By Tyyne Parakhen, Director of Development and Communications
I am thrilled to be joining SanDiego350 as Director of Development and Communications. I am passionate about connecting people more closely with grassroots climate action and look forward to continuing to do so in a professional capacity.
I grew up mostly in Finland and have had a keen interest in sustainability and climate change as well as social and economic justice since high school. I graduated from King’s College London with a degree in Law and have since built my career in marketing and nonprofit development at various companies and nonprofits in London, Munich, Los Angeles, and San Diego.
My interest in and concern about climate change turned into activism after giving birth to my daughter in 2020. The fear I had, and continue to have, about what her future would look like, and what my role would be in shaping that future, led me to look for opportunities to become part of the climate movement, and eventually to joining SanDiego350 as a volunteer on the Food and Soil team in 2021. I went on to co-lead the Food Waste Working Group, co-chair the Food and Soil Team itself, and in 2024, join SanDiego350’s Board of Directors, before finally joining as a full time staff member in 2025.
I believe strongly that the only way to prevent the worst impacts of the climate crisis is through a strong and growing people-powered movement, and have found this reflected in SanDiego350’s mission and theory of change. The staff, volunteers, and donors I have had the privilege of working with since 2021 continue to inspire me and give me hope, and I am grateful for the movement for helping me turn my climate anxiety into action. In my new role, I will direct SD350’s fundraising and communications strategies, to increase public awareness of our organization and mission and secure the funding necessary to continue and expand our work. I am excited to be in a position to help bring more community members into this movement and to continue to build a better future for us all.