Isaias Hernandez is an environmentalist, educator, and creative devoted to improving environmental literacy through content creation, storytelling, and public engagements. Isaias is more commonly known by his moniker, Queer Brown Vegan: the independent media platform he started to bring intersectional environmental education to all. 

His journey to deconstruct complex issues while centering diversity and authenticity has resonated with a worldwide audience. He also collaborates with other leaders from the private and public sectors to uplift and produce stories of change for his independent web series, Sustainable Jobs and Teaching Climate Together.

Isaias has been featured in several noteworthy publications, including Vogue, the New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, and Business Insider. His social media advocacy earned him recognition as a top climate creator by Harvard C-CHANGE. As a public speaker, he’s presented for the New York Times, Nike, and UC Berkeley. He's also been featured on VOGUE alongside Billie Eilish and other prominent climate activists.

Isaias is based in Los Angeles & New York, working as a full-time content creator, public speaker, and dog parent.

Samata Pattinson is a British-born Ghanaian entrepreneur and CEO of BLACK PEARL, a consulting firm focused on cultural sustainability. Passionate about connecting communities and the planet, she drove initiatives like Red Carpet Green Dress (RCGD), bringing sustainable fashion to the Oscars, and has taught about sustainable design solutions at esteemed institutions worldwide, including Berkeley and Central St Martins. She authored “The Sustainable Style Guide for Everyone” for the Academy Awards. She authored “The  Sustainable Style Guide for Everyone”, and simplified guides for the 95th and 96th Annual Academy Awards. Pattinson was named a “Champion of Change” in 2024 by VOGUE Business’ Innovator 100 List.

She participated in the UN Climate Change Conferences (COP26, COP27, and COP28). In 2024, she addressed the Washington State House on the fashion industry’s environmental impact. Pattinson actively contributes to programs such as the Hollywood Climate Summit and holds producer credits in influential documentaries, including Andrew Morgan’s “Texas, USA.” She has played a key role in developing the Climate and Fashion focus at events like the London Overheated Festival and Coachella.

Pattinson advises and mentors at Cambridge University’s Institute of Sustainability Leadership and has educated at prestigious venues, including Yale School of Environment and Number 10 Downing Street. In 2021, she was recognized in LOHAS Magazine’s “Green Women Power List 100.” A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, she sit on the board for LA Climate Week, and is recognised as one of the Top 100 Women in the ‘Green Women Power List 100′ by LOHAS Magazine, delivering her inaugural TED talk in 2023.

Wawa Gatheru is a GenZ climate activist passionate about cultivating a climate movement that is made in the image of all of us. She is the founder and Executive Director of Black Girl Environmentalist, the only national organization dedicated to addressing the pipeline and pathway issue for Black girls, women, and gender-expansive individuals in the climate sector. Wawa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from the University of Connecticut and a Master of Science in Environmental Governance from the University of Oxford.

In addition to her role at BGE, Wawa sits on boards and advisory councils for the Environmental Media Association, Climate Power, Sound Future, Earth / Percent, National Parks Conservation Association, and EarthJustice. Wawa is also an inaugural member of the National Environmental Youth Advisory Council of the US EPA - the first federal youth-led advisory council in US history.

For her work, Wawa has been recognized as a Glamour College Woman of the Year, a New York Times Changemaker, a L’Oreal Paris Woman of Worth, a Climate Creator to Watch by Harvard, and has been named to several notable lists - including Forbes 30 under 30, Ebony Power 100, the Independent’s Climate 100, Grist 50, and AFROTECH Future 50 - and is an established public speaker who has presented at Harvard University, the Washington Post, and the United Nations. She most recently featured on the January 2023 digital cover of Vogue alongside Billie Eilish and 7 other climate activists."

Quintin, the Creative Director of GOAT by James King is married with four kids; 3 girls and 1 boy. Quintin was born and raised on the southside of Atlanta, GA. With no formal design experience, Quintin began designing in 2007 and launched his first brand that same year. Over the next several years, Quintin would pivot multiple times until he landed on GOAT by James King.

