Abby Costello
CHULA VISTA COMMUNITY LIAISON INTERN
Annette Fritzsche
HR & OPERATIONS COORDINATOR
Emma Rodriguez
CAMPAIGN COORDINATOR
Emma Weibel
YOUTH V. OIL INTERN
Jaidacyn Madrigal
MARKETING AND FUNDRAISING COORDINATOR
Lexi Rueff
CHULA VISTA YOUTH PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Masada Disenhouse
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
McGarrah Wilson
YOUTH PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Sydney Chan
YOUTH4CLIMATE INTERN
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Chula Vista
Abby Costello
Chula Vista Community Liaison Intern
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Chula Vista, CA
Abby, the Chula Vista Community Liaison Intern, is a current junior at Hilltop High School. She has worked with SD350 as a public speaker, planner, and social media representative. Living in Chula Vista her whole life, Abby believes that the community deserves more education and representation in the climate justice movement. Through this internship, Abby hopes to extend awareness and opportunities for climate activism to her community, and to serve as a voice and representative for Chula Vista youth.
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Monument, CO
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Monument, CO
Annette loves working and thinking strategically when it comes to community, relationships, and impact. She serves as the HR and Operations Coordinator at SD350. In addition to her work here, she also works at a foundation that supports community youth music organizations throughout the US. Annette’s previous work includes program management at local arts nonprofits and as a public school teacher. She volunteers as a CASA for foster youth, loves hiking up or skiing down mountains, and is crazy about her young nieces.
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: San Diego
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: San Diego
Emma is fascinated by policy at the intersection of environment and poverty. After serving as a volunteer for SanDiego350’s Let’s Go! San Diego efforts, she came onboard as a Campaign Coordinator to manage SanDiego350’s campaign efforts . She continues to volunteer with SanDiego350 as a member of its transportation team. Emma is a proud user of public transportation and enjoys KPOP and jigsaw puzzles.
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Zurich, Switzerland
Emma Weibel
Youth v. Oil Intern
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Zurich, Switzerland
Emma is a history and politics lover first and foremost. She is extremely passionate about the intersectionalities of the climate movement and fighting for a more just future. She is currently leading Youth v. Oil and is the president of her high school eco club: LJEA. Her various roles throughout her time at Y4C have helped shape her place in this movement: as a communicator and the girl behind the megaphone.
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Everett, WA
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Everett, WA
Jaidacyn is passionate about building community and engaging supporters. She graduated from UC Sacramento with a degree in Hospitality & Tourism Management, and a minor in Environmental Studies. Prior to working with SanDiego350, Jaidacyn raised funds, planned events, and designed marketing content as the Development Coordinator for an environmental nonprofit in Seattle, Washington. She cares deeply about environmental education. She gives presentations to high school classes, creates informative videos on social media, and reads the environmental children’s book she wrote to young students.
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Louisville, KY
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Louisville, KY
Lexi has been an enthusiastic part of Youth4Climate since 2020. She coordinates our youth program in three Chula Vista schools where she mentors youth, coordinates programming, and works to understand the interests and skills of youth and get them engaged in the movement. Lexi graduated from Indiana University in 2017, where she majored in Spanish and Comparative Literature. She’s currently in a Sustainability Leadership masters program at Claremont Lincoln University. Lexi is passionate about the ocean and plastic pollution and is proud to be part of the youth-led climate movement!
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: New York City
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: New York City
Masada co-founded SanDiego350 in 2011. Masada is passionate about empowering people to organize, advocate, and build bold, intersectional grassroots campaigns and political power. Prior to SanDiego350, Masada worked for 350.org where she managed staff and programs to support the growth and development of the over 150 local 350 affiliates in 350’s U.S. network.
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
McGarrah became passionate about the environment from a young age when experiencing poor air quality, polluted waterways, and lead-contaminated drinking water growing up in Pittsburgh, PA. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in Environmental Studies and has worked with youth in a variety of fields from running a leadership training program to working in youth mental health. As the Youth Program Coordinator, McGarrah activates and empowers the next generation of climate leaders and believes youth are the future of the climate movement.
