thiele Strong, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences at San Jose State University. She is a 2023-2024 Public Voices Fellow @TheOpEdProject and San José State University. She received her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of California, Irvine in 2011. A mother and earth-loving political radical, they teach and research at the intersections of social and environmental justice, mental health, education and policy. They hold community dialogues in social equity, environmental justice practice through their Coping with Climate Destabilization Dialogues. They know we are meant to queer the status quo in order to be just, diverse, equitable, sustainable, creative and inclusive.
Session Title: Climate Quake: Navigating Emotions & Empowering Action
Session Descriptor: Join us for an immersive workshop experience where we dive into the emotional landscape of climate change. From the weight of eco-anxiety to the spark of hope, we'll explore it all in a safe and supportive environment. Through interactive activities and discussions, participants will learn practical tools to cope with their emotions and transform them into positive action. Together, we'll uncover how individual actions can create ripples of change in the fight against climate change. Let's turn our feelings into fuel for a sustainable future!
Speaker Bio: Elissa Teles Muñoz is a climate education leader, youth mentor, and project manager. She graduated from American University in 2022 with a B.A. in international studies, with a focus on global sustainable development. Since 2021, she has worked as a consultant for the National Wildlife Federation and manages their New York-based project, the Climate and Resilience Education Task Force. She started her own small business for climate education program creation and management in 2023, Earthminds Consulting, and has expanded her range to take on more clients including the Climate Mental Health Network, for whom she is a project manager. Elissa's work lies at the intersection of climate advocacy, education, mental health, and youth empowerment, driven by a vision of a sustainable and equitable future for students and young people all over the world.
Session Title: Climate Quake: Navigating Emotions & Empowering Action
Session Descriptor: Join us for an immersive workshop experience where we dive into the emotional landscape of climate change. From the weight of eco-anxiety to the spark of hope, we'll explore it all in a safe and supportive environment. Through interactive activities and discussions, participants will learn practical tools to cope with their emotions and transform them into positive action. Together, we'll uncover how individual actions can create ripples of change in the fight against climate change. Let's turn our feelings into fuel for a sustainable future!
Speaker Bio: Dr. Larissa Dooley is a research psychologist whose work focuses on the mental health impacts of climate change, particularly in youth, as well as strategies for building emotional resilience in the context of climate change. She was first author of the report Climate Change and Youth Mental Health, and has presented on this topic for diverse audiences including psychological associations, activist groups, and environmental educators. She works as a science advisor for the Climate Mental Health Network where she conducts research on mental health and climate change and informs program development. Additionally, Dr. Dooley is the parent organizer of Future Fighters, a child-led environmental activism group founded by her elementary school-aged daughter.
Session Title: Combatting the Climate Crisis through a Just Transition
Session Descriptor: Join Sacred Earth Solar as they explore how to address the climate crisis through implementing a Just Transition! Sacred Earth Solar will explore key themes of their newly published Just Transition Guide focusing specifically on what a Just Transition is, core themes of the guide such as energy conservation, efficiency and different renewable energy types, and tangible ways to communicate the Just Transition to learners wanting to take climate action. We hope to share a solutions-centric conversation that will inspire you to take climate action, and implement a Just Transition.
Speaker Bio: Serena Mendizabal (she/her) is a Cayuga Wolf Clan Panamanian woman from the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. Serena is a community-based researcher, grassroots organizer, and environmental advocate. Serena is the Just Transition Manager at Sacred Earth Solar. Serena holds a Master's of Geography & Environment with a focus on Indigenous environmental health governance and industrial health impacts with Pictou Landing First Nation & Tobique First Nation.
Serena first began her journey in clean energy when she was 18 working in community engagement and communications at the Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation, holding the largest First Nations clean energy portfolio in so-called Canada. While working in community engagement, she found gaps in community consent with her community’s clean energy portfolio and went on to further explore what a true ‘just transition’ can look like in a community of over 28,000 members. From there on out, Serena has dedicated her studies and extracurriculars to Indigenous self-determination, climate change, environmental health impact, and just clean energy transitions. Serena’s connections to climate advocacy, research, education, and direct action are numerous.
Serena is the Co-Chair of the SevenGen National Indigenous Youth Energy Council, a Subject Matter Expert on Connecting for Climate Change Action, a Youth Action & Environment Fellow with the Lawson Foundation, a Board of Director with Student Energy and also works with Protect the Tract, a Haudenosaunee-led group in her community, Six Nations, focused on enforcing the traditional governance (the Haudenosaunee Confederacy)’s moratorium on development along the Grand River (Haldimand Tract). Serena is passionate about self-determined community development, action, and futures, and believes in a future with Indigenous youth & elders leading; sovereign, healthy nations; and lands and waters back.
Session Title: Combatting the Climate Crisis through a Just Transition
Session Descriptor: Join Sacred Earth Solar as they explore how to address the climate crisis through implementing a Just Transition! Sacred Earth Solar will explore key themes of their newly published Just Transition Guide focusing specifically on what a Just Transition is, core themes of the guide such as energy conservation, efficiency and different renewable energy types, and tangible ways to communicate the Just Transition to learners wanting to take climate action. We hope to share a solutions-centric conversation that will inspire you to take climate action, and implement a Just Transition.
Speaker Bio: Melina Laboucan-Massimo is Lubicon Cree from Northern Alberta. She has worked on social, environmental and climate justice issues for the past 20 years. Melina is the Founder and Executive Director of Sacred Earth Solar, the co-founder at Indigenous Climate Action, and the inaugural Fellow at the David Suzuki Foundation. She is also the Host of a new TV series called Power to the People which profiles renewable energy, food security and eco-housing projects in Indigenous communities across Canada.
Facing firsthand impacts of the Alberta tar sands in her community’s territory, Melina has been a vocal advocate for Indigenous rights and environmental justice. For over a decade, Melina worked as a Climate and Energy Campaigner against tar sands extraction locally, nationally and internationally. She has written for a variety of publications and produced short documentaries on the tar sands, climate change, water issues and Indigenous cultural revitalization. Melina has studied, campaigned and worked in Brazil, Australia, Mexico, Canada and across Europe focusing on resource extraction, climate change impacts, media literacy and Indigenous rights & responsibilities.
Melina also works on the issue of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women in Canada after the suspicious death of her sister Bella whose case still remains unsolved. Melina currently serves on the boards of NDN Collective and Seeding Sovereignty as well as the Executive Steering Committee of Indigenous Clean Energy Social Enterprise.

