United States & Canada

Sheila has played a leadership role in shaping environmental policy in the high-tech industry, including the Solar Scorecard a ban on hazardous electronic waste from the California municipal landfills and the subsequent passage of the first electronic recycling legislation in the nation. Sheila is based in the US in San Francisco, California.

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.

María is the Regional Communications Coordinator for US & Canada. Before joining GAIA, she coordinated communications for a multi-state effort to end plastic pollution through legislation. Her previous experience includes work for the New York State Senate, Walker’s Legacy, and Univision Philadelphia. María holds a Master’s in Policy Management from Georgetown University and a Bachelor’s in Public Relations and Communication Studies from Rowan University. She’s currently based in New York City.

As a biracial and LGBTQ+ working professional, Marcel has dedicated his life to dismantling white supremacy and anti-queer concepts within the broader environmental movement. Over the past eight years, he has become a thought leader and technical expert on climate change, environmental justice, and zero waste concepts throughout the US and Canada. Born and raised in a minority-majority community along the Chesapeake Bay in Southeast Virginia, Newport News, Marcel has always been deeply entrenched within the world of equity and justice.

He joins GAIA with a Master’s in Environmental Policy from The New School and currently resides in the beautiful neighborhood of Harlem in New York City. Marcel will help expand GAIA’s work in U.S. federal policy spaces with the goals of developing zero waste solutions and ending policies bolstering incineration.

Jessica has been fighting for more than twelve years against climate change and for a sustainable, just energy system working to stop fossil fuel extraction and infrastructure buildout and supporting front-line struggles. Prior to her work in the climate movement, Jessica practiced law for a decade focusing on civil rights and Federal Indian law. She is based in so-called Brooklyn (occupied Lanape/Munsee/Canarsie lands) where she was born and raised.

Jenny has experience as a climate action educator and researcher and has organized with her friends to demand fossil fuel divestment, environmental justice, and just and lasting peace. She is on the secretariat of the New Jersey chapter of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines.

Nautica’s experience and passion with youth development cultivated a strong sense of humanitarianism, which laid the path to non-profit work that spearheads global change for the betterment of human life. Active outdoors and well-traveled, Nautica has been a catalyst for love & peace since moving away from his parents’ San Diego home at 17. His ultimate dream is to build an education system that juxtaposes the current education programs available to the youth – developing the leaders of our future.

Originally from India, Aditi grew up in China and is now based in New York City. Her academic background centers on environmental justice, and she is pursuing a Master of Urban Planning at New York University. Aditi was a community organizer prior to joining GAIA and is fiercely dedicated to building a world that values people and the planet before profit.

Finance & Business Director for the GAIA U.S. office. She has a background in business admin and finance, working with nonprofits to build solid infrastructures to fortify their missions. Her interest in this field began when she managed a free-standing birth center in Portland, Maine and since then she has worked with many Bay Area social and environmental justice organizations. She holds a Master’s Degree in Sustainable Business Administration. Brieshen loves gardening, hiking with her family and days spent at the beach.

Christie joined GAIA in 2005 and has 25 years of experience with social movements and international non-profit organizations. She began her work in Guatemala as a popular educator, program coordinator, and strategic planning facilitator for groups in the women’s movement and Mayan-Campesino organizing community, as well as in international human rights. For the last 15 years, Christie has worked from the U.S. on international waste, public health, and environmental justice issues.

Monica has worked with GAIA since 2002 and served five years as GAIA’s International Co-Coordinator. Monica serves on the board of the Grassroots Recycling Network, was previously on the board of the Northern California Recycling Association, and is a master composter. In 2012 she was honored to be named by the California Resource Recovery Association as “Recycler of the Year” together with GAIA’s US & Canada Program, for achievement in the field. Monica is based in GAIA’s Berkeley, U.S. office.