
Alessandra Dangio'
YOUTH4CLIMATE COLLEGE INTERN

Andrea Necoechea
COMMUNITY LIAISON INTERN

Denika Tamayo
ACTION AND EQUITY COORDINATOR

Jaidacyn Madrigal
MARKETING AND FUNDRAISING COORDINATOR

Lexi Rueff
YOUTH4CLIMATE VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

Maddie Chesebro
YOUTH V. OIL INTERN

Masada Disenhouse
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Megan Phelps
YOUTH4CLIMATE COORDINATOR

Paloma Cuautenango
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

Peter Sloan
CAMPAIGN COORDINATOR

Sydney Chan
YOUTH4CLIMATE INTERN

Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: San Diego
Alessandra “Alli” Dangio’
Youth4Climate College Intern
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: San Diego
Alli works to build and support the High School Climate Action Education Project. She creates lesson plans, educational activities and action opportunities for teachers and students in high schools located in environmental justice communities. She is a first-year at San Diego Miramar College, where she is studying Anthropology and Environmental Policy and Economics. She views climate change as the biggest threat to global justice and equity, and hopes to combat its negative effects through uplifting and centering the voices of historically marginalized people, who for too long have been on the frontline of environmental issues.

Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Chula Vista
Andrea Necoechea
Community Liaison Intern
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Chula Vista
Andrea is a high school senior at Hilltop High School & is the Community Liaison Intern for Youth4Climate’s Chula Vista Community Engagement Program. She is passionate about engaging with the community and working to find solutions which fit their interests and needs. Andrea leads her high school eco club, which allows students to collect food waste, rescue foods and either compost or donate them. She has helped mobilize and educate students on climate change and make everyday changes. Andrea is planning to attend Yale University in the fall of 2023 and hopes to further her climate work in New Haven.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: San Diego
Denika Tamayo
Action and Equity Coordinator
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: San Diego
Denika is passionate about building people-centered power and movements to drive social and political change. She currently serves as co-chair of the Legislative Committee for SD350, and navigates intersecting issues such as climate policy, public health, business investment, clean energy, workforce development, equity, and/or environmental justice. She enjoys engaging, motivating, and helping mobilize our volunteers. Prior to joining SD350, Denika has worked in public policy, advising, and supporting governments, convincing local, state, and federal governments to make meaningful and lasting solutions through a community co-creation process by attending roundtables, think tanks, through advocacy/activism efforts and lobbying. She is a first generation Mexican-American and graduated with a Master’s in International Relations from American University, School of International Service in Washington D.C.

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 works to understand the interests and skills of Y4C volunteers and get them engaged in the work. Lexi has been an enthusiastic part of Youth4Climate since 2020. 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: El Cajon, CA
Maddie Chesebro
Youth v. Oil Intern
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: El Cajon, CA
Maddie coordinates the Youth v. Oil campaign, a part of Youth4Climate, which works with elected officials to pass legislation that encourages a just transition from oil reliance. She is currently a senior at Granite Hills High School, and is hoping to major in Environmental Policy/Sociology in college. Maddie runs her school’s Environmental and Social Justice Club and has co-led the 2022 Y4C Summit, along with her social media managing work. She is extremely passionate about making every voice heard and uplifted, and is excited for her future in climate related work.

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: San Diego
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: San Diego
Megan develops and leads SD350’s Youth4Climate Program for youth climate leaders. In spring of 2021, she graduated with high honors as a Regents Scholar from UC Davis with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Management. At UC Davis, she founded and led a climate action club, and she continues to pressure the administration to end its reliance on fossil fuels for energy.

Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Barrio Logan
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Barrio Logan
Paloma is passionate about supporting volunteer efforts and developing our current and future leaders. Before working with SanDiego350, Paloma delivered DEI training for adults and youth community organizers, and worked on public policy and health efforts in San Diego and Santa Cruz. She received her Bachelors of Arts in Community Studies and Fine Arts at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Pronouns: He/Him/His
Hometown: Birmingham, AL
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Hometown: Birmingham, AL
Peter supports volunteer teams and campaigns across the organization and serves as a liaison to coalition partners. Peter brings several years’ experience organizing for climate justice. Prior to joining SD350, Peter helped organize the UC Green New Deal coalition. Before moving to San Diego, Peter was a field organizer working on endangered species protection, land use, border militarization, and coalition-building with immigration and civil liberties groups in Southern New Mexico. Peter is dedicated to empowering others and is excited to keep building the movement for climate justice here in San Diego, in this decade of the Green New Deal.

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.

Anita Martinez
BOARD MEMBER

Bill Wellhouse
BOARD TREASURER

Jim Miller
BOARD MEMBER

Joshua Piedra
BOARD MEMBER

Joyce Lane
BOARD PRESIDENT

Keala Minna-Choe
BOARD MEMBER

Max Lebovitz
BOARD MEMBER

Paul Vachal
SECRETARY

Rebecca Rojas
BOARD MEMBER

Toshi Ishihara
BOARD MEMBER

Masada Disenhouse
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - EX OFFICIO BOARD MEMBER

Pronouns: She/her
Hometown: San Diego
Anita Martinez
Board Member
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: San Diego
Anita joined the Board in 2022. 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 Member
Pronouns: He/Him
Hometown: City Heights, San Diego
Joshua joined the Board in 2021. 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:She/Her
Hometown: San Diego
Keala Minna-Choe
Board Member
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: San Diego
Keala joined the board in 2022. As a youth, she believes that helping fight our current climate crisis is the best way to help preserve her future. Keala is active in SanDiego350’s Youth4Climate program and helps to lead the Youth v. Oil team, which is working to phase out fossil fuels and advocate for a just transition to renewable energy. Keala is currently a high school student at Canyon Crest Academy.

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: He/Him
Hometown:
Paul Vachal
Board Secretary
Pronouns: He/Him
Hometown:
Paul joined the Board in 2020. He started volunteering with SD350 in 2017 because as Thich Nhat Hanh said, “We don’t have to sink into despair about global warming, we can act.” Paul is a co-lead of the Action! Team and a member of the Raise the Alarm Team. Before he retired, Paul worked in the software industry.

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: He/Him
Hometown: Isesaki, Japan
Toshi Ishihara
Board Member
Pronouns: He/Him
Hometown: Isesaki, Japan
Toshi joined the Board in 2019. Since 2018, he has been volunteering for transportation and climate justice as a member of the Public Policy Team. Before he retired, he held multiple managerial positions responsible for technology and organizational development.

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.