Late Afternoon Sessions

Session Title: Knowing Our Place and Using Our Power: Supporting Elementary Students’ Climate Literacy Through Place-Based Science Learning
Session Descriptor: This session will explore ways to bring climate science education into elementary classrooms through place-based learning centered on issues of climate justice in children’s communities. We’ll unpack three components of this approach to climate-infused learning: understanding the earth as interdependent systems, coming to know our “place” through interdisciplinary knowledge-building, and engaging in hope-filled action in our communities. We will discuss examples from early and upper elementary classrooms.
Speaker Bio: Stephanie Sisk-Hilton is a Professor of Elementary Education at San Francisco State University. Her research focuses on how children and teachers co-create science understanding and how issues of agency and belonging interact with learning. She has taught elementary and middle school in Maryland, Georgia, New York, and California, and she facilitated a backyard summer science camp for ten years. She works extensively as a teacher professional developer, supporting elementary educators to develop ambitious, joyful, and hope-filled science learning experiences.
Session Title: Empowering Tomorrow's Stewards: Innovations in Climate Change Education, Workforce Development, and Community Engagement at LA Community Colleges
Session Descriptor: Join Dr. Jo Tavares, Director of the California Center for Climate Change Education at West Los Angeles College, as she shares our pioneering approach to climate education, workforce development, and community engagement. Learn how we prioritize environmental justice and a Just Transition, creating opportunities for underserved students while advancing decarbonization efforts. Through impactful partnerships, we're fostering interdisciplinary projects that benefit students, communities, and the planet. Don't miss this opportunity to explore the future of equitable climate action.
Speaker Bio: Jo Tavares (she/they) is a scientist, educator, and community organizer dedicated to Climate Action. As Director of the California Center for Climate Change Education at West Los Angeles College, Jo promotes intersectional approaches focused on climate justice, equity, and economic mobility in addressing the climate crisis. With a PhD in Earth System Science (UC, Irvine), an MSc in Marine Science and Policy (UDel) and a BS in oceanography (FURG, Brazil), Jo brings extensive academic expertise. Jo has worked for the State of Hawaii, various non-profits, and taught marine science in various community colleges in Southern California for seven years. Recently, Jo taught environmental ethics, environmental history, and climate change at CSU Channel Islands. In her free time, Jo enjoys nature with family and friends.
Session Title: Fireside Chat: Dismantling Coloniality in Research
Session Descriptor: Colonization is an ongoing and deeply entrenched process that continues to affect our world and has pervasive implications in design and research. In this fireside chat Sabrina Meherally from Pause and Effect will offer insight into some of the ways we can challenge Eurocolonial ideologies in research (such as extraction and intellectualism) and transform our practices through relational responsibility.
Speaker Bio: Sabrina is a liberatory design strategist, change alchemist, and the founder of Pause and Effect. Her work aims to dismantle coloniality within the institutions of design and research, by relying on technologies of relationality and care. Sabrina is the descendant of ancestors, who moved through repeated cycles of loss and survival - and brings their lessons of collective care and responsibility into her vision for flourishing futures. Living on stolen Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh land, as the daughter of refugee and immigrant parents, she uses her work and her voice to engage in reparative practices which revitalize non-Eurocentric ways of knowing and being.
Session Title: Professional Learning Supports for Environmental Literacy and Climate Justice
Session Descriptor: Engaging California students in climate literacy and environmental justice lessons presents a challenging new landscape for teachers and other educational leaders. As the number of classroom resources grows, there is a need to also consider the components of productive, thoughtful professional learning experiences that can support teachers and leaders alike. Join the Professional Learning Hub from the California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI) for a conversation about best practices in professional learning and how we might address the barriers educators face when taking on these critical subjects. This will be a collaborative session with time for participants to bring their own thoughts and questions into the space and to discuss challenges and solutions with other educators and professional learning providers.
Speaker Bio: A former classroom teacher and elementary science specialist with over 20 years of teaching experience, Peggy supports educators by designing and developing curriculum as well as professional learning opportunities focusing on environmental literacy and community science. As the education program manager at the Center for Community and Citizen Science at the University of California, Davis School of Education, Peggy co-collaborates in research on how community science projects engage students in deepening their connection to the environment and their engagement with and application of the Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core State Standards as they develop environmental science agency. She is also currently supporting educators (both formal and informal) as part of the Sacramento Area Science Project (SASP). Peggy currently co-leads the Professional Learning Hub as part of the California Environmental Literacy Initiative.
Session Title: Professional Learning Supports for Environmental Literacy and Climate Justice
Session Descriptor: Engaging California students in climate literacy and environmental justice lessons presents a challenging new landscape for teachers and other educational leaders. As the number of classroom resources grows, there is a need to also consider the components of productive, thoughtful professional learning experiences that can support teachers and leaders alike. Join the Professional Learning Hub from the California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI) for a conversation about best practices in professional learning and how we might address the barriers educators face when taking on these critical subjects. This will be a collaborative session with time for participants to bring their own thoughts and questions into the space and to discuss challenges and solutions with other educators and professional learning providers.
Speaker Bio: Chris works as a science education researcher in the School of Education at UC Davis and as Executive Director for the Sacramento Area Science Project, part of a statewide network that provides professional development in science for K–12 teachers. Chris currently co-leads the Professional Learning Hub at the California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI), organizes the California Science Project's Environmental Literacy and Justice group, and contributes to the multi-disciplinary California Subject Matter Project's (CSMP) Environmental Justice Working Group. He received his PhD in ecology from UC Davis, where he used genetic tools to characterize migratory connections between populations of shore crabs on the northern California coast. Since 2014, he has worked with Professor Cindy Passmore at Davis to conduct research evaluating the role of Next Generation Science Standards-aligned curricular materials and professional development in teacher learning. Much of the work focuses on improved sense-making and modeling practices in science classrooms, both in California and across the nation. Dr. Griesemer is also an author on the Model-Based Educational Resources curricular resources, a series of model-based instructional materials and supports for high school biology teachers.

