Exciting news! Central Coast Climate Justice Network Hires Michelle Sevilla

We have exciting news to share with you!

As regions around the U.S. respond to the U.N. General Assembly’s focus this week on climate change and climate justice, the Central Coast Climate Justice Network (CCCJN) is proud to announce it has hired Michelle Sevilla as its first Network Manager.

Since 2018, CEC has worked diligently with partnering social justice, anti-racism, and environmental organizations to build and expand the Central Coast Climate Justice Network. This collaboration of organizations and community leaders is committed to a climate movement that advances social, economic, racial, and environmental justice for Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Through forging a regional partnership between social justice and environmental movements, the Network's mission is to expand collective power to advance restorative actions and systems changes, centering on communities who bear the greatest burden of climate change impacts.

Michelle brings over a decade of non-profit environmental education and outreach experience, including several years of environmental and climate justice advocacy work. As a Filipinx immigrant raised in Santa Barbara and a recent transplant to rural Ventura County, Michelle is uniquely positioned to assume this role serving both counties. She also brings several years of experience engaging in a range of policy work and district-based issues in support of local legislators. She became a CCCJN Organization Representative in the Network’s early days and serves on several CCCJN committees.

Michelle shares that this work is deeply personal to her: "Environmental and climate justice demand a truly holistic approach that uplifts underrepresented people like me. As a young, queer, immigrant, woman of color, I belong to several demographics especially vulnerable to the effects of environmental and climate degradation. I am deeply humbled to apply my unique perspective and extensive experience to elevating and expanding the work of CCCJN, its Network Members, and its Allies."

This marks a new stage of growth as the Network launches publicly across Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties and ramps up pursuit of key initiatives, including:

  • Designing a Green New Deal: The Network is conducting grassroots surveys of communities to envision a locally designed, BIPOC-led Green New Deal for Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. The aim is to represent local needs with special considerations to indigenous and BIPOC populations.

  • Building climate resilience and climate leadership: The Network is collaborating with frontline communities most impacted by the climate crisis to build leadership and resilience from the ground up.

  • Addressing and changing systemic racism: The Network continually engages in anti-racism work, breaking down barriers that stifle the voices of underrepresented communities whose leadership is critical for a healthy and strong climate justice movement.

CEC is honored to support CCCJN’s important work, and we look forward to continued collaboration with our partnering organizations (see full list below). For more information, visit CCCJN's temporary webpage, being hosted by Community Environmental Council until the Network website is built: cec.pub/cccjn. To learn more or share your vision for climate justice on the Central Coast, contact Michelle Sevilla at manager@cccjn.org.

See the full press release here.

In solidarity,

David N. Pellow
CEC Board Secretary
UCSB Environmental Studies Professor

Member Organizations

  • 350 Santa Barbara

  • Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE)

  • Community Environmental Council

  • Food & Water Action

  • Healing Justice Santa Barbara

  • Future Leaders of America

  • Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP)

  • One Step a la Vez

  • Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians

  • Sierra Club Los Padres Chapter

  • UCSB Environmental and Climate Justice Hub

Ally Organizations

  • City of Santa Barbara

  • County of Santa Barbara

  • Environmental Defense Center

  • Fund for Santa Barbara

  • Standing Up for Racial Justice – Ventura County

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