About the Program

Resilient Roots: Climate Leaders Network is an innovative climate education and leadership development program led by Greenbelt Alliance and Sustainable Solano.

Launched in 2024, the program supports a powerful vision: to cultivate a diverse network of local champions who are equipped to lead community-driven solutions for a more just, sustainable, and resilient future.

The inaugural 2024–25 cohort brings together 18 residents of Suisun City and Fairfield—emerging leaders with deep ties to their communities. Over 10 months, fellows participate in a robust curriculum designed to build critical knowledge, strengthen leadership capacity, and foster systems thinking.

Program Goals

Building local climate leadership rooted in equity and justice
Deepening understanding of climate science, policy, and community resilience
Supporting the design and implementation of localized climate projects
Strengthening community networks for long-term collective impact

Sessions

What's Your Frontline?
Intro to Environmental and Climate Justice with Phoenix Armenta
Storytelling, Data Tools, and How to Communicate Effectively with Lakeisha Wright
Parks and Green Spaces with Di Holokahi and County Supervisor Wanda Williams
Food Systems, Farming, and Climate Justice with Alexis Koefoed at Soul Food Farm
Sea Level Rise and Adaptation with Ellen Plane
Air Quality and Public Health with Nicholas Spada and Ashley Feigel
Permaculture and Green Infrastructure with Heath Griffith and Jonathan Gomez
Ideas into Action — Where Do We Go From Here? with Heather Pierini, Shy Walker, and Mike Loakimedes

Learn More

Impact & Outcomes

Fellows engage through workshops, field trips, guest lectures, and peer-to-peer learning. They collaborate on hands-on projects that directly address the unique needs and assets of their communities—whether through urban heat reduction, public awareness campaigns, or policy advocacy.

By the end of the program, each fellow emerges not only with a toolkit of practical skills and deeper environmental literacy, but also with a sense of belonging to a supportive network of changemakers committed to place-based action and regional transformation.

Resilient Roots is more than a training program—it’s a catalyst for leadership, collaboration, and hope in the face of the climate crisis.

COORDINATION TEAM

Devin Murphy

Leadership Development Coordinator

Greenbelt Alliance

Willa Gruver

Resilient Communities Program Manager

Sustainable Solano

25 - Headshots - Greenbelt Alliance - BCM - 20250521.jpg

Sadie Wilson

Director of Planning & Research

Greenbelt Alliance

Allison Nagel

Co-Executive Director

Sustainable Solano

Daniela Ades

Marketing & Communications Director

Greenbelt Alliance

Tallulah Shepard

Marketing & Communications Manager

Greenbelt Alliance

Justin Ebrahemi

Former Contributor

Greenbelt Alliance

Alex Lunine

Former Contributor

Sustainable Solano

Greenbelt Alliance

For over 65 years, Greenbelt Alliance has stewarded the Bay Area's natural landscapes while promoting sustainable community growth—resulting in almost 3.3 million acres of protected open space across nine counties. Today, the organization leverages its expertise in land-use policy advocacy and regional collaboration to address climate change through nature-based solutions. Greenbelt Alliance educates, advocates, and collaborates on data-driven policy solutions that help communities prepare for wildfires, floods, drought, and sea level rise, with a focus on equitable climate resilience for all Bay Area residents.

Sustainable Solano

Sustainable Solano is a grassroots, countywide movement uniting communities across Solano County to create ecologically regenerative, economically and socially just environments. Growing from decades of community work that began with community gardens, the organization now focuses on green infrastructure, local food systems, community resilience, and workforce development. Using a nature-inspired, democratically managed approach, Sustainable Solano builds community capacity while developing youth leadership and green economy skills for a more sustainable future.