Session Title: Youth Activism: Through the Lens of Climate Literacy and Education
Session Descriptor: In today's global landscape, the voices of young activists resonate louder than ever, particularly in the realm of climate literacy and education. Join Sky Keyoung, an Orange County high school student and founder of the non-profit organization ClimateLitNow, as she delves into the transformative potential of community-based initiatives and early educational interventions in cultivating a new generation of leaders committed to addressing climate change. This session will explore practical strategies for educators and community leaders to effectively engage students through immersive lessons and interactive activities aimed at enhancing both literacy and climate consciousness. While each student's journey with climate issues is unique, fostering collaboration from an early age is paramount in driving meaningful change. This presentation seeks to amplify the diverse voices and narratives of students within classrooms, schools, and communities, underscoring the vital role of youth in shaping a sustainable future.
Speaker Bio: Sky Keyoung is the founder of the non-profit organization ClimateLitNow and is a high school junior at Orange County School of the Arts for Classical Voice. As co-chair of the Youth Action Team at Climate Reality OC and president of ClimateLitNow, she believes that education and literacy is the first step in creating solutions through public policy and youth education to combat world problems like climate change. She is also a host of Climate Activate, a podcast dedicated to teaching youth about climate-related careers to activate the next generation of change-makers. Besides advocating for climate literacy and holding workshops for students, she is a recognized public policy advocate, championing various clean energy and environmental justice bills across California. Beyond the world of environmentalism, Sky is an award-winning opera singer, performing as Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus and creating original mini-operas to promote classical music.
Session Title: Looking Back and Forward to the Next Decade of Accelerating Climate Action Through Climate Literacy
Session Descriptor: This presentation will explore the ways the 2009 Climate Literacy Guide helped to build a climate literate world and how the new update can guide the next decade of efforts to build capacity and increasing communities climate literacy for a whole-of-society response to the climate crisis. The Climate Literacy guide presents key information for individuals and communities to know and understand about Earth's climate, impacts of climate change, and approaches to adaptation and mitigation. An update to the Climate Literacy Guide is set to be completed later in 2024.
Speaker Bio: Frank Niepold is the Senior Climate Education Coordinator at NOAA's Climate Program Office (CPO) in Silver Spring Maryland, co-manage the NOAA CPO Communication, Education and Engagement Division, co-manage the Climate Ready Workforce program, Climate.gov Education section lead, a co-chair of the U.S. Global Change Research Program's Climate Engagement and Capacity Building Interagency Group, the U.S. National Communications Report chapter lead on Education, Engagement, Training, and Workforce Development for the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), former Action for Climate Empowerment National Focal Point for the United States, founding member of the CLEAN Network and co-chair of the CLEAN Network Leadership Board, a member of the Federal Steering Committee for the Fourth National Climate Assessment (NCA4) and federal lead for the White House Climate Education and Literacy Initiative (2013-2016). At NOAA, he develops and implements NOAA's Climate goal education and engagement efforts that specifically relate to NOAA's Building a Climate Ready Nation goal. Frank is the “Teaching Climate” lead for NOAA’s Climate.gov web portal that offers learning activities and curriculum materials, multimedia resources, and professional development opportunities for formal and informal educators who want to incorporate climate science into their work. Additionally, he is the managing lead of the U.S. Global Change Research Program (GCRP) document, Climate Literacy: The Essential Principles of Climate Science. NOAA, NSF, NASA, AAAS Project 2061, CIRES, American Meteorological Society, and various members from both the science and education community worked to define climate literacy in the United States.
