Our Team
Micah has 25 years of experience as a climate and clean energy advocate, community organizer, and nonprofit director. She serves on the national 350 Network Council and was a founding board member of 350 Colorado Action, Community Fruit Rescue, as well as Colorado Rising and Safe & Healthy Colorado, which organized ballot initiative efforts to protect communities from fracking in 2018 and 2020. She serves on the City of Boulder’s Clean Energy Technical Team and as a Climate Mobilization Action Plan Finance Group Lead. She is a spokesperson for Colorado Coalition for a Livable Climate, with 33 member groups in CO. Micah was recognized as a 2017 “City of Boulder Hometown Hero” and received a 2014 “FearLess Women Leading GREEN” award, Sierra Club’s 2007 Delta Chapter Black Bear Award. She is the mother of two teenage daughters who fuel her passion to build a powerful climate and clean energy movement, create resilient communities and transition to a sustainable future. Micah(at)350colorado.org
In addition to a B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy and a minor in public relations, Julia has over five years of communications, community organizing and fundraising experience. From leading campaigns that removed 62,000 pounds of trash from Orange County’s coastline to helping organize 10,000 climate strikers in Colorado last fall, Julia is an expert in mobilizing thousands of volunteers for social movements. outreach(at)350colorado.org
Deb comes to 350 Colorado with over 15 years of non-profit experience with a focus on sustainability education and action, empowering grassroots leadership, climate change, and sustainable food. She studied Environmental Policy at Boston University and received a Master’s degree in Environmental Leadership from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. Campaigns(at)350colorado.org
A former organizer at 350.org and current Co-Coordinator at Stop the Money Pipeline, Amy is an expert in organizing mass mobilizations and forming diverse coalitions. Amy has been a long time supporter of 350 campaigns and began her journey into activism fighting the KXL Pipeline and Dakota Access Pipeline. As Volunteer & JEDI Director Amy has helped to start new teams, train and empower our volunteers and engage new members statewide. She also oversees the Justice Equity, Diversity and Inclusion work as a trainer in anti-oppression and intersectional climate justice organizing. Amy also sits on the Board of Directors for 350 Colorado Action and The Chinook Center. She was the recipient of the 2020 Climate Warrior Award from the El Paso County Democratic Party for her work on decommissioning the coal plants in El Paso County. Volunteer(at)350colorado.org
Mikkela Blanton is an experienced world-traveler, an exceptional hand-balancer, and a regenerative agriculture enthusiast. While she isn’t able to spend enough time digging in the dirt as she’d like, she is certified as a sustainable urban farmer and loves helping others start home food gardens. Drawn to learning, Mikkela finished her master’s degree at the University of Colorado – Boulder, where she specialized in sustainable food systems. During the course of her graduate studies, Mikkela’s capstone project focused on impact investing to reduce deforestation within the Amazon rainforest in the region of San Martin, Peru. Today, her interests lie in developing consensus and identifying shared values on divisive issues, engaging people on the importance of regenerative ag and local food systems, and spending as much time as possible outdoors with her husband and dog. Mikkela(at)350colorado.org
Eliot is a long-time environmentalist who has landed at this realization in recent years: climate change is a social justice issue at its core and must be treated as such. She recognizes that carbon emissions in the US are impossibly entangled with the white supremacy and genocide our nation was built on. She not only fights climate change for future generations, but for those who are suffering now unjustly. Eliot pulls upon her education in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability as well as Spanish in this new position as NoCo team coordinator. Her experiences volunteering and organizing against this wicked problem started in high school in Boise, ID, hometown, and continue here in Fort Collins, CO. Eliot thrives on connections to people, especially those also working for something bigger than themselves. Eliot(at)350colorado.org
Riley is a stubborn middle child on a mission to help stop climate collapse. She credits Native people and other advocates of environmental justice for shaping her understanding of the racist, colonial mindset at the root of climate devastation. She has volunteered with 350 Portland Oregon and Sunrise Denver in recent years, and is excited to support and learn from a team of experienced organizers at 350 Colorado. Riley(at)350colorado.org
Having volunteered for 350 Colorado since September 2011, Moriah brought all the passion and support with her to serve on staff as administrative point person/budgetary support in December 2019. Moriah brings to this position 10 years of financial advising, fiscal preparations and trades for foreign and domestic entities, portfolio and fund of funds management as well as small business start-up experience. She has worked in event planning/organizing and administrative roles throughout her career and is delighted to support as such in what she considers a far more noble and global cause in her position with 350 Colorado. Info(at)350colorado.org
Sunni Benoit, Board of Directors, President, Denver, CO
Sunshine S. Benoit, better known as Sunni, was born and raised in the Denver area and is a graduate of the University of Denver. As an attorney, her practice focused on complex toxic tort litigation, employment law, and green energy.
After the 2016 elections and an amazing trip to Indonesia, Sunni decided it was time to take a break from her legal work and move back to Denver, from St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming an advocate for the environment. Since that time, she has been involved with 350 Colorado, focusing on legislation, renewable energy, and climate justice issues. She has organized many events and worked on many issues, including lobby days, petitions, rallies, ballot initiatives, and marches. Sunni’s love of the mountains, the beach, and everything in between keeps her motivated to continue to fight for environmental justice, a transition to a sustainable future, and for the preservation of our beautiful planet.
