Future Forward: Environmental

Innovation for Justice and Inclusion

keynote Speaker

Marcelo Bonta | President and Founder, J.E.D.I. Heart

Marcelo has dedicated nearly 25 years to advancing Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (J.E.D.I.) in the environmental, conservation, and climate change movements. Through coaching, advising, training, and strategic initiatives, he has helped individuals and organizations drive systemic J.E.D.I. transformation. His groundbreaking report, Transforming a Movement: How Foundations Can Support Effective DEI Capacity Building Efforts in Environmental Organizations, offers key insights for funders and change agents.

Originally trained as a conservation biologist, Marcelo’s passion for biodiversity led him to monitor endangered piping plovers along the Massachusetts coastline. However, his experience as the only programmatic person of color at a national conservation organization was so isolating that he nearly left the movement altogether. Instead, he committed to reshaping the sector to ensure both environmental sustainability and equity.

Marcelo co-founded the Center for Diversity & the Environment, leading it for a decade and providing transformational experiences for thousands of leaders. He also co-founded the Environmental Professionals of Color network, creating a space for leaders of color to thrive.

Before J.E.D.I. Heart, he worked at Meyer Memorial Trust, co-creating an environmental portfolio centered on racial equity and developing the DEI Spectrum Tool. He also served as a Principal at The Raben Group, supporting foundations and environmental organizations.

Marcelo’s work is driven by his love for wildlife, his faith, and his vision of a future where his children can thrive. He holds a B.A. in Psychology from Yale University and an M.S. in Biology and Environmental Policy from Tufts University.

Panelists and speakers

Choose each Panelist and Speaker’s name to explore more information on them, their important work, and their experience.

  • Jessica Dandridge-Smith, Executive Director of The Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans, has spent over 20 years advocating for community engagement and social entrepreneurship. Focusing on the southern U.S., she addresses water justice through trauma-informed policy-making and systemic change.

    She holds a B.A. in Political Science and Sociology from Xavier University of Louisiana and an M.A. in International Affairs from The New School. Beginning her career as a youth organizer during Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts in 2005, she has since worked with over two dozen organizations locally and nationally to address challenges faced by marginalized communities.

    Jessica has earned certificates in Environmental Communications from Loyola University, Activism and Civil Rights from Brown University, and Kingian Nonviolence Strategies from the Selma Center of Nonviolence. She is an Obama Foundation Obama Leader USA, a Louisiana state Commissioner for the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, and Co-Chair of the National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine’s Climate Resiliency Roundtable.

    She co-authored Designing Knowledge Economies for Disaster Resilience: Case Studies from the African Diaspora and has contributed to numerous books and articles. Recognized for her impact, she was named to Gambit’s 40 Under 40 and the Grist 50 list for policy and advocacy leadership in 2024.

    In her free time, Jessica enjoys Polaroid photography and co-owns her family’s Jamaican-Creole catering business, which has served over 500,000 people at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival since the 1980s.

  • John Campbell, CFRE, is a fundraising expert with over 15 years of experience in the social sector. He founded FundEd Strategies in 2018 to help schools and education nonprofits establish and grow their fundraising programs. Before that, he was Director of Advancement at Eagle Academy Public Charter School, where he secured over $5 million in strategic resources. He also played a key role in founding the Cassandra S. Pinkney Foundation, serving as its first Executive Director.

    Since its inception, FundEd Strategies has helped over 70 education nonprofits and charter schools raise and manage more than $100 million through philanthropy, government funding, and earned revenue. The firm specializes in diversifying funding streams, launching capital campaigns, and strengthening fundraising infrastructure.

    John has also led a transformative fundraising initiative at MobilizeGreen, shifting it from a fee-for-service model to philanthropic support. His efforts have helped secure over $7.5 million from major funders, including the Walton Family Foundation, the NBA Foundation, Satterberg Foundation, and Kia Motors.

    He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Economics from Lebanon Valley College and an MBA from American University’s Kogod School of Business. John is a trustee at Capital City Public Charter School, VP of Finance for AFP DC, and former board chair of FAN. He lives in New York, enjoys wine, and loves traveling with his husband.

  • Abre’ Conner, Esq. is the Director of the NAACP’s Center for Environmental and Climate Justice, leading strategy and collaboration to combat environmental racism. She also teaches in the Environmental Policy and Management Program at the University of California-Davis and has previously taught Education Law.  