He received a MSEd in Earth Space Science Education (2006) from Johns Hopkins University with areas of concentration in Earth Observing Systems, Scientist/Teacher/Student Collaboration and Earth Systems science education focused on climate.
Session Title: Empathetic Environmentalists: Building Climate Literacy and Empathy in K-8 Classes
Session Descriptor: Empatico and the UCI Science Project created a virtual exchange program that equips students ages 5-14 years old with a strong foundation of empathy-centered skills (i.e., mindfulness, perspective taking, and collaboration) as they explore how climate change affects people around the world. During this program, students learn about climate change and its effects on their own neighborhood, explore stories of action and resilience from global communities, and take compassionate and informed action to protect the planet. Join us to learn more about the curriculum and receive ready-to-use resources!
Speaker Bio: Shraya is the Manager of Content at Empatico, where she develops research-based activities that spark fun, meaningful interactions between students, while building key competencies that make them more compassionate, empathetic, and curious individuals. Prior to joining Empatico, Shraya worked with students in different classroom settings, including schools for children with special needs and language centers for English language learners.
Session Title: Empathetic Environmentalists: Building Climate Literacy and Empathy in K-8 Classes
Session Descriptor: Empatico and the UCI Science Project created a virtual exchange program that equips students ages 5-14 years old with a strong foundation of empathy-centered skills (i.e., mindfulness, perspective taking, and collaboration) as they explore how climate change affects people around the world. During this program, students learn about climate change and its effects on their own neighborhood, explore stories of action and resilience from global communities, and take compassionate and informed action to protect the planet. Join us to learn more about the curriculum and receive ready-to-use resources!
Speaker Bio: Dr. Cao has been in the educational field for over a decade as a middle school science teacher educational technology coach and educational leader. She is passionate with working in schools to support culturally and ethnically diverse students. Previously she served as the Associate Director of UCISP and was an instructor and supervisor in the CalTeach program at University of California Irvine (UCI). She is a proud UCI alumni and holds a B.S. in Biological Science as well as a Master of Art in Teaching. Jennifer earned her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Cal State University of Fullerton and her dissertation publication focused on culturally relevant pedagogy on Latinx student engagement and content mastery in physics science which supports her facilitation and program design vision. She loves being active outdoors and traveling the world!
Session Title: Ocean Tales: Melissa Márquez's Journey as the “Mother of Sharks.”
Session Descriptor: In this captivating session, renowned marine scientist Melissa Márquez will read aloud her enchanting picture book, "Mother of Sharks," a tale that brings to life the adventures of a young girl who discovers her deep connection to the world of sharks.
As Melissa shares her own personal marine science journey, she will delve into the importance of wildlife conservation and the critical role sharks play in our ocean ecosystems. From her field experiences to her advocacy efforts, she will inspire audiences to appreciate and protect our marine environment. Get ready to be inspired and immersed in the magic of the ocean!
Speaker Bio: Melissa Marquez is a passionate marine scientist, explorer, and advocate for the world's oceans. A Forbes 30 under 30 honoree, her expertise spans a wide range of marine topics, from biodiversity and conservation to marine ecology and shark behavior. Her work has taken her to some of the most remote and awe-inspiring corners of the globe, where she has connected with local communities to promote marine conservation efforts. Beyond her scientific endeavors, Melissa is a dynamic speaker and communicator, making complex marine science accessible to diverse audiences. As a sought-after speaker, she has shared her passion and knowledge on prestigious stages, inspiring others to appreciate and protect our oceans. Through her engaging talks, she strives to ignite a sense of responsibility and awareness about the importance of preserving marine ecosystems for future generations.