Founded in 2018 by Quintin Crumpler, GOAT by James King is an Atlanta-based lifestyle brand that is true to preserving classics and finds inspiration in prep, sportswear, and tailoring. Champions of classic lifestyle and apparel, each season is intentional in creating pieces that pays homage to the past while framing a future that stands the test of time. GOAT by James King has been featured in The Atlanta Journal Constitution, JET Magazine, and GQ British Magazine to name a few. Cam Newton has also been seen wearing the brand frequently.

GOAT by James King is now also being sold at Bloomingdales for the next 3 months in Atlanta, GA in collaboration with ATLFW. GOAT by James King’s mission is to inspire generations to live a life of purpose, passion, and perseverance through timeless, authentic, and meaningful style.

Jasmine Crowe-Houston is an award-winning social entrepreneur, children’s book author, and determined leader dedicated to making the world a better place. In 2017, after years of feeding people experiencing homelessness from her own kitchen, Jasmine launched Goodr, a sustainable waste management and hunger solutions company that leverages technology to reduce food waste and combat hunger. She has been featured on CNBC, in Oprah Magazine, Forbes, Fast Co., and the New York Times, and has been named by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the top 100 influential female founders and Insider’s 100 People Transforming Business.

Under Jasmine’s leadership, Goodr has provided over 34 million meals and counting to those in need and redirected more than 25 millions of pounds of materials from landfills. The company was named by Fortune Magazine as a World Changing Company. She currently sits on the boards of the Metro Atlanta Chamber and Drawdown Georgia. An active community member and advocate, Jasmine is also a devoted wife and mother of two daughters, Journey and Justice. She loves to travel, read, and serve her community, continually striving to create positive change both locally and globally.

Corinea Austin is an Atlanta-based fashion voice and textile specialist. After graduating from SCAD, she identified a gap in the textile industry, leading her to establish Fiibers Fabric, a pre-loved fabric marketplace dedicated to sustainable design.

Fiibers Fabric is a vibrant fabric community that supports designers in exploring their creative journey and nurturing their curiosity about sustainable practices, one yard of fabric at a time. Through a variety of community events, including Wine and Tie-Dye Playdates. Fiibers encourages participants to repurpose old clothing while enjoying a creative atmosphere. These events not only promote sustainability but also foster connections among local creatives.

Additionally, Fiibers conducts no-contact fabric pick-ups for designers and productions within the extended Atlanta area and across the U.S., facilitating easy disposal of pre-loved fabrics, trims, and notions. Fiibers also offers fabric manipulation workshops to help creatives expand their understanding of textile properties and techniques. These workshops further push experimental repurposing. While hosting pop-ups and mobile Tie-Dye events throughout Georgia, Tennessee & Florida, creatives learn how to integrate sustainability into their design processes while embracing their creativity and curiosity. Fibers makes sustainable design enjoyable for everyone, from thrifters to advanced seamstresses. 

Corinea’s background as a freelance costume designer and tailor in the entertainment industry informs her approach to sustainability in fashion. She actively uses her talents to educate others about textiles and fashion, whether through community outreach or her engaging podcast, Press & Pins. 

For more on Fiibers, check out @fiibers on all social media platforms. 

For more on Corinea, follow @thecolrgirl on all social media platforms.

Maya Penn is an award-winning climate solutionist, CEO, founder, multidisciplinary artist, history-making animator, eco-literacy steward, 3 time TED speaker, and author. Starting in 2008 at just 8 years old, and then launching her nonprofit in 2011 at 11 years old, Maya has been working in climate justice for over 16 years.

Maya received a commendation from President Barack Obama at 16 years old for outstanding achievement in environmental stewardship. Being an animator and filmmaker, she made history with her animation when she was commissioned to create an animated film for the first ever digital report presented to US congress, which was to get an American museum of Women’s History built in Washington, DC.

Maya is a worldwide change maker and activist with talks that have been translated into over 100 languages, and books on social and sustainable entrepreneurship that have been used in curriculum in schools around the world. Through her own nonprofit Maya's Ideas 4 The Planet, she has launched humanitarian and environmental justice initiatives across the US and around the world.

