Meet the May 2026 Cohort of Community Leaders!
Thriving Earth Exchange is excited to announce the May 2026 launch of community leaders! They will work with Community Science Fellows to launch 12 Community Science projects in the United States, Mexico, Peru and Ecuador. Stay tuned for more information about the inspiring communities involved and the transformative projects to come!
Florida Keys, FL
Community Leaders: Keely Kessler and Alyssa Panzer
Biography:
Keely Kessler is the Recycling Coordinator for the City of Key West. She came to the Keys in 2010 and fell in love with this unique island chain. Keely has a long history of environmental stewardship in the Keys and believes that collective involvement is essential to positive change. Her goals are to educate and connect with the community to show how reducing consumption as well as recycling are all essential for the preservation and protection of the city and its surrounding ecosystems.
Inola, OK
Community Leaders: Brian Hill, Thomas Harrington and Chris Roam
Biography:
Brian Hill is a dedicated local landowner and steward of a 130-acre farm neighboring the proposed site of the largest new U.S. aluminum smelter in more than 50 years, with a strong personal commitment to protecting the land and surrounding community. As one of three directors of Stop the Inola Smelter, a registered 501(c)(4) advocacy organization, Brian helps lead citizen mobilization efforts opposing unchecked industrial expansion in the region. An active environmental and safety advocate, he works to raise public awareness about the project’s potential risks, including industrial air pollution and hazardous waste impacts. Guided by the belief that health should always come before wealth, Brian is committed to protecting the well-being of local families, ecosystems, and future generations.
Newport News, VA
Community Leaders: Lathaniel Kirts and Yugonda Sample-Jones
Dr. Lathaniel Kirts is a pastor and community leader committed to advancing environmental justice and community resilience in Hampton Roads. As Director of Environmental Justice for the East End Civic Association, he works alongside residents to combat coal dust pollution. His leadership through the Coal Dust Kills movement has helped secure funding for community-based environmental solutions and strengthened partnerships between neighborhoods, nonprofits, and local government. Dr. Kirts’ podcast CROSSWINDS has been featured on NPR for his work in environmental justice.
Portie Town, LA
Community Leaders: Cynthia Robertson and Carrie Bauer
Cynthia Robertson is a community-based environmental health leader and nonprofit executive with 25+ years of direct service and over a decade of organizational leadership in frontline communities across Southwest Louisiana. She is an expert at the intersection of environmental exposure, public health, disaster resilience, and civic systems. She leads interdisciplinary collaborations translating scientific and regulatory data into actionable community knowledge.
New Orleans (Orleans Parish), LA
Community Leaders: Valerie Jefferson, Sylvia McKenzie and Mary Simon
Valerie Jefferson is a dedicated labor advocate and active member of Women of Action, the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Women’s Caucus in New Orleans. Through her work with the caucus, she is committed to empowering and educating women in transit while strengthening their participation and leadership within the labor movement. Valerie is passionate about promoting union values, political awareness, and professional development for women in the transportation industry. She supports initiatives that foster safe, respectful, and equitable workplaces, while encouraging strong work ethics and meaningful engagement in both union and legislative spaces. Her advocacy extends beyond the workplace through active involvement in community partnerships and outreach efforts that promote reliable public transportation, worker safety, environmental responsibility, and healthier communities. Valerie remains committed to advancing the mission of organized labor and creating stronger opportunities for women in transit locally and across the broader ATU network.
Oella (Oella HOA), MD
Community Leaders: Winnie Carpenter and Amanda Reardon
Jackson (Environmental Advocates Mississippi), MS
Community Leaders: Catherine Casomar, Yolanda Daniel and Erin Shirley Orey
Catherine Casomar is a co-founder of the Better Data Center Project, which works in solidarity with communities on the front lines of data center development to realize the just distribution of economic, social, and environmental costs and benefits. Catherine has 15 years of experience in energy and climate and a decade operationalizing equity and justice across sectors, including as Director of the Community and Jobs team at DOE’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, where she ensured clean energy and climate infrastructure projects worth over $85 billion delivered local community benefits and quality jobs. Prior roles included leading environmental justice portfolios in DOE and the US Senate, research to advance cheap next-generation solar cells, community organizing for racial and economic justice, and mechanical engineering on a variety of energy generation technologies. Catherine holds a PhD in Materials Science from the University of Minnesota and a BSE in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University.
