OUR BOARD
Janyne Almheiri, Treas
Janyne Almheiri is the Director of Cora Blue Fund, her family’s foundation. She lives primarily in Kenya, where she executes many community, infrastructure, and conservation projects in partnership with the government. She is a former entrepreneur who managed companies with 25k employees and brings a keen business perspective and network of collaborators to the board.
Chris Carr
Chris Carr is a multi-hyphanate, creative problem solver from Washington DC with a strong presence across Brooklyn and NYState. As co-founder of Black Land Ownership, a grassroots initiative addressing systemic barriers to land access, he works to provide resources and support for Black folks seeking to acquire and maintain property. He is also a consultant on diversity, equity, and inclusion for tech companies, startups, and NGOs, helping institutions integrate equitable practices into their operations.
Hillary Flint
Hilary Flint is the Director of Communications and Community Engagement for Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community, PA Field Organizing Manager for Center for Oil and Gas Organizing, and a Mutual Aid + Disaster Response Steering Committee Member for Break Free From Plastic. Her expertise spans critical issues, including health harms generated by the petrochemical buildout, natural gas extraction, plastic pollution, railway safety, and overarching corporate greed. As a cancer survivor, chronic illness warrior, and community member affected by the East Palestine train derailment and chemical disaster, Hilary is committed to advocating through the lens of disability justice and supporting communities through mutual aid.
Roddy Hughes
Roddy Hughes is an Organizing Strategist for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Dirty Fuels Campaign, covering the Permian to Gulf Coast to export oil and gas supply chain. For more than 25 years, Roddy has supported grassroots and frontline efforts to protect local natural resources and ecosystems. He lives and works in sunny New Mexico, but enjoys visiting partners throughout Texas, Louisiana, and beyond.
Jessi Parfait
Jessi Parfait is a lifelong resident of South Louisiana who ascends from the Indigenous people who have thrived on this land for thousands of years. Raised in Houma, the town named for her tribe, she is passionate about protecting Louisiana’s coastal communities that are threatened by land loss and climate change.
Alyssa Portaro, President
Alyssa Portaro is a dynamic environmentalist and activist known for her extensive work in sustainability, nonprofit development, and socially beneficial consultancy. She is the Founder and Director of Habitat Recovery Project and has been awarded twice by the National Wildlife Federation as an EcoLeader Mentor for her work. Her consultancy work spans several nonprofits and environmental organizations globally, reflecting her deep commitment to sustainable solutions and community resilience.
Samantha Suarez, Secretary
Samantha is someone who has a passion for the outdoors, building things, and enjoys the rewards of a hard day’s work. She is also a wife and a mom. By trade, she is an interior designer and project manager. Samantha feels that in all things, it’s important that when you go somewhere, regardless of where, you leave it better than you found it. She has an interest in gardening with native plants, trees, and shrubs that also caters to local wildlife.
ana Sincere
Ana Sincere is currently a student earning her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and has a passion for sustainable agriculture and food accessibility in low-income and rural communities. Growing up in the coastal plains of Southeast Texas, she has a deep love for nature and animals. Her background of working on farms and ranches in the East Texas Piney Woods continues to fuel her desire to advocate for animal welfare and agricultural education.