Maya has spearheaded a plethora of global projects and movements across environmental action, gender equity, eco-anxiety, and women’s health and humanitarian efforts, such as providing 8,000+ eco-friendly sanitary pad kits to women and girls in healthcare facilities in Haiti, Senegal, Somalia, Cameroon, and more, as well distributing seed grants to grassroots nonprofit organizations across the US in the arts, sustainability, stem and more.

Maya is creating jobs and career opportunities for next gen artists through her production company Upenndo! Productions. Maya is directing an original environmental animated short film titled ASALI: Power of The Pollinators, Executive produced by Viola Davis and JuVee Productions, featuring the voices of Whoopi Goldberg, Monique Coleman, Calum Worthy and more. Maya has always been focused on centering solutions, accessibility to information, and reshaping extractive industries in her work.

Daniel Blackman is a distinguished Presidential Appointee who served under the Biden-Harris Administration and is a leading American environmentalist, civil rights advocate, and venture philanthropist.

With a visionary approach to leadership, Daniel seamlessly integrates the arts, entertainment, and cultural influence to redefine philanthropy. His pioneering work in film production, writing, and cultural initiatives goes beyond entertainment, crafting narratives that drive social change and inspire transformative impact. At the intersection of disruptive thought and philanthropy, Daniel’s innovative strategies create a powerful synergy, turning storytelling into a catalyst for positive societal shifts.

Throughout his illustrious career, Daniel has held several prominent positions. He served as the Director of Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships for The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (“The King Center”) and authored the book, “Nationalism without Compassion”.

Daniel broke new ground as the first Black man to serve as Regional Administrator for the United States Environmental Protection Agency and as the first ever Senior Advisor for STEM Recruitment and Diversity at the EPA. Currently, Daniel is the founder of Renaissance94 (Ren94), a global social impact consultancy committed to advancing climate resilience and a just transition to a sustainable future. Ren94 provides strategic advice to corporations, nonprofits, family offices, and public figures, helping them connect with innovative initiatives that yield real, measurable, and lasting change for both the planet and humanity.

Through his work, Daniel continues to inspire and lead creative solutions to global challenges, harnessing the power of sports, entertainment, and NGOs to address critical issues like the climate crisis and cultural diplomacy.

Helena Gualinga, an Indigenous advocate and storyteller from the Kichwa community of Sarayaku in Ecuador's Amazon, is a global voice on Indigenous rights and environmental conservation. Renowned for her advocacy, Helena spearheads significant campaigns against extractive industries, playing a crucial role in preserving biodiversity across Latin America.

Her dedication extends to working with Colectivo de Jóvenes en Defensa de la Amazonía, a youth collective that unites Amazonian youth in the fight to safeguard their rainforest homeland.

Catherine Maddux is a passionate young designer who believes in the profound power of fashion to shape self-identity, expression, and authenticity. From an early age, she fell in love with fashion for its ability to reflect who she is and share her story with the world.

After graduating at the top of her class from the Savannah College of Art and Design, Catherine aims to create a space in fashion where everyone can explore their sense of self. Her enthusiasm shines through in her work, characterized by bright colors, bold patterns, and unique silhouettes. Aligning her creative vision with her values of sustainability, inclusivity, and ethical practices has been central to her journey as a designer.

Catherine is deeply committed to craftsmanship, believing that one way to combat overconsumption and work toward a more sustainable future is through intentional fashion choices. She creates high-quality garments infused with workwear attributes, designed to last nearly forever. Inclusivity is equally important to Catherine.

As a queer individual, she understands the impact of creating inclusive spaces. She believes that fashion should be a means of expression for everyone, and as a designer, she strives to foster a safe environment where all individuals can express themselves freely.

Brea Baker is a freedom fighter and writer (in that order) who has been working on the frontlines for over a decade, first as a student activist and now as a movement journalist and national strategist.

Her book, Rooted: The American Legacy of Land Theft & The Modern Movement for Black Land Ownership, is about her family’s experiences across the South and why reparations is an economic, racial, and environmental justice policy.

As a sought-after speaker and anti-racism consultant with a B.A. in Political Science from Yale University, Brea believes deeply in political imagination and the need for nuanced storytelling. Brea contributes op-eds and personal essays to ELLE, Harper’s BAZAAR, Refinery 29 Unbothered, and more.