Affinity Spaces

Session Title: Affinity Spaces (Noon Regroup Meetings)
Session Descriptor: Leaders of Color
Speaker Bio: Estefanía is originally from Costa Rica and has worked in sustainability and transformative education since her mid twenties. She founded and operated a K–12 school for students from low-income families focused on delivering high quality bilingual education that merged social justice and environmental stewardship. Through this role Estefanía worked alongside educators from over a dozen countries creating an evolving dually accredited program of studies that merged international academic standards with sustainability learning principles. The school grew into a model of an institution operating under Education for Sustainable Development and consequently Estefanía was invited as the first research fellow at the Institute for the Built Environment at Colorado State University (CSU). There she published one of the few toolkits available for developing project-based learning at low-budget schools operating in the tropics. Estefanía completed her M.B.A. at CSU in social entrepreneurship focusing on the curricular structure and operations of schools categorized as examples of whole-school sustainability. This experience took her to Bali and Sumatra where she researched schools and education projects developed to provide climate social justice environmental justice and environmental stewardship education. In 2018 Estefanía founded the Hahami Organization in California a social enterprise that specializes in supporting government institutions schools and NGOs that are seeking to adopt and align their education offers with education for sustainable development as part of their efforts to provide youth with climate social justice and environmental education. With Hahami Estefanía collaborates with experts from sustainability education curricular design sustainability corporate governance conservation educational policies and educational technologies in a myriad of projects both in the US and internationally. Currently Estefanía is completing her PhD at the Gevirtz Graduate School of education at the University of California Santa Barbara. Her research focuses on evidence-based pedagogies and design methods to integrate content conducive for learning about and for sustainability challenges within K–12 subject matter content and official curricula. In addition she researches the best methods to train pre-service and in-service teachers in sustainability education including climate social justice and environmental education. Estefanía has published and participated with leading institutions such as UNESCO-IBE ICSS and FAO.
Session Title: Affinity Spaces (Noon Regroup Meetings)
Session Descriptor: College Students
Speaker Bio: Caitlin is currently working towards completing a MA in Public Policy from UC Irvine. She is a recent graduate from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in History of Public Policy and Law. She is working as a program assistant for ECCLPs.
Session Title: Affinity Spaces (Noon Regroup Meetings)
Session Descriptor: PK-12 Pre-service Teachers
Speaker Bio: Naehee Kwun served as a math teacher, instructional coach, mentor, curriculum designer, and consultant. She designs professional learning experiences for teachers. She speaks at and organizes conferences to elevate teachers in their commitments to make education relevant for all learners and foster student agency to fight for justice. Her portfolio can be found at www.mathingforequity.org Naehee is a first generation Korean American, a wife and mother, and an avid baker.

