Denaya joined GAIA in 2023, and brings 10+ years of experience in nonprofit leadership, zero waste and recycling, environmental justice, community organizing, and education. Her background includes spearheading Community Engagement Programs at the Ecology Center Berkeley, serving on the steering committee for the Alliance of Mission-Based Recyclers (AMBR), and conducting recycling outreach and education with Waste Management. Passionate about advancing equity-centered and community-led climate solutions, Denaya prioritizes marginalized voices and aims to dismantle systemic barriers, creating pathways for more resilient and just communities. Denaya holds an MA.Ed. in Urban Environmental Education from Antioch University Seattle and a B.S. in Biology and Ecology from CSU, Fresno. Based in GAIA’s Berkeley, U.S. office, she enjoys traveling and Netflix and chilling with her feisty cat, Devyn.
