Moisés is dedicated to advancing racial equity and environmental justice within government initiatives. His work has involved removing barriers to state funding, enhancing protections for tribal cultural and traditional uses of water, and raising public awareness of groundwater contamination. He has prioritized meaningful community engagement and improved language access, while celebrating cultural diversity in environmental […]
Nieves Vazquez
Nieves Vázquez is from Houston, Texas with roots in the Sierra Madre Oriental of Eastern México coming from Huachichil Chichimeca and Mexican heritage. They now live in Tucson, Arizona and has over 5 years of professional experience in environmental community science, yet a lifetime experience in water protection. At Water For People, they specialize in […]
Direlle Calica
Mrs. Direlle R. Calica. J.D. has over 20-years of experience as a legislative, policy, planning, and regulatory advisor with the U.S. Attorney’s Office-District of Oregon, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Intertribal Organizations, and various Indian Tribes. Mrs. Calica has extensive professional experience in intergovernmental affairs, hydro-system planning, tribal economic development, tribal energy infrastructure policy, and […]
Heather Tanana
Heather (Diné) is an expert on Tribal water issues. She does research at the intersection of environmental and health policy and much of her work focuses on water and climate challenges regarding Colorado River management. She also leads the Universal Access to Clean Water initiative, which seeks to bring awareness to the lack of clean, […]
Chakena Sims
Chakena is a cross-sector, social change leader with over a decade of experience in policy, civic engagement, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and political advocacy & campaigns. She works in developing cross-programmatic strategies, partnerships, and advocacy efforts around key water issues including lead service line replacement, workforce development, and civic engagement. She has deep interests […]
Newsha Ajami
Newsha is an internationally recognized leader in urban water strategy, innovation, and financing; climate adaptation strategies, sustainable resource management; environmental resiliency; sustainable infrastructure; and the water-energy-food nexus. Her research throughout the years has been interdisciplinary and impact driven, focusing on the improvement of the science-policy-stakeholder interface by incorporating social and economic measures, and through relevant […]
Portia Shepherd
Portia Shepherd is a political consultant, keynote speaker, and founder of Blackbelt Women Rising, a gender and environmental justice organization serving Alabama’s Black Belt region. A graduate of Miles College with a Master’s in Nonprofit Leadership from New England College, she has over fifteen years of experience in political, nonprofit, and advocacy work. Her advocacy […]
Jahan Taganova
Originally from Turkmenistan, Jahan Taganova is a water diplomat, One Young World Peace Ambassador, and scholar, working at the intersection of global development and public policy. Jahan graduated with a joint MS in Water Cooperation and Diplomacy between the world- renowned UNESCO-IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, UN Mandated University for Peace, and Oregon State […]
Alyssa Senturk
I am a water and climate justice communicator working to ensure California decision makers have access to the best possible information regarding that state’s water. Talk to me about: engaging and educating people, creating multimedia content, training volunteer community scientists to monitor water quality and pollution, water data and grassroots activism.
Allen Townsend
I’m a water security, sustainability, and stewardship expert with over 15 years of progressive international experience, whose work intersects with our global food, energy, and health systems. I’ve advised a sitting U.S. ambassador on foreign water-energy policy, worked within HCA Healthcare on corporate sustainability, and have served in numerous consulting roles globally and across sectors. […]