Abre’ Conner, Esq. is the Director of the Center for Environmental and Climate Justice at the NAACP and oversees the strategy and collaboration across the NAACP to dismantle environmental racism.

She has taught Education Law and is currently faculty in the Environmental Policy and Management Program at the University of California-Davis. A native of Lakeland, FL, she has worked at numerous environmental justice and civil rights and liberties entities, including the ACLU Foundation of Northern California, the Center on Race, Poverty, and the Environment, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights, and Capitol Hill. She was also an associate in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel in the Obama Administration. She currently sits on the American Bar Association’s Board of Governors, Earthjustice’s Board of Trustees, and was appointed to the EPA’s first HBCU-MSI Advisory Council.

A graduate of American University, Washington College of Law, and the University of Florida, Abre’ has been named a top 40 under 40 Nation’s Best Advocate by the National Bar Association, top 40 On the Rise Attorneys by the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, 40 under 40 alumni by the University of Florida, 40 under 40 Young, Gifted, and Green recipient, and has been featured in the New York Times’ The Daily, Essence, Forbes Magazine, American Bar Association Journal, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated’s National Magazine, The Archon, and Cosmopolitan Magazine.

Jasmine Gil is a committed advocate for climate and environmental justice, dedicated to empowering impacted communities. Born in South Carolina, her connection to nature shaped her advocacy. With a BA in Political Science from the College of Charleston, she began her career in community organizing and activism.

Jasmine has held key roles, including State Director at Climate Power, where she advanced initiatives for BIPOC voices and climate narratives. Known for her storytelling and partnership skills, she has been influential in climate justice movements at local and national levels. Outside her profession, Jasmine enjoys music, crafts, tennis, and supports youth cultural movements. Currently residing in Charlotte, NC, she continues her advocacy for community and resource protection.

Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd is a leading international weather-climate expert and is the Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Georgia. Dr. Shepherd was the 2013 President of American Meteorological Society (AMS), the nation’s largest and oldest professional/science society in the atmospheric and related sciences. Dr. Shepherd serves as Director of the University of Georgia’s (UGA) Atmospheric Sciences Program, the Associate Director of Climate and Outreach for the Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems, and Full Professor in the Department of Geography where he was a previous Associate Department Head.

In 2023, he was appointed Associate Dean for Research, Scholarship and Partnerships in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Georgia. His areas of research include urban climate, hydrometeorological extremes, weather-climate risk, and innovative outreach strategies. Dr. Shepherd was the 2024 recipient of the American Association of Geographers Presidential Achievement Award and the National Academies' Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications. In 2023, he moderated a discussion with Vice President Kamala Harris on climate change and received the prestigious Environmental Law Institute Award.

In 2022 Georgia Trend magazine recognized him as one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians in 2022. Dr. Shepherd is the 2020 Mani L. Bhaumik Award for Public Engagement with Science from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the 2019 Recipient of the AGU Climate Communication Prize and the 2018 recipient of the prestigious AMS Helmut Landsberg Award for pioneering and significant work in urban climate. In 2017, he was honored with the AMS Brooks Award, a high honor within the field of meteorology. Ted Turner and his Captain Planet Foundation honored Dr. Shepherd in 2014 with its Protector of the Earth Award. Prior recipients include Erin Brockovich and former EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson.

He is also the 2015 Recipient of the Association of American Geographers (AAG) Media Achievement award, the Florida State University Grads Made Good Award and the UGA Franklin College of Arts and Sciences Sandy Beaver Award for Excellence in Teaching. In 2015, Dr. Shepherd was invited to moderate the White House Champions for Change event. He is an alumnus of the prestigious SEC Academic Leadership Fellows program. Prior to UGA, Dr. Shepherd spent 12 years as a Research Meteorologist at NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center and was Deputy Project Scientist for the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission, a multi-national space mission that launched in 2014. President Bush honored him on May 4th 2004 at the White House with the Presidential Early Career Award for pioneering scientific research in weather and climate science. Dr. Shepherd is a Fellow of the American Meteorological Society. Dr. Shepherd is frequently sought as an expert on weather, climate, and remote sensing. He is also the host of The Weather Channel’s Award-Winning Weather Geeks, a pioneering TV talk show/podcast and a Senior Contributor to Forbes Magazine. He routinely appears on CBS Face The Nation, NOVA, The Today Show, CNN, Fox News, The Weather Channel and several others. His 3 TED Talks have nearly 3 million viewers, and he is also frequently asked to advise key leaders at NASA, the White House, Congress, Department of Defense, and officials from foreign countries. In February 2013 and 2019, Dr. Shepherd briefed the U.S. Congress on climate change and extreme weather.

