ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Hemalatha Velappan, University of Washington, Institutional Climate Action (ICA): Hema (pronounced as Heyma) is a 3rd year PhD student in the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, UW. She is one of the co-founders and active member of ICA, a UW student organization that successfully got UW to divest their fossil fuel investments. A researcher and climate activist, Hema is also a new mom for a 18-month old baby girl.

Jamie Sarai Margolin is a Seattle raised organizer, author, and filmmaker, and co-founder and communications director of Zero Hour. She is the author of “Youth to Power”. 

Noquisi Christian-Smith, Evergreen State College, Olympia, WashPIRG Students: Noquisi (she/they) is the chapter chair of WashPIRG Students at the Evergreen State College; a group which represents public interest in the betterment of our environment, education system, and society. Their Save The Orcas campaign is teaching students to lobby for the preservation of salmon habitats in the lower Snake River and resident orca conservation.

Maanit Goel, Eastlake High School, Sammamish, WA Youth Ocean & River Cons. Alliance (WYORCA): Maanit Goel (he/him) is a 16yo high school junior, and the chair of the WA Youth Ocean & River Conservation Alliance (WYORCA), a team of students across Washington educating K-12 students on Chinook salmon and Southern Resident orca conservation, and mobilizing regional youth voices for Snake River restoration in outreach to Congressional offices.

Owen Begley-Collier, Roosevelt High School, Seattle, Snake River Savers: Owen is the leader of the events and public education “pod” in the grassroots organization Snake River Savers. He has loved orcas since 1st grade and has organized many rallies and protests dedicated to protecting orca.

Henry Roller, Whitman College, Walla Walla, Snake River Savers: Henry is the leader of the media and content “pod” for Snake River Savers. He also collaborates with Youth Salmon Protectors to frequently host educational presentations and postcard writing sessions about salmon and orca conservation.

Liam Pratt, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Students for Climate Action: Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Liam developed a great appreciation for the region's natural biodiversity. Since getting involved in climate activism, he has made it his goal to protect it and get others involved in the defense of our planet.

Abby LaBounty (she/her/hers), Western Washington University: Abby is planning to earn a degree in Environmental Studies with an emphasis in Eco-Justice, and Eco-education. Abby is from a small rural town in the mountains of Colorado situated an hour from red rock canyons in one direction, and 14-thousand-foot peaks in the other. Abby is deeply passionate about intersectional environmentalism, and hopes to advance her avocation for both people, and the planet in new ways with the opportunities offered to her at college.

SPONSORS