Pronouns: She/They
Hometown: San Diego
Sydney Chan
Youth4Climate Intern
Pronouns: She/They
Hometown: San Diego
Sydney is the Youth4Climate intern and a junior at Canyon Crest Academy. As a young person involved in the movement, they aim to urge their peers to finding their voices and taking action. During her time as the Youth4Climate intern, she’ll onboard members and plan events & actions. By channeling community power into organization, they hope to create an impact within climate activism and its further intersections.
Abby Deckert
BOARD MEMBER
Anita Martinez
BOARD SECRETARY
Bill Wellhouse
BOARD TREASURER
Jim Miller
BOARD MEMBER
Joshua Piedra
BOARD MEMBER
Joyce Lane
BOARD PRESIDENT
Max Lebovitz
BOARD MEMBER
Rebecca Rojas
BOARD MEMBER
Tyyne Parakhen
BOARD MEMBER
Masada Disenhouse
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - EX OFFICIO BOARD MEMBER
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Santee
Abby Deckert
Board Member
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Santee
Abby joined the Board in 2024. She is a member of, and previously led, the Youth vs. Oil campaign, working to stop oil fracking in California through rallying, advocacy, and meeting with local elected officials. Abby is currently a senior at Santana High School where she runs the Climate Action Club aiming to educate their community on the climate crisis. Abby co-led the 2023 Youth4Climate Earth Day Campaign, helping high schools across San Diego County to organize impactful Earth Day events. She is very passionate about connecting students through activism and believes it is vital that as youth we fight for our future against the climate crisis.
Pronouns: She/her
Hometown: San Diego
Anita Martinez
Board Secretary
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: San Diego
Anita joined the Board in 2022 and became the Board Secretary in June 2023. She is a member of SD350’s JEDI team and she has helped create Climate Justice workshops. Her work with SD350 is driven by a passion for environmental justice and for taking necessary action to mitigate climate change now and for future generations. Environmental justice is at the heart of her work. Anita retired from Grossmont College where she worked in the Career Technical Education & Workforce Development division. She was also co-chair of the Professional Development Committee. Anita also serves as VP of the American Federation of Teachers Retiree Chapter.
Pronouns: He/Him
Hometown:
Bill Wellhouse
Board Treasurer
Pronouns: He/Him
Hometown:
Bill joined the Board in 2019 after serving on SanDiego350’s Steering Committee and doing a lot of the work to keep the organization running smoothly, including budget, insurance, our policy manual, and supporting our teams. Before he retired, Bill directed two charter schools and gained a great deal of experience with non-profit issues.
Pronouns: He/Him
Hometown: San Diego
Jim Miller
Board Member
Pronouns: He/Him
Hometown: San Diego
Jim joined the Board in 2019. He is a native San Diegan and holds an MFA in fiction from SDSU and a Ph.D. in American Culture Studies from Bowling Green State University. Miller is the co-author of the local history Under the Perfect Sun: The San Diego Tourists Never See as well as the author of the novels Drift, Flash, Last Days in Ocean Beach, and other works. He teaches at San Diego City College and is a Vice President of the American Federation of Teachers, Local 1931 and Chair of the SD Labor, Environmental, and Community Coalition.
Pronouns: He/Him
Hometown: City Heights, San Diego
Joshua Piedra
Board Vice President
Pronouns: He/Him
Hometown: City Heights, San Diego
Joshua joined the Board in 2021 and became the Board Vice President in June 2023. From a young age, growing up in an immigrant working-class family, Joshua learned the importance of community. His lived experiences have shaped his values of empathy, compassion, and justice. Personally, he is committed to empowering his community as a grassroots organizer and advocate for public policy that centers on social and racial equity. Professionally, he was recently hired as a political organizer supporting working families throughout San Diego and Imperial Counties.
