Participants in this program deepen their effectiveness as values aligned leaders, sharpen their skills in civic engagement, and meet inspiring change makers working across social, environmental, and economic sectors. Over the course of 10 months, cohorts establish genuine relationships and a system of support with a diverse array of cross-sector leaders, graduating into a network of 500+ Fellows.

Leadership Institute Fellow Spotlight: Ana Lugo, Class of 2011

As part of our Following our Fellows project, recent Leadership Fellow Sierra Downey (Class of 2020) interviewed Ana Lugo (Class of 2011), founder of Equity First Consulting, about her theory of change and her perspective on vulnerability, ancestors, community, and vision for the future. We encourage you to listen to the interview here to learn more about the inspiring leadership of our alumni!

You can also read a transcript of this interview here.

Class of 2023

• Aleta Dimas, Adult Services Administrator, Sonoma County Library
• Alma Shaw, Bilingual Events Coordinator, Sonoma Ecology Center
• Brian Goldman, Principal Compliance Analyst, Sonoma Clean Power
• Cailin Notch, Community Resilience Planner, WRA Environmental Consultants
• Carole K. Walsh, Urban Farming Consultant, Feminine Power
• Chantal Monte, Business & Marketing Strategist; Trauma-informed Yoga Teacher
• Chantrelle Meyer, Staff Scientist, QISP, Environmental Pollution Solutions
• Chris Guenther, Corporate Responsibility/Sustainability Consultant
• Dana Swilley, Program Manager, Sonoma Connect/Sonoma Unidos
• Jennifer Silverstein, LCSW, Infant Family Mental Health Specialist, Private Practice
  Katie Hancock, High School Student
• Kelly Hennessey, Controller Consultant, Ravix Group, Inc
• Lauren Fuhry, Project Manager, MidPen Housing
• Lauren Lum, Program Specialist, Sonoma Water
• Leah Halper, History Professor (Retired) Gavilan College; Harvest for the Hungry; Sonoma County Master Gardeners
• Lucas Tamminen, Youth Mentor, Weaving Earth
• Manny Benitez, Administrative Services Associate, County of Marin Office of Equity
• Mariana Raschke, Project Coordinator, Sonoma Connect/Sonoma Unidos
• Ramon Meraz, Community Outreach Director, Generation Housing
• Redbird Willie, Land Steward/Manager, The Cultural Conservancy
• Rosa Brandt, Program Associate, After the fire USA
• Rubyd Olvera, Community Engagement Analyst, County of Sonoma Office of Equity
• Sandi Funke, Park Program Manager, Sonoma County Regional Parks
• Scott Lawrence, Commercial Accounts Manager, Sonoma Clean Power
• Teresa Franklin, RN (Retired), Kaiser Permanente; UNtraining White Conditioning
• Tim Scott, Rural Indirect Sales Manager, T-Mobile USA
• Xinci Tan, Organics Program Manager, Zero Waste Sonoma

Class of 2022

• Aimee Drew, Climate Resilience & Education Consultant, Carbon Positive Futures
• Betzy Chavez, Puente International
• Brant Arthur, Programs Manager, Sonoma Clean Power
• Christine Byrne, Water and Energy Education Specialist, Sonoma County Water Agency; Sunrise Movement Sonoma County
• Connor DeVane, Program Coordinator, Daily Acts; Sunrise Movement Sonoma County; Hike the Divide
• Courtney Scott, HHW Program Manager, Zero Waste Sonoma
• Cristina Yarnal, Waste Zero Specialist, Recology Sonoma Marin
• Cynthia DeLeon, Programs Specialist – Community and Government Affairs, Sonoma County Water Agency
• Dale Englehorn, CA Naturalist Pepperwood Steward; CA Native Plant Society; Food for Thought Volunteer; Redwood Empire Food Bank Volunteer; National Association of Eldercare Case Managers
• David Donica, Director of Business Operations, Left Coast Wholesale
• Diego Gonzalez, Resource Center Advocate, Corazon Healdsburg
• Jesenia Garcia, Student, Orchard View School
• Kevin Anderson, Program Coordinator, Daily Acts; Santa Rosa Together; West End Neighborhood Association; Sonoma County Bicycle Association
• Kirstyne Lange, Principal Consultant, KAL Consultant, LLC; Wine Country Young Democrats; NAACP Santa Rosa-Sonoma; Community Matters; Elsie Allen HS Foundation; Mills College Alumnae Association
• Laima A. Diaz Vepstas, Co-founder/Member, Petaluma Organizing Group
• Neysa Hinton, Council Member, Sebastopol City Council
• Paulina Lopez, HUB Coordinator, Sunrise Movement Sonoma County; Sonoma County Commission on Human Rights, 4th District Commissioner
• Ri Bussey, Co-founder/Member, Petaluma Organizing Group; Petaluma Equitable Climate Action Coalition (PECAC); North Bay Organizing Project
• Sara Poisson, TrekSonoma
• Scott McDougall, Retired
• Sierra Lewitter, Co-chair (NBOP Petaluma), North Bay Organizing Project; Nominating Committee Member, Petaluma River Park Project
• Stephanie Bastianon, Executive Director, Friends of the Petaluma River
• Sunali Sikand, Managing Member, Healthy High Herbal Drinks; Sebastopol Climate Action Committee
• Tatiana Miranda-Isakova, Student
• Yensi Jacobo, Director of P.E.A.C.E, Petaluma People Services Center; Member, General Plan Advisory Committee (Petaluma); Member, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

