My mother makes quilts-- radiant, complex, joyful quilts that tell stories and make you stop and listen. Once I shared with her my regrets for not learning and carrying on the tradition. She responded by saying, 'You did learn. That's what your work is all about. You are the needle and the thread, piecing together people, ideas, hearts, hope'. I loved hearing that, because I don't think I could sit still long enough to knit a small hat, let alone make a quilt.
 

Indeed, my work is about creating the spaces where disparate perspectives and ideas can commune and inform something bigger. There is something profoundly powerful about a coming together of people, a breaking of isolation, a tapping of collective wisdom. This is why I believe in the WiserEarth project and why I work as the Communications and Outreach Coordinator for Natural Capital Institute NCI.








My other hat (which I assure you, I did not knit), is as the founding director of Women's Earth Alliance, an Earth Island Institute (EII) project. WEA works to equip women around the world with the communication tools, training opportunities, information-sharing and connections they need to secure a foothold in environmental and social change—especially at the local level, where resources are most limited. WEA provides both face-to-face and virtual mechanisms for women to collaborate, exchange best practices, and build alliances.








My vision for WEA was inspired by multiple encounters over the years with women activists who were mobilizing their communities toward environmentally sustainable solutions—often in the face of incredible odds. In my work with citizen-based environmental NGOs-- whether in East Africa, China, the Russian Far East, rural Missouri or here in California-- I witnessed the tremendous leadership of women who were launching campaigns, lobbying government officials, and shifting mindsets.




At the same time, I also saw many of my sister activists struggling to access needed resources, information, and networking opportunities that would empower them to be even more effective. I began to realize that a groundswell of energy would be available to these dedicated and resolute women activists if they had a "space" to build a powerbase, share best practices, and model the solutions on the global stage.







Prior to my work with WEA and the Natural Capital Institute, I was taught by grassroots NGOs I worked with from around the world, who were pursuing environmental justice, sustainable local economies and indigenous rights. I worked for CARE Kenya in East Africa on sustainable agriculture and health projects, and traveled throughout the North Pacific Rim nurturing the emergence of grassroots environmental movements with environmental organization, Pacific Environment.




I worked with Chinese government, industry, scientists, and media to convene multi-stakeholder dialogue with citizen groups. I worked on sustainable fisheries issues in Alaska and the Russian Far East, facilitating a long-term collaborative initiative of Russian and Alaskan scientists, policy makers, fisherman, NGOs, and indigenous leaders, called the International Bering Sea Forum. And I worked with U.S. based environmental organizations, Colorado Public Interest Research Group - CoPIRG , and the Sierra Club helping groups build capacity through campaign strategy, coalition-building and media trainings.






Above all, I've received my most valuable lessons in nature. I like to go deep into a forest, quiet my mind, and listen to the earth whisper everything I need to know.

"Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing." —Arundhati Roy