Yolanda Daniel is a community advocate and nonprofit leader dedicated to protecting the health, safety, and quality of life of communities across Mississippi. As a representative of Environmental Advocates Mississippi, she works to educate, organize, and empower residents, homeowners, taxpayers, and local leaders around issues that impact environmental health, economic stability, ecological integrity, and community well-being. Her advocacy centers on equipping communities with the knowledge and tools needed to confront harmful developments and promote sustainable, community-focused solutions. Grounded in civic leadership and environmental justice, Yolanda Daniel stands in principled opposition to the unjust placement of toxin-laden and similarly harmful developments that threaten public health and environmental safety. Her work focuses on defending individuals, families, neighborhoods, and community institutions—including schools, faith-based organizations, and local businesses—from developments that contribute to pollution and create long-term environmental and public health risks. Through grassroots organizing and public advocacy, she remains committed to ensuring communities are treated with dignity, fairness, and respect.
Mexicali, Baja California (Valle de Mexicali)
Community Leaders: Jesús Eliana Rodríguez Burgueño and Frida Sofía Cital Morales
Jesús Eliana Rodríguez Burgueño is a Civil Engineer with a Master’s and Ph.D. in Engineering, specializing in water resources research since 2008. She collaborates across sectors on groundwater, surface hydrology, wetlands, and transboundary water studies. She is a researcher at the UABC Institute of Engineering, leads the Water Resources and GIS Laboratory, and is a member of binational initiatives under Minute 323.
Jesús Eliana Rodríguez Burgueño es Ingeniera Civil con Maestría y Doctorado en Ingeniería, especializada en investigación sobre recursos hídricos desde 2008. Su trabajo se centra en el estudio de aguas subterráneas, hidrología superficial, humedales y recursos hídricos transfronterizos, colaborando con distintos sectores para fortalecer la gestión integral del agua. Actualmente, Jesús Eliana Rodríguez Burgueño es investigadora en el Instituto de Ingeniería de la Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, donde coordina el Laboratorio de Recursos Hídricos y Sistemas de Información Geográfica (SIG). Además, forma parte de iniciativas binacionales enmarcadas en la Minuta 323, contribuyendo al desarrollo de estrategias colaborativas para el manejo sostenible de los recursos hídricos en la región fronteriza.
Frida Cital is a researcher at the Instituto de Ingeniería of the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California; her work has focused on water management and governance, as well as hydrological ecosystem services.
Frida Cital es investigadora en el Instituto de Ingeniería de la Universidad Autónoma de Baja California. Su trabajo se ha enfocado en la gestión y gobernanza del agua, así como en el estudio de los servicios ecosistémicos hidrológicos, aportando al desarrollo de enfoques integrales para el manejo sostenible de los recursos hídricos.
Alausi, Ecuador (Nuevo Alausi)
Community Leaders: Evelyn Mayleen Chimbo Pachala and Katya Jailene Toalombo Ninabanda
Evelyn Chimbo is a Geology student at Universidad Central del Ecuador with a strong passion for risk management and its role in supporting community well-being. She is committed to learning how geological knowledge and risk reduction strategies can contribute to safer, more resilient communities. Currently, Evelyn Chimbo is part of the project team in Alausí, where she works alongside others to create a positive impact for local residents and contribute meaningfully to the territory. Through her academic training and field experience, she is dedicated to applying her knowledge in ways that support both community development and environmental resilience.
Evelyn Chimbo es estudiante de Geología en la Universidad Central del Ecuador y siente una gran pasión por el aprendizaje de la gestión del riesgo y su aporte al bienestar de la comunidad. Está comprometida con fortalecer sus conocimientos para comprender cómo la geología y la reducción de riesgos pueden contribuir a comunidades más seguras y resilientes. Actualmente, Evelyn Chimbo forma parte del equipo del proyecto en Alausí, donde trabaja junto a otros profesionales con el objetivo de generar un impacto positivo en sus habitantes y contribuir de manera significativa al territorio. A través de su formación académica y experiencia en campo, busca aplicar sus conocimientos en beneficio del desarrollo comunitario y la resiliencia ambiental.