Fellows – Class of 2021

• Aja Henry, Assistant Field Manager, Sonoma County Conservation Action
• Damien McAnany, Design Director, Permaculture Artisans
• Halley Cloud, Community Health Program Manager, Petaluma Health Care District
• Irma Cuevas, Community Engagement Coordinator and  Strategic Equity Advisor, Sonoma County Regional Parks
• Isai Garcia, Admissions & Outreach Specialist, Presidio Graduate School
• Janina Turner, Energy Program Coordinator, The Climate Center; Hub Coordinator, Sunrise Movement
• Jessica Wood, Assistant Director of Children’s Ministry, Living Roots Church
• Joey Hejnowicz, Administrative Analyst, City of Santa Rosa
• Jorge Inocencio, Electrical Engineer, Keysight; Santa Rosa City Council Candidate
• Kelli Cox, Events Manager, Bees N Blooms Lavender Labyrinth
• Kimberly Stephenson, Affordable Housing Professional
• Laura Schepps, Owner Easy Does It personal organizer service, Anat Baniel Neuro Movement Method Practitioner, Exercise Instructor
• Linda Franzman, Sr Business Analyst, County of Sonoma
• Marta Cruz-Concepción, Vice Mayor, City of Cloverdale; Board of Directors, Zero Waste Sonoma; Commissioner, Sonoma Cty. Commission Status of Women
• Martha Sobrepeña, Deep Nature Connection Guide / Mentor, and Board of Directors, Gaia Passages
• Matt St. John, Executive Officer, North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board
• Sarah Peregoy, Health Educator, Families Advocating for Chemical and Toxics Safety
• Scott Salyer, Program Manager, Sonoma Clean Power
• Shivawn Brady, EVP, Justice Grown
• Stephen Dickinson, Smooth Operator, Hopebuilt Inc
• Tiffany Pfeiffer, Manager, Outerlands
• Zari Lee-Ribas, Freshperson, Santa Rosa High School

Fellows – Class of 2020

• Alexis Kahlow – Performance Based Mindfulness Expert and Author
• Alicia Gaylord – Director of Housing Development, North Bay MidPen Housing
• Celia Furber – Zero Waste Manager, Recology
• Chad Asay – Program Manager (LEAD Locally), Sonoma Clean Power
• Charles Johnson – Parks and Facilities Maintenance, Town of Windsor
• Eden Trenor – Headmistress, Shakti Feminine University
• Felicia Smith – City of Healdsburg, Utility Conservation Analyst
• Gregory Plumb – Water Use Efficiency, Sonoma Water
• Ingrid Stearns – On the Land Program Manager, Sonoma Land Trust
• Isabel Fischer (“Izzy”) – Multimedia Producer, Northern California Public Media (KRCB)
• Jenny Harrow – Executive Director, Integrative Healers Action Network
• Jon Haupt – Branch Manager, Healdsburg & Wine Library, Sonoma County Library
• Katharine Gabor – Environmental Scientist
• Laine Gen – ESL and Citizenship Instructor, Petaluma Adult School
• Martha Davis – Prior ED, Mono Lake Committee and Asst. GM, Inland Empire Utilities Agency
• Morgan Schmidt-Petersen – Office Administrator, FADCal Home and Mortgages
• Natalie Diaz – Tasting Room Associate, Alpha Omega Winery
• Sierra Downey – Content Marketing Specialist, Sonoma County Tourism
• Stephanie Manieri – Program Manager, Latino Service Providers

Fellows – Class of 2019

• Aaron Schreiber-Stainthorp – Sustainability Manager, Jackson Family Wines
• Caitlin Quinn – Communications Coordinator, Conservation Corps North Bay and Petaluma School Board Member
• Carolyn Glanton – Program Manager, Sonoma Clean Power
• Chase Takajo – Sonoma Water
• Chris Clarke
• Donna Legge – Recreation & Community Services Director, City of Los Altos
• Heather Ah San – Communications Coordinator, Sonoma Land Trust
• Jeff Kelly – Chief Business Development Officer, California Community Lender Inc
• John LaBarge – Waste Zero Specialist, Recology – Sonoma/Marin
• Julie Milazzo – Grants Program Analyst, Environmental Protection Agency
• Lars Langberg – Architect, Lars Langberg Architects
• Lendri Purcell – President and Co-Founder /Vice President, FACTS (Families Advocating for Chemical and Toxics Safety)/ Jonas Philanthropies
• Leslianne Lee – Wellness Guide & Viniyoga Therapist
• Liz Platte-Bermeo – Programs Coordinator, Daily Acts
• Mathew Stone – Self-employed, Estuary & Ocean Science Center, Founder Sail 4 Science
• Mia Zimman – Educator and Life Cycle ritualist
• Misty Cordeiro – Executive Administrator, CannaCraft
• Monique Brown – Career Pathways Manager, Conservation Corps North Bay (CCNB)
• Nelson Lomeli – Program Manager, Sonoma Clean Power
• Pamela Van Halsema – Librarian/Educator, Community Organizer, Information Professional, Bay Area Discovery Museum and Coffey Strong
• Saskia Van Donk – Grants Compliance Manager, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa
• Sophia Porter – Care Giver, Student SRJC
• Susan Price – Development Manager, Daily Acts
• Zach Neeley – Prevention Educator, Verity