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PANEL: APRIL 20, 2 - 3:30 PM
ATTEND PANEL
ATTEND PANEL
Register to hear environmental experts and environmental justice and climate activists from Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and greater Virginia.
OUR PANELISTS
Caetano De Campo Lopes
Community Climate Collaborative
Caetano works collaboratively with local and regional decision-makers in Virginia to design customized climate policies that are based on a combination of best practices, community input, and region-specific information. In Argentina, he worked in investment banking, market studies, antitrust advocacy, and sustainable energy management. His work included championing a municipal project that significantly improved energy efficiency for 40,000+ high-poverty households. In the United States, Caetano has worked for the Citizens' Climate Lobby (CCL), the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), and The Economist Group. He has presented policy proposals to US Congress representatives and foreign embassies, led college workshops, and wrote reports on local, national, and international climate policies. Caetano holds a master's degree and a bachelor's degree in economics and has a master's degree in environmental management.
Caetano works collaboratively with local and regional decision-makers in Virginia to design customized climate policies that are based on a combination of best practices, community input, and region-specific information. In Argentina, he worked in investment banking, market studies, antitrust advocacy, and sustainable energy management. His work included championing a municipal project that significantly improved energy efficiency for 40,000+ high-poverty households. In the United States, Caetano has worked for the Citizens' Climate Lobby (CCL), the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), and The Economist Group. He has presented policy proposals to US Congress representatives and foreign embassies, led college workshops, and wrote reports on local, national, and international climate policies. Caetano holds a master's degree and a bachelor's degree in economics and has a master's degree in environmental management.
Chelsea Barnes
Appalachian Voices
Chelsea Barnes is the Legislative Director for Appalachian Voices based in Norton, Virginia. She focuses on just transition policies for coal-impacted communities. She manages the organization's federal policy work related to abandoned coal mine reclamation, black lung, and coalfield community revitalization and transition, as well as the organization's Southwest Virginia solar policy portfolio, working to ensure that coal-impacted Virginia has equitable access to clean, affordable energy. Prior to joining Appalachian Voices, Chelsea worked as a Policy Analyst on the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy at North Carolina State University. She and her colleagues then launched EQ Research, LLC, an energy policy consulting form. Chelsea was the Director of Policy Services at EQ Research managing the company's energy policy tracking service and supporting clean energy companies’ and environmental nonprofits’ legislative and regulatory portfolios. Chelsea serves as a board member for the Virginia Environmental Justice Collaborative. She was named to the Energy News Network’s 40 Under 40 list in 2020, and she was named a 2021 Community Solar Champion by the Coalition for Community Solar Access. Chelsea received a Master of Environmental Management degree from Duke University with a concentration in Energy and the Environment and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from the College of Wooster.
Chelsea Barnes is the Legislative Director for Appalachian Voices based in Norton, Virginia. She focuses on just transition policies for coal-impacted communities. She manages the organization's federal policy work related to abandoned coal mine reclamation, black lung, and coalfield community revitalization and transition, as well as the organization's Southwest Virginia solar policy portfolio, working to ensure that coal-impacted Virginia has equitable access to clean, affordable energy. Prior to joining Appalachian Voices, Chelsea worked as a Policy Analyst on the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy at North Carolina State University. She and her colleagues then launched EQ Research, LLC, an energy policy consulting form. Chelsea was the Director of Policy Services at EQ Research managing the company's energy policy tracking service and supporting clean energy companies’ and environmental nonprofits’ legislative and regulatory portfolios. Chelsea serves as a board member for the Virginia Environmental Justice Collaborative. She was named to the Energy News Network’s 40 Under 40 list in 2020, and she was named a 2021 Community Solar Champion by the Coalition for Community Solar Access. Chelsea received a Master of Environmental Management degree from Duke University with a concentration in Energy and the Environment and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from the College of Wooster.
Queen Zakia Shabazz
Virginia Environmental Justice Collaborative
Queen Zakia Shabazz is an author, educator, lecturer, and environmental justice advocate. Her work began in 1996 when she discovered that her young son had been poisoned by lead, prompting her to establish United Parents Against Lead (UPAL). UPAL is a national networking organization of and for parents of children poisoned by lead that works to end the threat of lead poisoning and other environmental hazards through education and awareness, advocacy, intervention, and resource referral.
In addition to serving as executive director of UPAL, Shabazz is a local Stand for Children Organizer, a position she's held since 1996. She currently serves as CEO of the Virginia Environmental Justice Collaborative (VEJC) and is a member of the Lead Service Line Replacement Collaborative. Shabazz is an inaugural Community Partners in Residence Fellow at the University of Richmond, and a former elementary school teacher. As an advocate for Adult Literacy she has served as a READ Center Board member and on the advisory board of the Senate Joint Subcommittee Studying Lead Poisoning Prevention. Shabazz continues to provide valuable insight, time and dedication towards the eradication of lead poisoning.
Queen Shabazz holds a bachelor's in business administration and a paralegal certificate specializing in real estate and civil litigation. She is also a notary public and a 2019 graduate of the EPA's Environmental Justice Academy.
Queen Zakia Shabazz is an author, educator, lecturer, and environmental justice advocate. Her work began in 1996 when she discovered that her young son had been poisoned by lead, prompting her to establish United Parents Against Lead (UPAL). UPAL is a national networking organization of and for parents of children poisoned by lead that works to end the threat of lead poisoning and other environmental hazards through education and awareness, advocacy, intervention, and resource referral.