Katya Toalombo is a Geological Engineering student with a strong interest in risk management and in how geology can contribute to the safety and well-being of communities. Her academic training is focused on strengthening the knowledge and tools needed to apply geological approaches in support of safer, more resilient territories. Currently, Katya Toalombo is part of the project team in Alausí, where she supports information organization, fieldwork activities, and the development of accessible materials for the community. Through her involvement, she contributes to initiatives aimed at strengthening risk management and creating a positive impact across the territory.
Katya Toalombo es estudiante de Ingeniería en Geología, interesada en la gestión del riesgo y en cómo la geología puede aportar a la seguridad y el bienestar de las comunidades. Su formación se orienta al fortalecimiento de conocimientos que permitan comprender y aplicar herramientas geológicas en favor de territorios más seguros y resilientes. Actualmente, Katya Toalombo forma parte del equipo del proyecto en Alausí, donde apoya en la organización de información, el trabajo de campo y la elaboración de materiales accesibles para la comunidad. A través de su participación, contribuye al desarrollo de iniciativas orientadas a fortalecer la gestión del riesgo y generar un impacto positivo en el territorio.
Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí, Mexico (Mesa Central Mexicana)
Community Leaders: Rafael Alejandro Mendoza Jáuregui
Rafael Alejandro Mendoza Jáuregui is a seismology enthusiast and geology student with experience in GIS and remote sensing through MOOCs and an internship at the State Coordination of Civil Protection. Originally from Fresnillo, Zacatecas, and having lived in Mexico City, he has experienced seismic events firsthand. He aims to generate scientific insights into geoscience phenomena using photogrammetry and distributed acoustic sensing (DAS).
Rafael Alejandro Mendoza Jáuregui es entusiasta de la sismología y estudiante de geología con experiencia en SIG y percepción remota a través de cursos en línea y una breve estancia en la Coordinación Estatal de Protección Civil. Originario de Fresnillo, Zacatecas, y habiendo vivido entre Zacatecas y la Ciudad de México, ha experimentado eventos sísmicos de primera mano. Actualmente trabaja en reparto de alimentos, lo que le ha permitido desarrollar una percepción práctica de problemas de infraestructura urbana, incluyendo el agrietamiento persistente del pavimento. A través de este proyecto, busca generar conocimientos científicos robustos sobre fenómenos geocientíficos, particularmente mediante fotogrametría y sensores acústicos distribuidos (DAS) con fibra óptica.
Tapachapan, Mexico
Community Leaders: Ana Karen Novoa Rodríguez, Feliciano Cadillo Hernández y Reyna Itzel Lozada Alarcón
Ana Karen Novoa Rodríguez is an environmental lawyer with a master’s degree in Environmental and Ecological Economics and currently serves as General Manager of FIDECOAGUA, the first public policy initiative in Mexico to implement a Payment for Environmental Services program. In this role, she coordinates the conservation of more than 1,500 hectares of cloud forest in Coatepec, Veracruz, in collaboration with 182 forest landowners. Her work integrates sustainability, community action, and interdisciplinary cooperation to protect ecosystem services and strengthen local climate resilience.
Ana Karen Novoa Rodríguez es abogada ambiental con maestría en Economía Ambiental y Ecológica, y actualmente es Gerente General de FIDECOAGUA, la primera política pública en México que implementa un programa de Pago por Servicios Ambientales. Desde este rol, coordina la conservación de más de 1,500 hectáreas de Bosque Mesófilo de Montaña en Coatepec, Veracruz, en colaboración con 182 propietarios forestales. Su trabajo integra sustentabilidad, acción comunitaria y cooperación interdisciplinaria para proteger los servicios ecosistémicos y fortalecer la resiliencia climática local.
