Press Release
March 29, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Stefanie Lao,
[email protected] | 424.282.0922
OAKLAND, CA – The California Environmental Voters (EnviroVoters) today announced seven critical hires as it ramps up efforts to advocate for climate action on the local, state and federal level. With a unique opportunity to pass federal climate legislation in 2021, redistricting taking place this year, and wildfire season just around the corner, California is in a position to make key structural changes and build political power for future work.
The new hires: Resa Barillas, Aaron McCall, Samuel Sukaton, Shanil Jiwani, Veda Banerjee, Stefanie Lao, and Atinuke Alade are equipped with an extensive range of expertise to support EnviroVoters advocacy, fundraising, and communications plans.
“We are excited to grow our team so we can meet this moment and lay the groundwork for substantive climate moves,” said Mary Creasman, CEO of EnviroVoters. “For California to continue creating the roadmap globally, while ensuring climate progress advances equity in local neighborhoods and communities, we must scale our reach and partnerships throughout this big state. Investing in organizing, advocacy, and drawing district lines that empower our communities are key to this work. With these new talented team members, we are preparing to build our resources and increase our impact to meet our 2030 climate deadline.”
Political & Organizing:
Resa Barillas is EnviroVoters’ Inland Empire Regional Organizer. Resa is a former digital marketer, graphic designer, and musician. When she moved to the High Desert, she found herself in a community whose voice was unheard and saw a need for change. She utilized her mixed background and experience in organizational leadership to advocate & organize around youth issues, health equity, and environmental justice. She is a proud queer woman and a first-generation Salvadoran-American living in the city of Adelanto with her son, Cameron, and their 2 kittens, Stevie & Jett.
Aaron McCall is EnviroVoters’ Federal Advocacy Coordinator. For the first time in a decade, we have a chance to pass strong federal climate legislation; and Aaron will be EnviroVoters’ primary climate and clean energy advocate to congressmembers and will ensure we do everything we can to meet this moment with California leading the way. Aaron got his start as a young grassroots activist based out of Orange County, California serving as the chairman of Indivisible OC 48 in California’s 48th congressional district. Aaron works actively in Orange County to advance conservation and climate action and was the 2019 OC League of Conservation Voters Activist of the Year. Before becoming an “accidental activist” Aaron was a cognitive psychology student, earning a BA in Psychology from UC Irvine, and an MSc in Psychiatric Research from King’s College London in the UK. Outside of work, Aaron builds power with young people as the Orange County Young Democrats Political Director.
Samuel Sukaton is EnviroVoters’ Redistricting Coordinator. EnviroVoters believes that clean air and water and healthy people depend on clean government and a healthy democracy. To that end, Samuel encourages state and municipal redistricters to draw fair lines and ensures that California’s environmental justice majority is represented in the electoral districts of the 2030s. To this end, he organizes EnviroVoters’ work before the California Citizens Redistricting Commission and EnviroVoters’ redistricting work in partnership with other groups, public officials, and consultants. Samuel returns to EnviroVoters after campaigning with PICO California and the Million Voters Project, and managing Senator Bernie Sanders’s 2020 primary victory in Orange County and the Inland Empire. Previously, he worked with EnviroVoters on the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund, the Sierra Club on keeping fossil fuels in the ground, and with various community, labor, and environmental justice outfits across Southern California. Born in Pennsylvania and raised in San Bernardino, Samuel holds a BA in history from UCLA.
Philanthropy:
Shanil Jiwani is EnviroVoters’ Senior Philanthropy Officer. Prior to joining EnviroVoters, Shanil worked for the Democratic Governors Association, where he cultivated the organization’s fundraising and new donor programs while raising millions of dollars during the 2020 election cycle. Shanil’s political fundraising experience stems from his work with Hillary for America, Center for American Progress, and the GW Annual Giving Program. In addition, Shanil volunteered to organize Muslim and Asian American & Pacific Islander voters with Ismailis Rise Up and Texas AAPIs for Biden. Shanil graduated from The George Washington University with a BA in Political Communication and a minor in Sociology.
Communications:
Veda Banerjee is EnviroVoters’ Communications Director. She manages overall communications and marketing strategy, thought leadership, press relations, and digital marketing at EnviroVoters that impact bold climate policy. She has extensive experience in corporate communications, public-private partnerships, online marketing, and the ability to forge productive relationships with diverse stakeholders and build community. Prior to joining EnviroVoters, she worked at San Francisco Goodwill and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy managing media, digital marketing, and social media strategy. She has a graduate degree in journalism, public relations, and marketing, and been an invited speaker at SXSW, NTEN (Nonprofit Technology), and PR News Big 4 conferences.
Stefanie Lao is EnviroVoters’ Press Associate. Stefanie manages EnviroVoters’ day-to-day press operations and assists with the organization’s long-term communications strategy. She most recently worked for the Biden-Harris campaign as the Nevada coordinated press associate, where she executed state and media digital plans through local press outreach, social media management, and content development. Prior to the campaign, Stefanie was EnviroVoters’ communications fellow, supporting the organization’s digital strategy. Additionally, she previously served at California Attorney General Xavier Becerra’s press office as a fellow, working on the team’s environmental protections, civil rights, and criminal justice portfolio. Born in the Philippines and raised in Los Angeles, Stefanie graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in public relations.
Human Resources:
Atinuke Alalade is EnviroVoters’ Human Resources Generalist. She is a Human Resource Management professional with years of comprehensive experience in Administration, Talent Support and Customer Management. Atinuke has proven skills and experience in performing a full range of HR responsibilities such as facilitating staff recruitment, benefits administration, staff and management training programs. Prior to joining EnviroVoters, Atinuke provided HR and administrative support to Organizations in the private and nonprofits sector. She holds a B.Tech in Microbiology from the Federal University of Technology Nigeria and MBA Human Resource Management from Abertay University, United Kingdom.
ABOUT CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL VOTERS
California Environmental Voters (formerly the California League of Conservation Voters) believes the climate crisis is here and this moment requires transformative change. California has the policy solutions to stop climate change but lacks the political will to do it at the rate and scale that’s necessary. EnviroVoters exists to build the political power to solve the climate crisis, advance justice, and create a roadmap for global action. We organize voters, elect and train candidates, and hold lawmakers accountable for bold policy change. We won’t stop until we have resilient, healthy, thriving communities, and a democracy and economy that is just and sustainable for all. Join us at www.envirovoters.org and on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. See more press releases.
