Abby organizes community through creative outreach, intentional relationship building, and develops youth leadership to radically push the climate justice movement forward in the South Coast. With roots in Minnesota, Abby first fought for climate justice during the #Stopline3 movement. Abby worked as a marine biologist studying tropical coral reef ecosystems for many years. However, it was through that work that they began to witness injustices on local communities that stemmed from science, policy, and management. Those experiences prompted Abby to pursue an interdisciplinary graduate program to gain the skills to fight for ocean justice. Abby completed their Master’s degree in Marine Resource Management from Oregon State University in 2023. Their master’s thesis critically examined social power dynamics in the process of designating a marine protected areas, with the goal of creating more equitable and inclusive ocean protection processes. Abby loves being outside, cuddling with their 2 cats, and making all kinds of cheese!

Ashley’s role is supporting the growing opposition to the Jordan Cove LNG export terminal, while also building a just transition to renewable energy in Coos County. Ashley’s motivation to protect Coos Bay from fossil fuel interests and the impacts of climate change grew while developing youth programming at the South Slough Estuary Research Reserve. She previously worked in marketing at Coos Head Food Co-op and managed the Coos Bay Farmers Market where she was able to develop relationships with local fisherman, farmers, and people from across the political spectrum on the south Coast. Ashley studied Political Science and Environmental Studies at the University of California Santa Barbara. You can reach Ashley at Ashley@RogueClimate.org.

Hannah serves as the overall coordinator of Rogue Climate’s work. Born and raised in southern Oregon, she has always had a close connection to our rivers and the salmon and human communities that depend on them. Concerned about the effects of climate change, especially on already vulnerable communities, she joined with other local residents in 2013 to organize a major educational event in Medford and then to form Rogue Climate to continue that work. Hannah graduated with a degree in sociology and an emphasis in field biology from Colorado College. She conducted a field study of grassroots organizing on ecological issues in Brazil and other countries and has a certificate in Nonprofit Leadership, Organizing, and Action from the Kennedy School of Government. You can reach Hannah at Hannah@RogueClimate.org.

Jess works with Rogue Climate’s South Coast and Rogue Valley teams to build community power through transformative climate justice campaigns. After leading a winning campaign for fossil fuel divestment at Pitzer College, she organized for a just transition in Philadelphia and co-founded the Fossil Fuel Divestment Student Network, where she served as the Director of Training.  Jess went on to co-create PeoplesHub, an online social movement school and continues to facilitate movement groups on strategy, culture, and conflict. When she joined the Rogue Climate team in 2021 as the South Coast Energy Justice Organizer, she worked with South Coast communities and partners across the state to win the Oregon Clean Energy Opportunity Campaign, pass the Oregon Heat Relief package and more. In her current role as Organizing Director she coordinates campaigns across regions and works with the organizing team to build systems for sustainable community power. Jess has a BA in Environmental Policy from Pitzer College and is a recipient of the Udall Scholarship and the Brower Youth Award in recognition of her leadership in the youth climate justice movement. When she’s not organizing, Jess can be found swimming in Oregon rivers, making ceramics, and camping with her partner and their pup Lola. You can reach Jess at jess@rogueclimate.org.

Bio coming soon! You can reach Masayo at Masayo@RogueClimate.org

Merilee’s role as Fundraising and Administrative Coordinator is to assist with the day-to-day
fundraising and administrative duties needed to support Rogue Climate’s team of staff and
community members organizing for climate justice. Originally from South Dakota, she graduated
from Cal State University, Long Beach with a Bachelor of Arts, Costume Design. Merilee worked
Southern California’s theatre circuit before moving to the Rogue Valley in 2008, to work in the
Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s costume department. While there, she was introduced to anti-
racism work through artEquity and was part of a team that helped move the department
towards a more equitable environment for both employees and actors. In her free time, Merilee
loves to cuddle her cats, cook, and garden. You can reach Merilee at merilee@rogueclimate.org.

Susie coordinates and organizes teams, projects and events that grow the climate justice movement in Southern Oregon, with emphasis on racial equity and inclusion. Raised in a diverse Los Angeles community, she developed an interest in social justice and organizing. After graduating from CSULA with a bachelors in Psychology, she moved to Oregon where she spent a couple decades working in the fields of education and social services. Work areas of strength include data systems management, volunteer coordination and community building. She enjoys fulfilling the organizational goal to lead regenerative work, not extractive, by creating spaces for joy and celebration. During her spare time, she likes volunteering with local organizations that focus on empowering vulnerable populations who are disproportionately affected by climate change. You can reach Susie at Susie@RogueClimate.org

Alessandra is now on the board after previously leading Rogue Climate’s work transforming energy systems to benefit communities most impacted by climate change. She was born and raised in the Bay Area, CA where she first became concerned with the intersections of environment, public health, and racism. Alessandra graduated from Southern Oregon University with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and previously organized a food insecurity campaign at SOU and later worked as a Community Organizer focusing on immigrant justice at the Rogue Valley chapter of Unite Oregon. Alessandra serves as a member of the Seeding Justice Foundation Grant Making Committee and the Southern Oregon Latino Partnership Program.

Alison is director of Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s American Revolutions: the United States History Cycle, a multi-decade program of commissioning and developing 37 new plays about moments of change in United States history, including All the Way by Robert Schenkkan (Tony Winner for Best Play) and Sweat by Lynn Nottage (Pulitzer Prize Winner for Drama). Carey is co-founder of the nationally acclaimed Cornerstone Theater Company, which collaborates with communities across the United States to tell their stories, and her work has been produced in venues such as Arena Stage, the Public Theater, the Mark Taper Forum, the shuttered mother plant of Bethlehem Steel, and a dirt-floor cattle sale barn. She lectures nationally on the importance of the arts in shaping healthy societies, especially focused on how theater can most effectively respond to climate change. She has developed hour-long television pilots for CBS and F/X, and her script work has been seen on Judging Amy. She lives in Ashland, Oregon.

David’s experience in advocacy and community engagement includes working with various non-profit community-based organizations. He has worked with Unete, Unite Oregon and Rogue Climate supporting the Latino/a/x community, those affected by the Rogue Valley wildfires in 2020, as well as helping coordinate community driven vaccine events with the Oregon Health Authority. He has also served as a COVID-19 case investigator for Jackson County Public Health during the peak of the pandemic. David graduated from Southern Oregon University in 2020 and holds a bachelor’s degree in human services. He also volunteers on the board of Oregon Spinal Cord Injury Connection . When not working, David loves to travel internationally, spend time outdoors in the pursuit of wild game, and if successful, preparing a meal for friends and family with his fresh catch/harvest.

Bio coming soon!