Since 2020 Anita has been working with the NC Disaster Response and Resilience Network as the Director leading the effort to support local, regional and statewide disaster organizing in communities impacted by disasters and climate change.  Anita also supports efforts across the intersection of energy, and environmental justice.  She is a passionate disaster and community organizer in Robeson County working with community and county leaders for environmental justice opposing the wood pellet industry, as well as legacy pollution and the harm it is causing in Eastern North Carolina.

Anita serves as a member of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council, Southern Forest Conservation Coalition, Eastern NC Cleaner and Greener Coalition, and the Impacted Communities Against Wood Pellets Coalition advocating for people’s power, forest conservation and protection and environmental justice..  Anita is passionate about justice in the South and advocates and supports BIPOC communities on the local level to create organized influence for statewide systems change and supports and educates folks on a cleaner and greener sustainable form of energy for our future – less dependent on fossil fuels.  She brings to this work a love of the planet and all living things and her desire to help always in all ways.  Her connections to see a better future for her family (her 2 children and 3 grandchildren) give her ample motivation to stand in solidarity with other like minded partners across the South.

LeiLani is a longtime activist. Before receiving her Ph.D. in English, LeiLani served as program coordinator for an undergraduate mentoring program serving the largest university system in the U.S. As Accounts Manager at SVA, she provides financial assistance and training to fiscally sponsored projects.

Elena (she/they) is a co-founder of SVA with a background in media, community organizing, and ameteur disaster response. In 2005 she helped launch the Gulf Coast Recovery Watch project at the Institute for Southern Studies. In 2018 Elena worked with dozens of Eastern NC partners to help form the Justice Florence Recovery Coalition and the Just Recovery Fund.

Brother Wesley is a native of Raleigh, NC. He is an internationally acknowledged speaker, dedicated mentor and facilitator that actively works to build better relationships in his community. Brother Wesley also serves as Senior Pastor at Faith Community Church and considers the work of social justice and healing as major inspirations. He currently serves as the Director of Frontline Funds Programs & Strategies with SVA.

Joshua is an artist, organizer and academician from Raleigh, N.C. Currently, he is the director of the Education Not Incarceration Network, and Board Co-Chair of SVA. His work over the last decade has focused on racial justice and the impacts of the carceral state, specifically in the US South.

Originally from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, Denisse is a cultural worker, facilitator, trainer, and community leader. Denisse has been engaged at all levels of social movements to build power and knowledge. She is the co-founder of Home Of The Tribe, a digital media and event coordinating company. Through her own ESL program and various businesses, Denisse offers experience in meeting design and facilitation, strategic organizational development, mental health and legal training. She has worked closely with marginalized communities, community leaders and policy directors in the USA and abroad through previous positions as Director of Immigration and Visas for the Consulate of Mexico in NC, Program Executive Assistant for Pathways to Change, and Lead Recruitment Manager for WorkPlace Options. Denisse has a BA in International Studies with a focus in global relations and a minor in World History from NC State University. During her time at NCSU, she formed part of Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/ Lambda Pi Chi Sorority Inc. dedicated to empowering themselves and their communities.

Mac is Co-Director of the Robeson County Cooperative for Sustainable Development and consultant in social justice program design, community organizing, grant writing, and evaluation. He co-founded the Center for Community Action and served as Executive Director for 36 years. His recent experience includes climate disaster and climate justice organizing, education, and training.