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Barbara Donachy, Board of Directors, Vice-President, Denver, Co
email, 720.989.4185, 350 Colorado Board of Directors; Semi-Retired Studio Artist and Arts Activist; Climate Activist
Barbara has been a resident of Colorado for 44 years. She lives in Denver as do her three children and one grandchild. Like her, they all love our beautiful rivers, mountains, forests, plains, and climate. Barbara spent 25 years as a studio artist and arts activist, another seven as a nonprofit coordinator, and five as a residential counselor with the Coalition for the Homeless while studying for a master’s degree in public health. She is a Quaker and practicing Buddhist, and is semi-retired. About four years ago she was awakened to climate change as an extreme crisis after watching Chasing Ice. Since then she has devoted her time to trying to put the brakes on climate change through working on ballot initiatives, lobbying, doing research, distributing flyers, and showing up.
“I admire the on-the-ground methods and philosophy of 350 and feel nourished by working alongside committed and like-minded people to bring about change. That’s why I serve on the 350 Colorado board.” – Barbara Donachy
Devon is a graduate student in the CU Boulder environmental studies program. She focuses on environmental justice and fossil fuel divestment, putting her research skills to work for climate activism. She’s committed to societal transformation to create justice, equity, and sustainability. Climate change already affects people of color, low-income communities, and women, especially in the global south. Devon considers it her responsibility to do everything in her power to reduce these harms.
Devon’s past work has included environmental education, nonprofit management, fundraising, and social-emotional training.
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Patricia Garcia-Nelson, Board of Directors, Co-Treasurer, Greeley, CO
Patricia Garcia-Nelson was born and raised in Northern Colorado. Her family has lived in Greeley since her parents immigrated from Mexico in the late 1970s. Her son Diego is a student at Bella Romero Academy, where the construction of a 24 oil well pad site has been approved, less than 700 feet from the playground. She was the sole parent plaintiff in a case against the Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) and Extraction Oil & Gas, for the approval of the permits. For years, she has worked with 350 Colorado, Colorado Rising, Safe and Healthy Colorado, Weld Air and Water and other organizations to raise awareness about Bella Romero and residential drilling.
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Irina Sedova, Board of Directors, Co-Treasurer, Longmont, CO
Email;Irina serves as Director at Principium Investments, an asset management firm specializing in environmentally and socially responsible investing. Prior to moving to Colorado, Irina managed poverty alleviation, economic development, and human rights programs in Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe. In 2013, she experienced first-hand the devastating effects of intensifying storms as her residence, along with many others, was ravaged by floods in Lyons, CO. As a Colorado Master Gardener with a keen interest in permaculture, Irina is working with our Boulder chapter to promote local organic food and regenerative agriculture practices as climate change solutions.
“I am active in the 350 Colorado campaign to encourage individuals and institutions to divest from fossil fuels and reinvest in climate change solutions. I focus my efforts on climate change because it is one of the most pressing and cross-cutting issues of our time.” – Irina Sedova
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Dr. Maria D Michael, Board of Directors, Longmont, Colorado
With five advanced degrees including a PhD in psychology*, and recognition as an esteemed Indigenous Spiritual leader and Healer for over 40 years, Dr. Maria is unique. Distance is not a barrier to her work, thus, her clientele are from all over the globe. She is now located in the Boulder area. As a Medical and Psychological Intuitive, she is able to ‘see’ patterning which then offers her clients a deeper understanding of their physical illnesses, and obstacles on emotional, mental and spiritual levels. True healing flows when all levels are in sync. Dr. Maria frequently collaborates with her client’s other team members, such as physicians, naturopaths, acupuncturists, and massage therapists. She has been a consultant at Memorial Sloan Kettering, Harvard’s Mass General, MD Anderson and the Keith Block Center in Chicago. In this age of the COVID19 pandemic, her powerful Medicine Energies and healing abilities and willingness to cross collaborate, are a precious resource. We welcome you to look at our website:www.drmariamichael.com
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Gina Hardin, Board of Directors, Denver, Colorado
Gina is a long-time activist; a non-practicing attorney; new grandmother of Ayla; and an Airbnb host. She loves alpine and nordic skiing, backpacking, biking, water, and mountains. She is inspired by her never-ending awe of nature. As a founder of and lawyer for Ratepayers United of Colorado, she represented Xcel ratepayers’ interest in clean renewable energy at the lowest possible long term cost. As Chair of Colorado Common Cause, she was a leader in the effort to limit big money in politics through the passage of Amendment 65 and for open and accountable government, so critical to her current effort to limit the severity of climate change.
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Emmett Hobley, Board of Directors, Montbello, Colorado
Emmett is the president and founder of the Montbello Neighborhood Improvement Association. His focus is on Community Stabilization, Generational Wealth Building and Increasing the Affordable Housing Stock, and he is committed to keeping all communities Safe and Inhabitable. He is passionate about the community and how the oil industry and Gentrification affect our communities.
Amy Allen, Board of Directors, Boulder, Colorado
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Jacob Foreman, email, Colorado Springs, CO
Board Member, 350 Colorado; 350 Colorado Springs Team Member
Being a lifelong resident of Colorado Springs, a city with one of the largest urban-wildland interfaces in the nation, Jacob has had an immense love and appreciation for Colorado’s majestic, irreplaceable natural beauty for as long as he can remember, although 6th grade was when he initially became aware of and concerned about the issue of climate change. In the Summer of 2014, he worked as a petitioner for fracking setbacks and again in 2018 for Colorado Rising. He serves on the fundraising, moving beyond coal and fracking on public lands committee.
At 24 years old, Jacob is more passionate about the issue of climate change than any other single issue as it is his generation and those that come after him who will live to face the worst aspects of the crisis unless drastic action is taken. He is extremely honored to be working with 350 Colorado in the fight to keep fossil fuels in the ground and for a swift, just transition to 100% renewables.