Session Title: Affinity Spaces (After Event Regrouping)
Session Descriptor: Community Partners
Speaker Bio: Monica Maynard is a science teacher who has taught various science courses including Geology Earth Science AP Environmental Science and Engineering in the K–12 system. Monica has served as an English learner facilitator and most recently as teacher on special assignment for science programs for the Montebello Unified School District. As a TOSA Monica led the instructional materials adoption and implementation and guided the development of the Environmental Literacy units of study with grade-level teams. She has worked in industry as STEM Coordinator where she developed a teacher professional learning program and a high school student Summer institute. Since 2020 she has been developing and facilitating programs for the UCI Science Project. Monica holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Hydrogeology and a certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from the California State University Los Angeles. Monica serves as a lecturer for the Natural Disasters course in the Geosciences and the Environment Department at CSULA. She is committed to learning and working with people and communities from underrepresented backgrounds.
Session Title: Affinity Spaces (After Event Regrouping)
Session Descriptor: PK-12 Students
Speaker Bio: Kieran Beckham (he/him) is a 10th grade student at Yorba Linda High School. Kieran's commitment to making a difference extends to his efforts to combat climate injustice. He advocates for integrating climate literacy into schools in his district and aims to expand this initiative across California. His involvement in the California Youth Climate Policy Leadership Program under Ms. Andra Yeghoian and pursuit of a Green Ribbon Award with Mr. George Garcia's guidance underscore his dedication to fostering environmental sustainability. Kieran's multifaceted journey is a reflection of his drive to excel and enact change. In addition to his passion for environmental activism he enjoys soccer, and Taekwondo. With 12 years of soccer experience, Kieran has played a pivotal role in leading his team to become the top-ranked in Southern California and winning two national championships. His dedication to Taekwondo is equally rooted, as he is on the path to earning his third-degree black belt and serves as an instructor, sharing his knowledge and skills with others aged 3 years to adults.
Session Title: Affinity Spaces (After Event Regrouping)
Session Descriptor: PK-12 Teachers
Speaker Bio: Danielle grew up on and developed a deep love for the Central Coast. Prior to joining Creek Lands Conservation, she spent over a decade working in education, with the most recent nine years as a middle school science teacher. One of her priorities in education is holistic wellness for students; social, emotional, physical, and mental health. She believes equity for students in these areas can be accomplished through outdoor education.
Nature has always been where she has experienced her most meaningful life lessons. Danielle is excited to help create immersive outdoor opportunities for Central Coast youth. She loves to travel, read, and engage in a variety of athletic and outdoor activities, especially skiing in the winter with her husband. Most days on the Central Coast, Danielle can be found on the trails running, hiking, and marveling at nature, with her Labrador, Lucy.

