2024 Grassroots Convening

Matt is EnviroVoters’ Deputy Campaign Director. Originally focused in San Bernardino and Riverside, Matt has expanded to also work on our statewide organizing efforts. In this role, Matt has been able to build partnerships and amplify community concerns about the impacts of climate change, the local benefits from investments in clean energy, and the critical need to conserve and protect our environment. Outside of EnviroVoters, he is on the board of IE United working to grow progressive organizing and political infrastructure & leadership in the Inland Empire. He got his start in the professional organizing and political world as a regional field director on the successful campaign to elect Pete Aguilar to US Congress. Prior, Matt graduated from UCLA with a degree in Chicana/o Studies.

Gustavo Aguirre has over 40 years’ community organizing experience. He began organizing with the United Farm Workers as a union member and volunteered for many organizing efforts. In 1996 Aguirre joined the UFW as full-time employee and served as regional director and in the executive board as National Vice-President. In 2006 (and to the present) Aguirre joined Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment (CRPE) leading a joint campaign with Californians for Pesticide Reform (CPR), also serving as steering committee for CPR. Aguirre has been key in CRPE’s efforts to develop community leaders and base groups, as well as securing millions of dollars in infrastructure investments for roads, sidewalks, lighting, sewer systems, and park improvements in low-income communities in Kern County, advancing CRPE’s Mission. Aguirre served on the Board of Directors of Lideres Campesinas, serves as funding board member with The Rose Foundation. in 2021 Aguirre published a book “Beyond Organizing” sharing his lifetime organizing experience.

Sandra Schubert brings decades of experience as a strategist, counsel, and governmental affairs and program director at the state, local and federal government levels on a variety of environmental, natural resource and agricultural issues. She began her work in Washington, DC after receiving her Master of Arts in Philosophy and Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado Boulder and moved on to work for nonprofits and government. An attorney, Ms. Schubert was Counsel for Senator Harry Reid, Majority Leader of the United States Senate, advisor to United States Senator Barbara Boxer, Environmental and Public Works Committee member, Director of Government Affairs for Environmental Working Group, taught at Georgetown University Law School, and returned to California to become Undersecretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, open her firm Schubert Legal Strategies and teach at California Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo. Ms. Schubert is also a long time volunteer Advisory Board Member of California Safe Schools Coalition. After serving on Tuleyome’s volunteer Board of Directors for two years, Ms. Schubert joined staff as our Executive Director. 

Ralph is the current President of CEA Foundation, a citizen’s advocacy group that focuses on sustainable land use and planning in Nevada County. He is a retired software engineer and former building contractor, with an MS in Computer Science and a BS in Mathematics. In his free time, he is an avid hiker and backpacker.

Nicole has worked in cause communications for over fifteen years. As public affairs manager at The Trust for Public Land, Nicole worked to expand outdoor access for communities across the Western United States. She continued working on park and beach access at Resource Media, a nonprofit PR firm where Nicole had the opportunity to support a range of nonprofit and foundation clients. During her 11 years there, Nicole built the organization’s first digital team and  led its oceans and freshwater programs. Born and raised in Merced, California. Her family ties to the Central Valley motivate her work to advance water justice and resilience.

Sarah is a communications strategist with more than a decade of experience advancing conservation, climate, and clean water solutions. she launched her career with the national non-profit Environmental America and led successful field campaigns across multiple states. In Miami, Sarah organized protests against plans to drill for oil off Florida’s coast. As the state director of Environment Virginia, she campaigned to protect Virginia’s forestland and drinking water from fracking and led the state’s federal climate coalition. Prior to joining the Water Hub, Sarah served as the communications director for GRID Alternatives, a national clean energy equity organization, where she worked to bring real-world stories of a just energy transition to life.

Maraid coordinates media opportunities at  Community Water Center. Previously, she worked in the mortgage industry assisting Spanish speaking clients navigate a complicated system. Prior to this, Maraid worked with the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Justice program and with the State Water Resources Control Board on the Freshwater Harmful Algal Blooms program. bMaraid holds a B.S. in Society and Environment and a B.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of California, Berkeley.