He has also written several editorials for CNN, Washington Post, Atlanta Journal Constitution, and numerous other outlets and has been featured in Time Magazine, Popular Mechanics, and NPR Science Friday. He has nearly 100 peer-reviewed scholarly publications. Dr. Shepherd has attracted several millions of dollars in extramural research support from NASA, National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, U.S. Forest Service and the Ray C. Anderson Foundation. Dr. Shepherd was also instrumental in leading the effort for UGA to become the 78th member of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). Dr. Shepherd is a past member of the National Academies’ Space Studies Board and served on its Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate. He is a past chair of the NASA Earth Sciences Advisory Committee and also currently serves on the UGA Athletic Association Board. He was a member of the Board of Trustees for the Nature Conservancy (Georgia Chapter), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Science Advisory Board, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed’s Hazard Preparedness Advisory Group United Nations World Meteorological Organization steering committee on aerosols and precipitation, 2007 Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) AR4 contributing author team, National Academies of Sciences (NAS) Panels on climate and national security, extreme weather attribution, and urban meteorology. Dr. Shepherd is a past editor for both the Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology and Geography Compass, respectively.

Dr. Shepherd received his B.S., M.S. and PhD in physical meteorology from Florida State University. He was the first African American to receive a PhD from the Florida State University Department of Meteorology, one of the nation’s oldest and respected. He is also the 2nd African American to preside over the American Meteorological Society. He is a member of the AMS, American Geophysical Union, Association of American Geographers (AAG), Sigma Xi Research Honorary, Chi Epsilon Pi Meteorology Honorary, and Omicron Delta Kappa National Honorary. He is also a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and serves on various National Boards associated with his alma mater. Dr. Shepherd co-authored a children’s book on weather and weather instruments called Dr. Fred’s Weather Watch. He is also the co-founder of the Alcova Elementary Weather Science Chat series that exposes K-5 students to world-class scientists. Dr. Shepherd is originally from Canton, Georgia.

Mary-Pat Hector was born in Atlanta and graduated from Spelman College and Georgia State University. She began community organizing at the age of 12.

At the age of 18, she was one of the youngest community leaders to advise President Barack Obama on criminal justice reform in the Oval Office. By the age of 19, she became the youngest woman and person of color to run for public office in the state of Georgia, losing by only 22 votes, which prompted her to found Equity for All, an ecosystem to train young leaders to run for office and seek equal representation opportunities. Hector serves as CEO of Rise, an organization that trains and hires students to organize campaigns focused on eliminating tuition and fees, expanding financial aid, ending student hunger and homelessness, and getting out the vote. More than 250,000 students and supporters from colleges and universities nationwide lead the organizations to work.

Mary-Pat Hector also serves as an active member of Black Youth Vote Georgia, an organization mobilizing college students to participate in civic engagement. Through her work, she assisted in getting over 500,000 Georgians registered to vote! Her efforts as a member of the organization can be seen on Hulu’s “1619 Project”. Mary-Pat has also led and organized hunger strikes that have gained over 75,000 meals for students at HBCUs, developing an initiative to end student hunger on college campuses. She has also organized rallies to end police violence in communities of color and developed youth entrepreneurship programming to assist hundreds of young people in kickstarting licensed businesses.

Not content to rest on her accomplishments, Mary-Pat Serves as the advisor to the King Center on Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships; she is the youngest board member of Headcount.Org, a non-partisan organization that uses the power of music to register voters and promote participation in democracy. With music partners such as Beyoncé, Cardi B, and more, as well as a founding board member of Facebook’s State of Youth board and a board member of EAT, a global, non-profit startup dedicated to transforming our global food system through sound science, impatient disruption, and novel partnerships Mary-Pat has been featured on: MSNBC, CNN, Glamour Magazine, HULU, MTV, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Teen Vogue, ABC News, and more.

