SPEAKERS

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

CALIFORNIA LEADING THE RESISTANCE
LINDA ESCALANTE, NRDC Associate for Latino Outreach and Advocacy
Video coming soon

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WATER POLICY IN CALIFORNIA
NOAH GARRISON, UCLA Environmental Science Practicum Director, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability and BRUCE REZNIK, Los Angeles Waterkeeper
Video coming soon

HOW TEAM MARINE HELPED BAN THE PLASTIC BAG
TEAM MARINE, Santa Monica High School
Video coming soon

WORKSHOPS

Overview of environmental policy issues in Southern California and specific legislation students and teachers can get behind, as well as tools for policy change.

“What You Need to Know About Water Politics in California”
Noah Garrison is the Environmental Science Practicum Director at UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. He previously worked as a staff attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), where he focused on legal, policy, and technical issues related to urban runoff and stormwater; green infrastructure and its relationship to water supply, energy use, and climate change; regulation and enforcement under the federal Clean Water Act; groundwater supply and management; and impacts of dams and other flow diversion projects on river systems.
LA Waterkeeper/UCLA IoES PPT – Water Deep Dive
Video coming soon


“How Team Marine Helped Ban the Plastic Bag”
Ben Kay is the Marine Biology teacher at Santa Monica High School and Santa Monica College. Team Marine is a student-led club at Santa Monica High School.
Benjamin Kay PPT – How Team Marine Banned the Plastic Bag
Team Marine Resources – Santa Monica High School
Video coming soon


“Surround Sound: Achieving Policy Results through a Strong Communications Strategy”
Dylan Gasperik is the senior account executive & video production manager at Tigercomm. Dylan helps develop and implement powerful marketing communications programs that narrate the transition to a low-carbon economy. Before coming to Tigercomm, Dylan was on the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Media and Films team, producing and distributing high-impact environmental documentaries and PSAs.
Dylan Gasperik Handout – Communications Flow Chart


“Power of the Pen: Writing a Powerful Letter to the Editor”
Matthew King is the Communications Director at Heal the Bay, responsible for communicating Heal the Bay’s mission and activities to the general public. Before joining Heal the Bay, he served as a vice president of The Hollywood Reporter and as an editor at the Los Angeles Times.
Heal the Bay PPT – Power of the Pen
Heal the Bay Handout – In-Class Exercise
Heal the Bay Handout – How to Write an Op-Ed Letter
Heal the Bay Handout – How to Speak at Public Meeting

“Critical Media Literacy for Climate Change Education”
Dr. Jeff Share is a Professor in the UCLA Department of Education & Information Studies. Formerly a photojournalist and bilingual teacher, his new book Teaching Climate Change to Adolescents: Reading, Writing, and Making a Difference addresses teaching climate change to K-12 students through English Language Arts and Critical Media Literacy.
Buy a copy of Teaching Climate Change by Jeff Share
Video coming soon


“Campaign Planning and Power Mapping to Influence Change”
Bruce Reznik is the Executive Director of LA Waterkeeper, where he directs the organization’s advocacy and programmatic work. Before LAW, Bruce led water, land-use and housing advocacy efforts at San Diego Coastkeeper, San Diego Housing Federation, Sacramento-based Planning Conservation League and Sustainable San Diego collaborative.
LA Waterkeeper PPT – Campaign Planning & Power Mapping