Brown Girl Green Brown Girl Green

In this episode, we meet with Alexa White - Alexa White's dedication to sustainable agriculture and environmental justice is clearly demonstrated through her Ph.D. candidacy in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Michigan. Her work, grounded in agroecology and biology, critically assesses sustainable agriculture's biophysical indicators and probes the efficacy of international climate governance, particularly in light of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Alexa's significant contributions were recognized in 2023 with the prestigious Federation of American Scientists Policy Entrepreneurship Award, an honor she shared with notable figures including Director Christopher Nolan, Senator Chuck Schumer, and Dr. Alondra Nelson. This accolade celebrated her pivotal role in establishing the AYA Research Institute, a think tank dedicated to progressive environmental justice policy. In her role as a Senior Harvard Climate Justice Design Fellow, Alexa has been instrumental in developing innovative environmental justice screening and mapping tools for governmental bodies in the Mid-Atlantic United States. Her expertise in this field also led to a collaboration with the White House Council for Environmental Quality, where she played a key role in developing the inaugural Justice40 tracker and report, further cementing her position as a leader in sustainable development and environmental justice.

Alexa's groundbreaking research in food sovereignty and justice earned her the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Conservation Leadership Award in 2020, underscoring her contributions to the field. Her active participation on the boards of the United Negro College Fund and the Edfu Foundation serves as evidence that her leadership goes beyond research.

Moreover, as a 2022 Columbia Mailman School of Public Health Agents of Change in Environmental Justice Senior Fellow, Alexa has harnessed her skills as a storyteller to eloquently share her experiences and insights, further amplifying her impact in the realms of environmental justice and sustainable agriculture.


We learn about food sovereignty and the right to have control over your food
We learn about agricultural and food policy
We learn about how representation and leadership of people of color in environmental justice work is crucial

Follow and connect with Alexa on socials:

Instagram: @alexabwhite
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexa-white-a1214987/

Check out Alexa’s website:
alexawhite.co

Check out an opinion piece Alexa wrote: https://www.ehn.org/supporting-small-scale-farmers-2664302999.html

In this episode, we meet with Matt Scott - the director of storytelling and engagement at the global nonprofit climate solutions resource Project Drawdown. Matt is also the founding director of the Drawdown Stories program where he helps everyday people find their role in climate solutions. Matt is the host of the climate solutions short documentary series Drawdown's Neighborhood, featured on the Weather Channel's Pattrn streaming network. Prior to his work at Project Drawdown, Matt was the global community lead and storyteller of the NASA International Space Apps Challenge, the world's largest global problem-solving hackathon.


We learn about how storytelling is a powerful tool to shift the narrative around climate change and inspire action
We learn about how hearing diverse voices in environmental storytelling is essential
We learn about how stories can have an impact to influence policy, regulation, and funding

Follow and connect with Matt on socials:
Instagram: @mattscottgw
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-scott-6ba55a28/

Checkout Project Drawdown: drawdown.org

Email Matt: matt@drawdown.org
Find Matt’s work: drawdown.org/stories
Check out the docu-series: drawdown.org/neighborhood
Submit your own story: drawdown.org/diary

In this episode, we meet with Kiana Michaan. Kiana is a renewable energy professional, clean energy advocate, and climate justice organizer. Kiana previously worked at Sologistics where she provided permitting, utility interconnection, and project management for hundreds of solar projects across New York City. She worked with Black Girl Environmentalist on community building and with Our Climate Voices on climate justice storytelling. Kiana has worked with WE ACT for Environmental Justice on equitable solar development. She was a 2022 fellow with the Clean Energy Leadership Institute. Kiana served as a member of the advisory panel for the non-profit Diversity in Sustainability and currently serves as a board member at Eco.Logic, a non-profit dedicated to environmental education and community building. She is currently producing and hosting a climate & energy justice focused podcast, called Climate with Kiana.

-We learn about the historical inequities in energy access

-We explore the need for financing structures in clean energy

-We learn about ethical concerns of mining for minerals used for renewable energy

Follow and connect with Kiana:
Instagram: @kikisgroove
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiana-michaan

Check out Kiana’s Podcast - Climate with Kiana - https://open.spotify.com/show/2q5A05T45dz4vctflPrR6X?si=lYDpnpoyTlWRYxc2x9y0xw

Check out YPE - Young Professionals in Energy and their mentorship program:
https://ypenergy.org/new-york-city/

Check out CELI - Clean Energy Leadership Institute: https://www.cleanenergyleaders.org/

Kiana’s book recommendations:

The Grid: The Fraying Wires Between Americans and Our Energy Future by Gretchen Bakke

