Advisory Council
Aaron Johnson
Founder, Owner, CEO
Oasis Fresh Markets & Oasis Fresh Foundation
Before Oasis opened in 2021, North Tulsa, near Historic Greenwood’s Black Wall Street district, had been labeled a ‘food desert’ for over 14 years. AJ became passionate about contributing to long term health for residents in underserved communities when he learned that the life expectancy was 11 years shorter than other parts of Tulsa. Now his vision to create an Oasis in the middle of a food desert has become a reality.
Read more about Aaron
Amber Arriaga-Salinas
Assistant Executive Director
Proyecto Azteca
Amber Arriaga-Salinas joined Proyecto Azteca in 2014, bringing her experience as a political organizer, campaign staffer, and campaign manager. A native of the Rio Grande Valley, she holds dual B.A.s in Political Science and Psychology from the University of Texas Pan American, graduating in 2010. Amber currently serves on the Board of Directors for the RGV Long Term Disaster Response. Her deep connection to the region stems from the values her father instilled in her, teaching that "the world we have is the only one we'll get, so we need to take care of it."
Read more about Amber
Andrea Chalk, PhD
Founder & Executive Director
Health Community Services
Dr. Chalk is a fourth-generation resident of New Orleans' 7th Ward and the Founder and Executive Director of Healthy Community Services, a non-profit focused on public health issues in the community. She is a former President of the Louisiana Public Health Association and has served on the American Public Health Association’s Center for Climate, Health & Equity Steering Committee. Her work emphasizes Community Science, the Urban Heat Island Effect, and its impact on African American communities, aiming to address urban flooding, food insecurity, and climate resilience. Under her leadership, Healthy Community Services received the 2022 Outstanding Non-Profit Award from the U.S. Water Alliance. Currently, Dr. Chalk is a Visiting Adjunct Professor at the Tulane University Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, Environmental Health Sciences Department.
Read more about Dr. Chalk
Chuck Morse
Executive Director
Thrive New Orleans
Chuck Morse is the Executive Director of Thrive New Orleans, a nonprofit focused on social justice by creating equitable opportunities for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Thrive emphasizes small business capacity building, workforce development, youth engagement, and essential resources, and acts as New Orleans’ National Disaster Resiliency Operator. Under Morse's leadership, the organization tackles climate change by training BIPOC workers in stormwater management and assisting small businesses in securing green infrastructure contracts. Morse is also a key community leader, participating in various local boards and committees, such as the Greater New Orleans Water Collaborative and the City of New Orleans Climate Action Plan Diversity Committee.
Read more about Chuck
Jaime Lawson
Community Outreach & Event Chair
Houston Climate Movement
Jaime Lawson has been actively involved in the city's environmental and social justice communities for over 14 years. She co-founded a sustainable living cooperative, served as the Community Outreach Chair for the Houston Climate Movement for 6 years, and was the Equity Lead for the City of Houston Climate Action Plan. With 9 years of experience as a Sustainability Consultant in the commercial green building industry, Jaime focuses on building an intergenerational and intersectional coalition to create a more resilient Greater Houston Area and Texas Gulf Coast.
Read more about Jaime
Jessica Diedling, MPH, PMP
Director of Community Benefit & Sustainability
Ochsner Health | Innovating Healthcare
With over twelve years at the Louisiana Office of Public Health, she focused on improving health outcomes through data-driven strategies and community engagement. At Ochsner Health since 2021, Jessica oversees the Community Health Needs Assessment and Sustainability initiatives across Louisiana and the Gulf Coast. She integrates environmental factors into health assessments and leads efforts to reduce pollution. Passionate about data-driven storytelling, she fosters collaboration to address community health needs and promote sustainability.
Read more about Jessica
Jessica Dandridge-Smith
Executive Director
The Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans
Jessica Dandridge-Smith is the Executive Director of The Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans (TWC), focusing on community-led water justice and climate resiliency. She promotes equitable access and blue/green jobs through nature-based water management. With a B.A. in Political Science and an M.A. in International Affairs, she has worked with numerous organizations since 2005. Dandridge-Smith co-chairs the National Academy of Sciences' Climate Resiliency Roundtable and has been recognized as an Obama Leader and a member of the Grist 50 list. She also co-owns a Jamaican/Creole catering business.
Read more about Jessica
Kellyn- LaCour-Conant
Climate and Ecology Strategist
Taproot Earth
Kellyn LaCour-Conant, a two-spirit individual from Isle Brevelle, LA, raised in Houston, TX, now lives in Baton Rouge. She works as a Climate and Ecology Strategist with Taproot Earth, focusing on frontline power and climate solutions in the Gulf South, Appalachia, and the global Black Diaspora. Her expertise spans restoration ecology, community organizing, science communication, interfaith leadership, policy, and research, with experience in various sectors. In her free time, Kellyn enjoys baking, beach volleyball, and horseback riding.
Read more about Kellyn
Spring A. Gaines
Research and Policy Manager
Center for Planning Excellence
Spring is the Research and Policy Manager at the Center for Planning Excellence (CPEX), where she develops and supports policy initiatives aimed at creating a climate-resilient, equitable, and economically strong energy future for Louisiana. She has expertise in marine science, education, and environmental and animal policy, having worked with organizations like Louisiana 4-H, AmeriCorps, and the Animal Legal Defense Fund. Prior to CPEX, she was a 2022 Sea Grant John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellow, where she worked with Rep. Nicole Malliotakis on advancing offshore wind initiatives and clean energy legislation in the Northeastern Atlantic.
Read more about Spring
Sylvester Reeder, III
Co-Founder & Principal
Houston One Voice
I have 50 yrs experience as the President and CEO of multiple academic, proprietary and non-profit healthcare integrated delivery systems. Today, I am a retired healthcare CEO and Co-Founder of Houston One Voice, a nonprofit focused on remediating closed landfills in Houston to eliminate pollution and return land to underserved communities. Over seven years, we’ve secured commitments from stakeholders and government bodies to address the environmental injustices faced by poor, disenfranchised communities of color. I am fully dedicated to this cause and believe the TCTAC Advisory Council can help us develop strategies to overcome challenges from well-funded developers.
Read more about Sylvester
Tory McGee
Founder & Community Solar Consulting
WattsUp - Community Solar
Troy, a fifth-generation New Mexican with a background in computer science and IT, shifted his career in 2015 to focus on photovoltaic (PV) solar solutions for residential, commercial, and public customers. He is deeply committed to New Mexico’s energy transition, working with organizations like REIA-NM and NMSEA, and advocating for solutions that benefit ratepayers and the state's economic and environmental well-being. After supporting New Mexico's Community Solar program, Troy founded WattsUp NM, LLC, which focuses on community solar subscriber acquisition, especially for Low-to-Moderate Income (LMI) programs. His vision includes having energy storage or agrivoltaics projects at every high school, built by students, to inspire them and encourage careers in renewable energy.
Read more about Troy