Brionté believes in a healthier, more vibrant future for all people and the planet. She is dedicated to teaching people how to self-organize and build strategic partnerships to protect the environment, advance racial equity, and grow civic engagement.

She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Georgia Conservation Voters, where she works to secure a more just and sustainable future by advancing climate and environmental justice policies, electing pro-environment candidates, and holding elected officials accountable for their actions and votes.

To understand who EarthGang is, you must first recognize this is not your typical hip-hop duo. While rap is the bedrock of their art, elements of R&B, jazz, gospel, and funk have enriched the innovative albums, experimental EPs, and masterful mixtapes the pair has produced since forming the group in 2008 following Olu and WowGr8 meeting as freshmen at Mays High School in Southwest Atlanta. Atlanta born, Atlanta-raised, and profoundly influenced by their Southwest Atlanta surroundings, EarthGang’s maturation into GRAMMY-nominated musicians, critically acclaimed artists, and two of the best live performers working in music today can be sourced back to their global ambitions.

The name EarthGang is rooted in a desire to have the whole world join them on a journey where music is used as a global vehicle to explore relatable themes of society and self; the conflict between tradition and modernity, religion and enlightenment—music and manhood. With more than 600 thousand followers on Instagram, 3 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and 127,507,652 views on YouTube, the group has expanded tremendously.

Although they first gained local recognition with their mixtapes, including "Shallow Graves For Toys" and "Torba," after signing with J. Cole's Dreamville Records in 2017, EarthGang started to see their name travel beyond the blogs and start to reach Billboard. With new attention also came an updated sound and further experimentation to drive home how Olu and WowGr8 are men who move to an eclectic rhythm that doesn’t fit a label, can’t be placed in a box, and shouldn’t be attached to any one genre.

EarthGang’s sophomore album on Dreamville, Ghetto Gods, skillfully conveyed self-discovery, spirituality, and the struggle for social justice. The depth of their inward-looking lyricism was appropriately paired with a production palette of buoyant southern beats that help to elevate their high-energy performances. Following the release of Ghetto Gods, EarthGang joined The Gorillaz on 20 unique and unforgettable arena dates across the U.S. EarthGang has also been praised for their commitment to community activism, supporting emerging artists, and for their dedication to music that continues to push boundaries and inspire new generations of artists.

Robin Okunowo is currently a Development Coordinator funding projects in the climate and carbon drawdown space. In her role as Program Manager of Captain Planet Foundation’s Planeteer Alliance, she empowered youth worldwide to drive impactful climate actions.

With a dual background in environmental studies and philosophy from Dickinson College, Robin combines a deep commitment to environmental justice and social equity. Her work spans creating educational programs, supporting young activists, and fostering resilience among communities facing climate challenges.

Robin’s journey in environmentalism began at an early age, influenced by personal experiences with pollution and environmental degradation. She now leads initiatives like the Planeteer Alliance Bootcamp, a training and certification program equipping young people to tackle environmental issues through strategic campaigns and global networking.

Saad Amer is a leading climate activist, democracy movement leader and environmental justice expert. He is the Founder of sustainability consultancy, Justice Environment, and works as a consultant to the United Nations.

As one of the country’s most prolific voting organizers, Saad has reached millions of voters and created campaigns featuring the likes of Vice President Al Gore, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Taylor Swift. He served as an Expert Reviewer for the IPCC and helped secure $6.5 billion dollars for the National Parks as an Advisor to the National Parks Conservation Association.

He has researched the impacts of climate change on the ground in the Indian Himalayas, co-created Harvard University’s inaugural Sustainability Plan, and discovered a new hybrid species in French Polynesia. Saad was named Forbes 30 under 30 for social impact and has been profiled by Vogue, Nature and the New York Times.

He went to Harvard University where he studied Environmental Science and Public Policy and was a Fellow at Yale University’s Public Voices on the Climate Crisis with The OpEd Project.

Dr. Katharine Wilkinson is a climate author, strategist, and teacher, named one of 15 “women who will save the world” by Time magazine. She has been a force behind some of the most impactful climate communication work of the last decade.