Feliciano Cadillo Hernández is a native beekeeper and community leader from Tapachapan, Veracruz, Mexico. He has been connected to bees and the forest for as long as he can remember, carrying with him a deep knowledge of the land that has been passed down through generations and shared with his children and those around him. Today, he serves as a representative of his community and strongly believes in bringing science into the forest—understanding local rivers, soils, and wildlife in order to better protect them. Feliciano believes that knowing what exists in the territory is essential to caring for it. His leadership is grounded in both traditional knowledge and a strong commitment to stewardship of the natural environment. Known for his charisma and uplifting spirit, Feliciano inspires those around him and motivates others to take part in strengthening and caring for their community.
Feliciano Cadillo Hernández es un apicultor nativo y líder comunitario de la Loc. de Tapachapan, Veracruz, México. Feliciano ha estado en el mundo de las abejas y el bosque desde que tiene memoria, y sus conocimientos han pasado a sus hijos y sus cercanos. Hoy es representante de la comunidad, y cree fielmente que es importante llevar la ciencia al bosque: conocer nuestros ríos, suelos y fauna. Es importante conocer lo que tenemos para poder cuidarlo. Feliciano se caracteriza por su gran carisma y espíritu, lo cual nos motiva a todos a formar parte de esta comunidad.
Reyna Itzel Lozada Alarcón holds a degree in Human Talent Development in Organizations. Through her academic training, she developed a strong understanding of the value of human work, respect for others, and the importance of teamwork. These principles have shaped her approach to community engagement and strengthened her commitment to collaborative and people-centered development. Her background has allowed her to better understand the needs of her community, Tapachapan, and has motivated her to take part in initiatives that contribute to the well-being and development of its people. Through her involvement, she brings a strong sense of empathy, collaboration, and dedication to supporting community growth.
Reyna Itzel Lozada Alarcón es licenciada en Desarrollo del Talento Humano en las Organizaciones. Gracias a su carrera aprendió la importancia del valor del trabajo humano, el respeto hacia las personas y la colaboración en equipo. Estos conocimientos le han permitido comprender mejor las necesidades de su comunidad, Tapachapan, y motivarse a participar en actividades que contribuyan al bienestar y desarrollo de las personas.
Lima, Peru (Cooperativa Agroecológica del Valle Chillón)
Community Leaders: Pedro Fabrizzio Carpena and Israel Morales Salas
Pedro Fabrizzio Carpena is an entrepreneur, activist, and consultant specializing in agroecology, circular economy, environmental management, and climate change. He holds degrees in Computer and Data Science, Renewable Energy, and Circular Economy, and has over a decade of experience leading and supporting sustainability-focused projects across Latin America. He currently serves as Project Coordinator for the Agroecological Cooperative of the Chillón Valley, Communications and Community Relations Manager at Caxacori Studios, and holds additional roles in organizations focused on sustainability and circular innovation. His work includes designing and implementing initiatives in resilient food systems, clean energy, waste management, and sustainable business models. He has collaborated with international organizations, governments, and private companies such as the United Nations and Coca-Cola on projects related to sustainability and circular economy. He is also a certified PM4R project manager with experience in multi-stakeholder facilitation and environmental standards implementation. His mission is to support the transition toward regenerative systems and promote a culture of sustainable living.
Pedro Fabrizzio Carpena es empresario, activista y consultor especializado en agroecología, economía circular, gestión ambiental y cambio climático. Es ingeniero en Ciencias Computacionales y de Datos, con especializaciones en Energías Renovables y Economía Circular, y cuenta con más de diez años de experiencia en el desarrollo de proyectos de sostenibilidad en América Latina. Actualmente se desempeña como Coordinador de Proyectos de la Cooperativa Agroecológica del Valle Chillón, Gerente de Comunicaciones y Relaciones Comunitarias en Caxacori Studios, y ocupa otros roles en iniciativas vinculadas a la innovación y la economía circular. Su trabajo se centra en sistemas alimentarios resilientes, energías limpias, gestión de residuos y modelos de negocio sostenibles. Ha colaborado con organismos internacionales, gobiernos y empresas como la ONU y Coca-Cola en proyectos de sostenibilidad y economía circular. Es gestor de proyectos certificado PM4R y tiene experiencia en la implementación de estándares ambientales y facilitación de procesos multi-actor. Su misión es impulsar la transición hacia sistemas regenerativos y promover una cultura de vida sostenible.