In addition to serving as executive director of UPAL, Shabazz is a local Stand for Children Organizer, a position she's held since 1996. She currently serves as CEO of the Virginia Environmental Justice Collaborative (VEJC) and is a member of the Lead Service Line Replacement Collaborative. Shabazz is an inaugural Community Partners in Residence Fellow at the University of Richmond, and a former elementary school teacher. As an advocate for Adult Literacy she has served as a READ Center Board member and on the advisory board of the Senate Joint Subcommittee Studying Lead Poisoning Prevention. Shabazz continues to provide valuable insight, time and dedication towards the eradication of lead poisoning.
Queen Shabazz holds a bachelor's in business administration and a paralegal certificate specializing in real estate and civil litigation. She is also a notary public and a 2019 graduate of the EPA's Environmental Justice Academy.
Sally Hudson
Legislator, Virginia House of Delegates / Assistant Professor of Public Policy, UVA
Delegate Sally Hudson serves Charlottesville and Albemarle County in the Virginia State House. Sally is a leader in a new wave of legislators reforming our energy industry from the ground up. She’s helped Virginia end coal subsidies, cut energy costs, and crack down on the undue influence of fossil fuel lobbyists in Richmond. When she’s not serving in Richmond, Sally teaches economics and statistics in the School of Public Policy at UVA.
Delegate Sally Hudson serves Charlottesville and Albemarle County in the Virginia State House. Sally is a leader in a new wave of legislators reforming our energy industry from the ground up. She’s helped Virginia end coal subsidies, cut energy costs, and crack down on the undue influence of fossil fuel lobbyists in Richmond. When she’s not serving in Richmond, Sally teaches economics and statistics in the School of Public Policy at UVA.
Peggy Van Yahres
Chair of Cville Tree Commission and member of Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards
Currently chair of the Charlottesville Tree Commission, Peggy has spent most of her career devoted to improving children’s’ education and the environment. As a landscape architect, for 40 years she and her husband had their own company, Van Yahres Associates, designing college campuses. She has served on many boards including the City’s School Board, Parks and Rec Advisory Board, Board of Architectural Review and Ready Kids. Including the Tree Commission, she now serves on the CATEC Foundation, and the ReLeaf Cville Fund.
Currently chair of the Charlottesville Tree Commission, Peggy has spent most of her career devoted to improving children’s’ education and the environment. As a landscape architect, for 40 years she and her husband had their own company, Van Yahres Associates, designing college campuses. She has served on many boards including the City’s School Board, Parks and Rec Advisory Board, Board of Architectural Review and Ready Kids. Including the Tree Commission, she now serves on the CATEC Foundation, and the ReLeaf Cville Fund.
Lauren Prince
Environmental Justice Collective at UVA
Lauren Prince is a fourth-year undergrad at the University of Virginia double majoring in Political & Social Thought (Areas of Study: Environmental Disaster; Displacement, Migration, and Human Rights; and Systems of Oppression) and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies with a minor in Global Sustainability. She is an Echols Scholar, University Achievement Award Recipient, and co-founder and co-president of the Environmental Justice Collective, an organization for and by BIPOC students. This past fall, Lauren created and co-instructed a class on Climate Migration and the Archive. She also recently completed her distinguished thesis, titled ‘“With a Vengeance’: An Examination of How Black Women of the U.S. Virgin Islands Weather Disasters” and has presented her work at the Virgin Islands Studies Collective Conference on “Engaging and Reimagining Virgin Islands Archives.”
Lauren is a learner, feminist, and social activist who strives to prioritize her community in the spaces she navigates. In the past, Lauren has researched for a non-profit organization, law-firm, and UVA’s Religion, Politics, and Conflict program. Her areas of focus include feminist studies, environmental justice, and the Caribbean region. In her down time, Lauren enjoys music, dancing, reading, and all things sweet.
Lauren Prince is a fourth-year undergrad at the University of Virginia double majoring in Political & Social Thought (Areas of Study: Environmental Disaster; Displacement, Migration, and Human Rights; and Systems of Oppression) and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies with a minor in Global Sustainability. She is an Echols Scholar, University Achievement Award Recipient, and co-founder and co-president of the Environmental Justice Collective, an organization for and by BIPOC students. This past fall, Lauren created and co-instructed a class on Climate Migration and the Archive. She also recently completed her distinguished thesis, titled ‘“With a Vengeance’: An Examination of How Black Women of the U.S. Virgin Islands Weather Disasters” and has presented her work at the Virgin Islands Studies Collective Conference on “Engaging and Reimagining Virgin Islands Archives.”
Lauren is a learner, feminist, and social activist who strives to prioritize her community in the spaces she navigates. In the past, Lauren has researched for a non-profit organization, law-firm, and UVA’s Religion, Politics, and Conflict program. Her areas of focus include feminist studies, environmental justice, and the Caribbean region. In her down time, Lauren enjoys music, dancing, reading, and all things sweet.
PANELISTS
OUR MODERATORS
Rachael King
Rachael is a graduate student in the Virginia Institute of Marine Science at William and Mary and a co-lead for the environmental justice team at Virginia Scientist-Community Interface.
Carmen Wright
Carmen is a graduate student in Urban and Environmental Planning and Landscape Architecture in the Architecture School at UVa.
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