    A Lakeland, FL native, Abre’ was the Directing Attorney of Health at the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, overseeing litigation and advocacy for health equity in marginalized communities. She previously served as a staff attorney for the ACLU Foundation of Northern California, focusing on civil rights issues affecting people of color in rural areas, including environmental justice. At the Center on Race, Poverty, and the Environment, she worked with migrant farmworkers and unincorporated communities. Her experience also includes roles on Capitol Hill and with the Obama Administration at the White House.  

    Abre’ holds degrees from the University of Florida and American University’s Washington College of Law. She serves on the American Bar Association’s Board of Governors, Earthjustice’s Board of Trustees, and Counterstream’s Advisory Council. Recognized for her impact, she has been named a Top 40 Under 40 Nation’s Best Advocate by the National Bar Association, a Top 100 Leader by the Fresno Black Chamber of Commerce, and a 40 Under 40 Young, Gifted, and Green recipient.  

    Her work has been featured in The New York Times' The Daily, Forbes, ABA Journal, Cosmopolitan, and more.

  • Marwah (Mari) Ismail is a dedicated scholar and advocate with a strong background in law, religion, and social justice. Originally from Minnesota, she graduated summa cum laude from Emory University in 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and a minor in Italian Studies. As a QuestBridge Scholar, Mari focused her studies on the intersections of culture, religion, and identity, culminating in a senior honors thesis that examined the impact of the Somali Civil War on religious adherence and identity. Supported by the Bill and Carol Fox Center for Humanistic Inquiry, her research earned the highest honors and was presented at the Idaho Museum of International Diaspora’s Climate on Culture Conference in Galway, Ireland, as part of her tenure as a 2023–2024 Global Leaders Fellow.

    At Emory, Mari was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, Omicron Delta Kappa, and the Theta Alpha Kappa Religious Studies Honor Society. She was recognized as a 2024 Graduating Woman of Promise and a member of Emory’s Class of 2024 100 Senior Honorary. She also received the Eugene Bianchi Prize for excellence in the study of religion. Beyond academics, Mari was deeply involved in campus leadership, co-founding Phi Alpha Delta, Emory’s first pre-law fraternity, and co-creating the Emory Black & Latinx Pre-Law Society. She also served on the executive boards of Emory Black Student Alliance, Kappa Alpha Pi, and Emory Uplifting Marginalized Mothers and Individuals (UMMI), leading initiatives focused on equity and community building.

    Her professional experience spans legal, nonprofit, and governmental sectors. She has worked in congressional offices in Minnesota and Washington, D.C., and completed an internship with Justice Outside through the MobilizeGreen Virtual Intern program, focusing on environmental justice and equity. Currently, she is a Trademark Internet Analyst at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP in Atlanta, where she works on intellectual property matters for Fortune 100 clients.

    In 2024, Mari delivered a TEDx talk on resilience, sharing her journey of battling a rare eye cancer during her undergraduate years. Despite undergoing multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation, she continued as a full-time student, using her experience to inspire others facing adversity.

    Mari will be pursuing her Juris Doctor at Columbia Law School in Fall 2025. Passionate about immigration law, identity, and equity, she aims to use her legal education to advocate for marginalized communities and dismantle systemic barriers within the legal system.

  • Timothy Lo is a business strategist, entrepreneur, and career coach with decades of experience in business strategy and process improvement. Originally from Fishkill, New York, he earned both his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Carnegie Mellon University.

    Tim has worked with top international consulting firms, focusing on hiring and mentoring new talent. As a PARW/CC-certified resume writer and career coach, he is passionate about helping individuals navigate their careers.

    In 2012, he founded Federal Renewable Energy, a company that trained federal inmates to manufacture solar panels for government use, merging social impact with sustainable energy. In 2016, he launched Your Next Jump, a career coaching and professional branding firm that has assisted over 10,000 job seekers, including U.S. military members through the TAP program and State Department employees via the JSTP program.

    Furthering his commitment to workforce development, Tim co-founded Your Next Story in 2020, a nonprofit that provides employment preparation and job placement support for formerly incarcerated individuals.

    Tim’s work spans business strategy, social impact, and career development, helping individuals and organizations reach their full potential.