Poster Sessions

Poster Title: Facilitating PK-12 Climate Education that is Equity-Centered, Science-Grounded and Solutions-Oriented
Descriptor: Supported by the National Science Foundation’s ITEST Program and led by Cal State East Bay, the Climate Empowerment Learning Initiative (CELI) applies a networked-improvement-community (NIC) approach to school-wide transformation, teacher agency, and minoritized students’ climate learning and belonging. The NIC directly engages about 30 teachers and administrators in a highly-diverse low-income public high school and one of its feeder middle schools in Hayward, California. However, the NIC reaches out far more broadly into the schools, the district, and the community, in a continually widening collaborative network. This poster explores the university’s role, and lessons learned, in facilitating the co-development, implementation and improvement of a school-wide cross-disciplinary climate curriculum that is equity-centered, science grounded, and solutions oriented.
Poster Title: Talking about Climate Adaptation in Schools: Terminology Used and Working Towards a Consensus
Descriptor: As part of a larger project that focuses on how K-12 schools can act as hubs for climate adaptation solutions, we identified that existing research in this area defined terms differently, leading to difficulties in identifying best practices. To facilitate understanding the findings in this area, we developed a concept map of the literature to identify connections across three areas: K-12 Climate Adaptation Education, Community Adaptation Planning, and Community Schools. This interactive poster will present the terms used in the literature, such as, “climate change adaptations” and “disaster-risk reduction,” where one term may be defined differently and some terms are used interchangeably. The poster will create a space for participants to engage in a discussion forum to discuss any potential gaps in the literature and work towards a consensus on the terminology that should be used at the intersections of these constructs.
Poster Title: California’s Changing Weather and Climate: The Future Ain’t What it Used to Be
Descriptor: The poster presentation looks at recent extreme weather and climate changes occurring in California. In recent years we’ve seen spectacular headlines in the media covering dramatic wildfires, record heatwaves and megadroughts, devastating floods and swings in Sierra snowfall from record lows to record tonnage. At the same time, nearly all regions of the state have experienced significant changes in temperatures and precipitation. The poster highlights some off these changes, with examples taken from our book, Fire and Rain: California’s Changing Weather and Climate.
Speaker Bio: Dr. Steve LaDochy is Professor Emeritus of Geography, Geology & Environment at California State University, Los Angeles. His teaching and research interests include climate change, urban climatology, severe weather meteorology and air pollution meteorology. Steve received a BA in meteorology at UCLA, a MS in atmospheric sciences at Colorado State University and a PhD in geography at the University of Manitoba, Canada.
He has taught over 30 different courses at undergraduate and graduate levels at CSULA and in Canada. He supervised several Master’s theses and helped many of his students gain research experience on his funded projects, publishing their collaborations in over 40 articles and book chapters. Steve also spent 13 summers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA, working with JPL scientists and student interns on California climate change and Pacific Ocean influences on west coast climate, fog and air pollution.

Session Title: Sharing the Results of California's Educator Survey on Environmental and Climate Literacy
Session Descriptor: Learn what the California Environmental Literacy Initiative's large-scale survey of teachers and site-based administrators tells us about successes and challenges with environmental literacy implementation. Learn about progress made on the goals in California's Blueprint for Environmental Literacy (2015) and how this is playing out at different scales. We will highlight equity-related findings regarding access to professional learning, instructional resources, and community-based partnerships in climate literacy.
Speaker Bio: Dr. Amy Frame is a credentialed teacher who has worked at almost every level of the school system from teaching English history and science to coaching and managing curriculum implementation and leading as a principal. She has worked in public magnet charter and independent schools. Amy has a M.Ed. in Instructional Leadership from Harvard Graduate School of Education and an EdD in Educational Leadership from UCLA where she published her dissertation “Assessing the Efficacy of Environmental Education on Environmental Stewardship Civic Engagement and College and Career Pathways.” She is committed to building stronger connections between people communities and the land.
Poster Title: An Interdisciplinary Climate Justice Literacy Framework for K-5
Descriptor: Learn more about The Interdisciplinary Climate Justice Literacy Framework for K-5, which is an integrated unit framework that provides teachers with ways to implement a comprehensive program to develop students' climate literacy at various points throughout the school year.
Speaker Bio: Brittany Jefferson is an elementary school teacher and climate justice educator from Los Angeles. Through advocacy and education, Brittany helps caregivers and educators have critical conversations about identity, social justice, and environmental justice with their kids and students. Brittany has curated and created a catalog of educational resources, in order to facilitate learning both in the classroom and at home. Brittany is also a member of the Climate Curricula Committee of Climate Reality Los Angeles Chapter. This group networks with various organizations to advocate for climate literacy in schools and provide professional development for teachers in K-12.
Poster Title: The Roles of Schools in Community Climate Resilience
Session Descriptor: In the face of devastating climate impacts, California has become a center for innovation in equitable and effective climate adaptation. Universities, planning agencies, and non-profit groups are pioneering adaptation initiatives that both target the climate vulnerabilities of frontline and historically underserved communities and enhance their adaptive capacity. The dual nature of schools—as places for youth to learn and as places where communities convene— offer unique opportunities for capacity building and community engagement. We describe a program working to leverage California’s schools as community climate hubs and to provide resources for teachers to identify local climate risks and engage their students in meaningful work around these risks.
Speaker Bio: Dr. Harlow is a professor of STEM Education at UC Santa Barbara (UCSB). As a professor of STEM education, she works with educators to develop the capacity of youth to innovate a more sustainable and just future. Throughout her career, her work has resulted in undergraduate physics curricula, engineering-focused museum field trips and classroom activities for elementary school students, digital games focused on quantum computing, professional development for museum facilitators, and teacher education and professional learning programs that develop the capacity of teachers to focus students’ attention on their local environment and develop the skills to create a sustainable and just future.
Poster Title: Sustainable Schoolyards: Supporting Cross-grade and Interdisciplinary Collaborations
Session Descriptor: Learn about schoolyard sustainability projects accomplished through cross-grade and interdisciplinary collaborations. The Sustainable Schoolyards professional learning program supports teachers from project ideation to implementation. Local issues are connected to global issues through the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Competence Framework guides students and teachers in taking action to improve conditions in their community.

