Directory Test

“Conversations are a starting point to understand how to address climate change. Conversations turn us toward each other so we can find ways to change together.”

Mila joined us in 2022 as a senior in high school, inspired to work against climate change after experiencing its impacts in her own community and by the wave of global student activism that amplified in 2019. She is a long-standing member of San José team of Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action, where she focuses on youth climate education. Mila was instrumental in supporting and honoring youth perspectives. Her keen perceptions of youth-centered needs and experience as a youth activist were invaluable to our research and developing content. In 2023, Mila was designated San José’s Climate Smart Youth Champion of the year. She is currently a university student, and a research assistant at Right Livelihood Center, investigating how successful movements for social change impacts students' worldviews and engagement in activism around social justice and sustainability. See Mila’s stories here and here.

“Imagine a thousand you’s doing the same small thing repeated over time.”

Julie has been working on environmental programs for local governments for over 20 years. As an Advisory Council member she brought more than 10 years of expertise and focus on Citywide efforts to develop and facilitate climate initiatives. Julie played a lead role in forming San José Clean Energy, developing Climate Smart San José, developing San José’s all-electric building requirements, and passing the City’s carbon neutral by 2030 goal. She also brought the perspective of a mother who is raising kids with environmental awareness and questions about the future. We are grateful to Julie for the stories she shared that supported our understanding, as well as the technical aspects of City-wide networks across San José that are supporting the City towards carbon neutrality by 2030. See Julie’s story here.

“I learned so much in working with the project. It was especially inspiring to talk with the council members and hear about their work, and to learn about the work of the partner organizations. What I most carry with me is the sense that each gesture we make has the capacity to make a difference.”

Genine offered our process and development many things: creative vision, language support, editorial assistance and most importantly for our council she was a master conversation facilitator. She guided our many meetings with creative and thoughtful writing and reflection prompts as well as expertly culling themes, phrases and language that came from our conversations and eventually became many of the messages of One Day / One Action. Genine is an author and poet. As an Artist-in-Residence at San Francisco Zen Center, she curated The Expert’s Mind & Nothing is Hidden, a series of readings, screenings & talks. For seven years, she stewarded The Meadow at the San Francisco Art Institute where she also taught writing. She currently teaches writing workshops & works 1:1 with writers & artists. Learn more about Genine here.

“Change is being comfortable with nuance. Multiple truths can coexist.”

Isaias brought us the perspective of a seasoned public educator. His creative approach to environmental literacy inspired us. Isaias is more commonly known by his moniker, Queer Brown Vegan, the name of this independent media platform to bring intersectional environmental education to all. His contributions of storytelling, and understanding of the spiritual and emotional side of environmentalism helped us to deconstruct complex issues, while centering diversity and authenticity that would resonate with our local community. 

Isaias has been featured in several noteworthy publications, including Vogue, New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, and Yale Climate Communications. His environmental social media advocacy earned him recognition as a top climate creator by Harvard C-CHANGE. Follow Isaias @queerbrownvegan. See his stories here and here.

“We need to shift our understanding to a more sensory or emotional way of knowing. This moves us into the realm of inspiring wonder and curiosity.”

Dr. Michelle Maranowski is an engineer, and an advocate the climate care. As a Council member, Michelle’s experiences as a researcher and educator helped shape One Day / One Action. Her background in climate justice advocacy led her to researching and developing the exhibition Solve for Earth for San José’s Tech Interactive Museum, a major exhibition on sustainability, climate change and action. In her previous position at Santa Clara University as a Senior Research Associate, she was responsible for creating programs that disseminate technical content, supporting students and faculty. Michelle’s commitment to community and her broad background in science and engineering, and her love of brainstorming ideas and solutions brought a deep sense of inspiration and wonder to our work in developing content. See Michelle’s story here.

“Art has the power to catalyze change.”

Mary is the Senior Project Manager for San José Public Art Programs, and served as the City manager for One Day / One Action. Mary’s vision and interest in supporting creative conversations about environmental justice, initiated this project in 2019, and helped us throughout our process, introducing us to community members and organizations that could support the expertise that we needed for the development of our Council and Community Partners. She supported us in creating the first series of conversations during COVID on Zoom with various stakeholders. Mary’s commitment to support public art that promotes social change and environmental justice helped us to bring One Day / One Action to fruition. See Mary’s story here and follow her work @sjculture.

“There is a sense of awe that comes from being outside. When you're in a natural environment, you feel a sense of belonging, a reciprocity. Being in a natural environment puts you in touch with the sublime, and you understand that you are a part of that place.”

Emily’s deep knowledge of food justice and land stewardship filled an important role in our Council. Specifically her work to develop programming that supports local immigrants and youth as leaders in foodways and sovereignty, giving us insight into important community work that is happening in San José. She helped us to create content that reframed how we are connected to the land as a way to develop a sense of belonging–a value that is vital in creating the ongoing health of all of our futures. Emily has worked as a leader at Veggielution, a sustainable urban farm in the middle of San José, creating thriving opportunities for people to engage with whole, fresh, organic produce as a system of care and nourishment. In her current role as Acting Executive Director, Emily oversees strategy and programs for Veggielution. See Emily’s stories here and here, & follow her work @Veggielution.

“Having conversations that allow us to express our feelings about climate change should be as normal as talking about sports! Asking ourselves and each other questions like these can support our own emotional well-being as well that of our families and community. When will you start this conversation?”

Jann brought to One Day / One Action the knowledge and importance of how our natural environments are vital to our mental health and wellbeing. Jan has been a practicing psychotherapist in San José for the past 34 years, specializing in Climate Anxiety. She became aware of the issues of climate change in the 1970’s and has been a passionate advocate for all Earthlings, always with the intention to balance the angst of the future with the beauty of the moment. Jann has become a very important collaborator for our project helping us not only with content framing, but also creating with us the first public Climate Café in San José, held at Veggielution in October 2023. For her third act, Jann is exploring and being witness to the remaining wild places of the US and Canada by road tripping the backroads. She is a member of the Climate Psychology Alliance. See Jann’s stories here and here.

“Including and listening to diverse youth voices is a big driver in creating real environmental justice. We want to see ourselves included. It’s also very awesome to see people who we know are not usually part of the conversation, having a voice.”

Urmila joined our council as our University Youth Activist and Science Specialist. She is studying Molecular and Cellular Biology at UC Berkeley. Urmila came to us as an activist for climate action. She passion began when she was a teenager living in San José, including serving on the Student Board at the Tech Interactive where she helped to design and facilitate their first Youth Climate Action Summit, and leading a countywide effort for Santa Clara County to bring awareness to microplastics. Urmila shared the importance of our ancestral stories as a model of resilience and resistance, and how important it is to center equity in everything we do. See Urmilla’s stories here and here.