Her books include the bestselling anthology All We Can Save, the New York Times bestseller Drawdown and its follow-up The Drawdown Review, and Between God & Green. Dr. Wilkinson is co-founder and executive director of The All We Can Save Project, creator of Climate Wayfinding and All We Can Save Circles, and co-host of the podcast A Matter of Degrees.

She holds a doctorate in geography and environment from Oxford, where she was a Rhodes Scholar. A core belief animates all of her work: We are each a node of possibility for healing the planet we call home.

Abbie Richards is a TikToker and TikTok misinformation researcher. She specializes in understanding how misinformation, conspiracy theories, and extremism spread on TikTok and she creates educational content that explains these complex issues to a wider audience.

She's amassed a multi-platform following of over half a million people who are interested in learning about these issues. Abbie is a senior video producer at Media Matters and is a co-founder of EcoTok, an environmental TikTok collective that specializes in social media-based climate communication. For her work as an online educator, Abbie was included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 2023 cohort, and the Mozilla Rise25 cohort, and was awarded the WIN WIN Youth Award for 2023.

Iesha Baldwin is a trailblazer in sustainability, now making history as Spelman College’s first-ever Sustainability Coordinator. She leads initiatives that bring sustainable practices into every part of campus life, from reducing waste at large events to improving energy efficiency in campus buildings. By collaborating with faculty, staff, students, and administrators, Iesha is building a culture of environmental awareness and stewardship at Spelman that goes beyond policies and into the heart of campus operations. Before taking on this role at Spelman, Iesha was the inaugural AI Manufacturing Fellow with the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation, working with the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute and Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies.

At Georgia Tech, she brought clean technology education to K-12 students, sparking early interest in green innovation, and supported nanotechnology research to find eco-friendly alternatives to lithium. Her work at Freudenberg-NOK included designing an inventory management system that showed promising potential for reducing machine downtime, saving energy, and cutting costs. Iesha's commitment to environmental justice led her to the University of California, Davis, where she served as an Environmental Justice Fellow. With the support of UC Davis faculty and students, she expanded her research on clean technology education to reach children in low-income and environmentally impacted communities, making this education accessible to those who need it most.

Beyond her professional roles, Iesha serves as VP of Membership and board member for the United Nations Association Atlanta Chapter, where she engages the community in the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly on issues like clean water and climate action. Iesha is currently working on a children’s book, Dear Little Scientist, which encourages young readers to be kind to themselves as they learn, showing them that self-compassion is key to becoming both great scientists and compassionate human beings.

With a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Spelman College, Iesha envisions a future where sustainable practices and science-based solutions create lasting positive change. Her work is paving the way for a more sustainable world, one project, one partnership, and one young scientist at a time.

Xiye Bastida is a 22-year-old Mexican climate justice activist and mobilizer. Through her Otomi roots, she champions Indigenous worldviews as a solution for the climate crisis. She was an organizer with Fridays For Future and is the co-founder of Re-Earth Initiative, an international youth-led organization that supports frontline youth across 27 countries.

Xiye was the recipient of the 2018 UN Spirit Award and was named TIME100 Next in 2023. She’s now the Executive Director of Re-Earth Initiative and is the Executive Producer of “The Way of the Whale,” an upcoming feature-film about her Indigenous roots and the gray whale.

Chandra Farley serves as Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Atlanta. In this role, Chandra sets direction for the City’s sustainability and resilience goals and leads the interdepartmental, and community-wide, engagement necessary to address the inequitable effects of climate change.

Chandra’s charge is the development of a comprehensive climate resilience strategy that will address energy insecurity, healthy housing, food systems, waste diversion, building decarbonization, workforce training, and fleet electrification while advancing the City’s goal to achieve 100% clean energy for 100% of Atlantans by 2035. Chandra is also developing the strategy to leverage the historic federal investment in clean energy and the Justice40 Initiative to advance these goals through a lens of environmental justice.

Prior to joining the City, Chandra founded ReSolve Consulting, an energy justice consulting firm and the “Good Energy Project,” a social space connecting the transformational power of Black Women and their community leadership to the movement for an equitable clean energy economy. In 2022, Chandra completed a historic run for the Georgia Public Service Commission.