  • Ana Gonzalez is a dedicated community advocate and organizer from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, who has lived in the Inland Valley for 28 years. As a mother of two teenagers, she is deeply committed to fostering a healthier and more equitable future.

    She serves as the Executive Director of the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice (CCAEJ), a 46-year-old organization advocating for clean air and water in environmental justice communities. Under her leadership, CCAEJ has strengthened its efforts to unite diverse communities and drive impactful change.

    Ana has held various leadership roles, including Immediate Past-President of the Chicano Latino Caucus of San Bernardino County (2017–2023), where she championed Latino issues across party lines. She also served as President of Alianza Latina for the Rialto Unified School District, advocating for educational equity and parental support.

    Her expertise extends to policy influence through positions on the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s Environmental Justice Advisory Group and the CTC Interagency Equity Advisory Committee.

    Ana holds Associate Degrees in Liberal Studies and Social and Behavioral Science from San Bernardino Valley College, and a BA in Liberal Studies with a Minor in Sociology from Cal State San Bernardino.

    She has received numerous honors, including Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Reyes’ “30 Under 30,” the 2022 Woman of the Year - Civic Engagement Award, and the 2023 Who’s Who Award for Community Service Champion. Ana remains a passionate advocate for social justice and environmental health.

  • Dawone Robinson is an experienced advocate specializing in coalition building, regulatory engagement, legislative advocacy, and political campaigning. He is the Managing Director of Place-Based Advocacy for Climate & Energy at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), where he leads a team of state and regional climate advocates across more than a dozen states. His work focuses on advancing clean and equitable policies in the power, transportation, buildings, and industrial sectors.

    At NRDC, Robinson has successfully collaborated with community partners, utilities, and lawmakers to secure key climate and energy victories, prioritizing equitable solutions for low-income and minority communities. Previously, as NRDC’s Southeastern Regional Director of Government Affairs, he spearheaded the institution’s strategic expansion in the southern United States, deepening policy engagement and strengthening NRDC’s state and local presence.

    Before joining NRDC, Robinson was the Virginia Policy Director for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network in Richmond, VA. His leadership in environmental policy earned him appointments to the Virginia Solar Energy Development Authority and the Commonwealth’s first Environmental Justice Advisory Council by Governor Terry McAuliffe.

    Robinson holds a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University and a JD from Drake University Law School, with certificates in public service and legislative practice. He resides in Washington, D.C.

  • Brian Fox is a Washington, D.C. native with extensive leadership experience in government and nonprofit sectors. He currently serves as Associate Director of the Urban Sustainability Administration (USA) within the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE). In this role, he leads efforts to develop policies and programs that address sustainability, green building, climate change, equity, and sustainable materials management. He also oversees the implementation of Sustainable DC, the District’s long-term sustainability plan.

    Previously, Brian was the Director of Strategic Partnerships & Development at the Green Schools National Network. With three decades of experience in education and sustainability, he has worked at both local and national levels to integrate sustainability into public education. His work has included helping school districts nationwide set greenhouse gas emissions targets, develop multi-year sustainability plans, and track progress toward their goals.

    Brian has played a key role in creating Offices of Sustainability and Climate Action Plans while collaborating with local and national partners to promote best practices in sustainability across the education sector. His expertise bridges policy development and implementation, ensuring meaningful progress in climate action and environmental stewardship.

  • Mohammed Jibriel is a PhD Candidate in Public Health with a concentration in Community Health Education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He teaches a core undergraduate course on environmental health, equipping students with essential knowledge on the intersection of health and the environment.

    In addition to his academic role, Mohammed serves as an Environmental Public Health Program Coordinator with MobilizeGreen, where he leads initiatives under the Building Capacity, Careers, and Community program. His work involves developing and pitching environmental public health projects to nonprofits and government agencies, creating training resources, leading outreach campaigns, and coordinating team efforts to drive impactful public health outcomes. His focus on mentorship and strategic collaboration strengthens workforce development in the field.

    Mohammed holds a Master of Science in Biohazardous Threat Agents & Emerging Infectious Diseases from Georgetown University. His research was rooted in the One Health framework, an interdisciplinary approach that highlights the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. His expertise includes zoonotic disease transmission, antimicrobial resistance, and the environmental determinants of global health security. With a strong foundation in public health, environmental science, and education, Mohammed is committed to advancing health equity and sustainability through research, teaching, and strategic partnerships.