Revolutionary Power: An Activist's Guide to the Energy Transition by Shalanda Baker

In this episode, we meet with Jeremy Raguain. Jeremy is a Seychellois conservationist who holds a Bachelor of Social Science in International Relations and Environmental Geographical Sciences and Bachelor of Social Science in International Relations (Honors) from the University of Cape Town, a Diploma in Environmental Management from the Technical University of Dresden. He is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policy at Columbia University. Jeremy is also an alumnus of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Fellowship and simultaneously served as the Seychelles Permanent Mission to the United Nations Climate Change and Ocean Advisor throughout 2022 participating in climate change and high seas negotiations. Before negotiating international environmental law on behalf of Seychelles, small island developing and African states, Jeremy worked with the Seychelles Islands Foundation for over five years coordinating the foundation’s projects - such as the Aldabra Clean-Up Project - and communications while contributing to national policy focused on climate change, biodiversity and ocean conservation, as well as environmental impact assessment. Jeremy is also a youth activist volunteering his time to the representation of young people - especially those from islands, Africa and Global South - in environmental and sustainability issues.

-We learn about the unique identity and cultural heritage of SIDS

-We explore the vulnerabilities faced by SIDS

-We learn about SIDS treaties and initiatives

Follow and connect with Jeremy:
Instagram: @turtlecommuter

Check out AOSIS and their opportunities:
https://www.aosis.org/

An important UN article to check out about SIDS: https://www.un.org/ohrlls/content/about-small-island-developing-states

Check out this document connecting climate change and SIDS: https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/publications/cc_sids.pdf

A podcast episode to check out:
Small Islands, Big Picture: Why do small islands matter? https://open.spotify.com/episode/361tFdYc0qSQNYWeMNb1Rl?si=gASp_fguT4aexD6B0z_cqA

In this episode, we meet with Daphany Rose Sanchez. Daphany is an experienced community organizer and an expert in climate and housing. Born and raised in New York City public housing, Daphany witnessed and lived through the intersections of housing discrimination, climate divestment, and economic injustice. Her experience moved Daphany to fight for climate resiliency in the communities she grew up in, organizing neighborhoods across every borough in the city while working alongside renewable energy companies to provide people with the tools they need to reduce their energy bills and keep their homes protected from natural disasters. She graduated from NYU Tandon School of Engineering and holds a Master of Science in Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management from the New School.

-We learn about Daphany’s story in public housing

-We learn about addressing energy justice in energy insecure communities

-We learn about the policy and organizing to achieve energy justice

Follow and connect with Daphany on socials:
Instagram: @daph_nyc_
X: @Daph_NYC_
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daphanysanchez/

Check out KC3 and what they do:
https://kc3.nyc/what-we-do

An important article to check out:
https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/news/survey-reveals-extent-energy-insecurity-new-york-city#:~:text=More%20than%20one%20in%20four,in%20debt%20for%20energy%20costs.

Learn about how eligible households can receive energy services:
https://www.nyc.gov/site/hra/help/energy-assistance.page

A podcast episode to check out:
Just Energy: Energy poverty and energy insecurity with Destenie Nock
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7Jpo6qwYZwUtrHgYr6DGmZ?si=WooP0oYXRj-ZPDXscih2wg

In this episode, we meet Bodhi Patil. Bodhi Patil is a UN-recognized, award-winning GenZ ocean-climate “Solutionist” dedicated to improving the interconnectedness between ocean health and human health. He is the Founder & CEO of Inner Light, empowering a generation to build resilience from the inside out for people and planetary wellbeing. He is co-creator/cofounder of Ocean Uprise and SeaDragon Studios and advises several love-based climate organizations on a mission to protect our blue planet. He has been featured by the United Nations, Forbes, Economist Impact, Wildlife Conservation Society, Oceanic Global, and has presented to world leaders at over 10 global climate conferences. Connect with him and learn more about his mission here.


We learn about the Tom’s of Maine Incubator Program and how to apply!
We learn about Bodhi's love and passion for the ocean
We learn about why the ocean is so important for life in all forms

Follow and connect with Bodhi on socials:
Instagram: @bodhi_patil
Twitter: @bodhi_patil
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bodhipatil/

Apply to the Tom's of Maine Incubator Program!
https://www.tomsofmaine.com/incubator

Check out Bodhi's amazing website:
https://www.innerlight.tv/

Organizations Bodhi mentioned to check out:

Ocean Uprise https://oceanuprise.com/
Sustainable Ocean Alliance https://www.soalliance.org/
Earth Echo https://www.earthecho.org/

Bodhi’s book recommendation:

Blue Mind - Dr. Wallace J. Nichols