Pronouns: She/her
Hometown: San Diego
Joyce Lane
Board President
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: San Diego
Joyce joined the Board in 2018. She served as a team leader on the Public Policy Team for more than four years. She has been a member of several other non-profit boards in San Diego and is passionate in her concern for the planet and doing what she can to make the world a better place.
Pronouns: He/Him
Hometown: Los Angeles
Max Lebovitz
Board Member
Pronouns: He/Him
Hometown: Los Angeles
Max joined the board in 2021 after serving as the Monthly Meeting Coordinator since joining SanDiego350 in 2018. His focus is on helping bring awareness to important climate-related issues through education, outreach, and event organization. For his professional career, Max runs marketing for a local sports technology company.
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Los Angeles
Rebecca Rojas
Board Member
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Los Angeles
Rebecca joined the Board in 2019. She started volunteering with SD350 in 2012 because she wanted to be part of building a social movement that would fight for climate justice. By day she works as an attorney advocating for the rights of seamen injured onboard vessels and victims who have been seriously injured in accidents.
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Tampere, Finland
pronounced too-nay
Tyyne Parakhen
Board Member
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Tampere, Finland
pronounced too-nay
Tyyne joined the Board in 2023, having served as Co-Chair of the Food and Soil Team at SanDiego350 since late 2021. After welcoming her first child in 2020, Tyyne felt compelled to take action on climate change in order to work towards a livable future for current and future generations. Professionally, she works in nonprofit development and fundraising, specializing in donor data management and analytics.
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: New York City
Masada Disenhouse
Executive Director – Ex Officio Board Member
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: New York City
Masada is a founding member of SanDiego350. She has organized San Diego’s largest climate mobilizations and is passionate about empowering people to organize, advocate, campaign and build grassroots political power together. Prior to SanDiego350, Masada worked for 350.org where she managed staff and programs to support the growth and development of the over 150 local 350 affiliates in 350’s U.S. network.
Allison Lee
YOUTH VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
Daryn Tarasewicz
YOUTH v. OIL LEGISLATIVE LIAISON
Sofia Carrasco
YOUTH v. OIL RESOLUTION TEAM LEAD
Taarika Sethee
YOUTH VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
Pronouns: She/her
Hometown: Portland, OR
Allison Lee
Youth Volunteer Coordinator
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Portland, OR
Allison is a senior at Del Norte High School and a volunteer coordinator for Youth4Climate and Youth v. Oil. She has been driven by passion for the environment and environmental justice to educate and empower youth through outreach efforts and leading her own youth literary magazine. By harnessing collective power for outreach and education, she aims to support an impactful, growing climate movement.
Pronouns: She/her
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
Daryn Tarasewicz
Youth v. Oil Legislative Liaison
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
Daryn is a freshman at Canyon Crest Academy. Upon joining Youth v. Oil in September of 2023, she has been speaking with government officials, tabling at and helping plan events, and making public comments at various city councils around the county. As a hardcore tree-hugger, she has an unwavering love for nature and learning. Through advocacy and outreach, Daryn aims to connect these two to inspire the next generation’s wave of passionate activists for a sustainable future.
Pronouns: She/her
Hometown: New York City
Sofia Carrasco
Youth v. Oil Resolution Team Lead
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: New York City
Sofia has always been passionate about protecting our planet, and works currently as Youth v. Oil’s Resolution Team co-lead. She is a student at Canyon Crest Academy and hopes to fight for a more just future for youth and humanity as a whole. Sofia believes that the environment is one aspect of our world that everyone can relate to, and intends to assist the climate movement through local policy, action, writing, and awareness.
Pronouns: She/her
Hometown: Encinitas
Taarika Sethee
Youth Volunteer Coordinator
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Encinitas
Taarika is a Volunteer Coordinator, focusing on recruiting and welcoming new volunteers. She is currently a freshman at Canyon Crest Academy and hopes to get more youth incorporated with Youth v. Oil. She has always been very passionate about nature and animals, which steered her towards environmental activism. Taarika’s achievements in public speaking and love for teaching students led her to this role. She emphasizes the importance of youth involvement since this will be their planet in the future.