Virtual Session Recordings will be found on the ECCLPs Professional Learning Platform in partnership with The eKadence Foundation

Coming Soon!

Visual Notes

Opening Keynotes

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Climate Solutions & Collaboration: Drawdown Action

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Strategies for Bringing TEK and EJ Education into the Classroom

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Afternoon Keynotes

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Empowering Pacific Communities: Exploring Educational Opportunities using the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals

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Empathetic Environmentalists: Building Climate Literacy and Empathy in K-8 Classes

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We are a community.

Nearly 600 people convened over climate and environmental literacy, justice, and action on one day with ECCLPs. Thank you for being part of our community and for advancing climate change education with us!

We look forward to connecting with you at the next event on May 17th online from 9am-3pm PST.

Opening Keynotes

Lindsey Fuller

José G. González

Kelley Lê

Lilly Lopez

Estefanía Pihen

Naehee Kwun

Jakobi Ewart

Okhee Lee

Ram Ramanathan

Morning Sessions

Suzie Hicks

Beth Callaghan

Rebecca Bernard

Lindsey Fuller

Elizabeth Bagley

Lyla June

Jothsna Harris

Ashley Hermann

Tina Korani

Late Morning Sessions

Richard Vevers

Kristy Drutman

Joely Proudfit

Dina Gilio-Whitaker

Alisa Singer

Sophie Shrand

Jenn Stewart

Jordi Vasquez

Andy Patrick

Morning Panel Session

Gloria Hardwood

Jerry Song

Tiffany Farnsworth

Vanessa Carter

Naehee Kwun

Afternoon Keynotes

Cottie Petris-Norris

Jim Limbaugh

Branden Brough

Al Muratsuchi

Tamara Wallace

Afternoon Sessions

Christine Kwuak

Candice Dickens-Russell

Rhea A.P. Jose

Gail Gabrowsky

Jazzari Taylor

Tina Cho

Megan Thiele Strong

Elissa Teles Munoz

Larissa Dooley

Serena Mendizabal

Melina Laboucan-Massimo

Late Afternoon Sessions

Stephanie Sisk-Hilton

Joana Tavares

Sabrina Meherally

Peggy Harte

Chris Grisemer

Sky Keyoung

Frank Niepold

Shraya Sharma

Jennifer Cao

Melissa Christina Márquez

Affinity Spaces

Estefanía Pihen

Caitlin Herring

Naehee Kwun

Monica Maynard

Kieran Beckham

Danielle Narzisi

Poster Sessions

Karina Garbesi - CSU East Bay

Kaylee Laub - UCSB

Stephan LaDochy - CSULA

Amy Frame - Ten Strands

Visual Notes