2025 Grassroots Convening

For 30 years, Dalya has worked as a writer, editor, journalist, trainer/coach, and fundraiser in the nonprofit sector – addressing a vast array of social justice and environmental issues. She has raised millions of grant dollars, and is the award-winning author of “Writing to Make a Difference: 25 Powerful Techniques to Boost Your Community Impact.” Dalya is also an experienced community organizer and serves as the Executive Producer/Editor of the Everyday Climate Champions Podcast, highlighting local residents from many walks of life who are taking climate action in their own communities. She leverages her professional background to focus on accelerating the just transition to a climate-safe world that works for everyone.

Cathy is Senior Program Officer for The Harder Foundation, a small family foundation that supports biodiversity and ecosystem health in the Pacific Northwest. She has spent the last 20+ years working in various roles of philanthropy, government, and nonprofit leadership, and has served on numerous community boards and commissions including Bellingham City Council. She currently serves as Vice President of both YWCA Bellingham and Northwest Youth Services. Cathy has a BA in Communications from Western Washington University, a Masters in Social Entrepreneurship and Change from Pepperdine University, and a Certificate in Sustainable Business from Presidio Graduate School. She lives in Bellingham with her husband David, 2 labs named Cash and June, and a wise old kitty named Knowing.   

Pam Allen has been working in philanthropy for over 25 years and is currently a senior program officer with the Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund, a San Francisco-based foundation that supports projects related to democracy and civil liberties, education, the environment, the Jewish community, and reproductive health and rights. She joined the Goldman Fund in 2012 and is responsible for exploring funding opportunities in the areas of democracy and civil liberties and the environment. After graduating from the University of Oklahoma, she began her nonprofit career with CalPIRG’s San Diego affiliate where she was the consumer program director and continued in a variety of capacities with several arts organizations in San Francisco. Outside of philanthropy, she has maintained her connection to the nonprofit community through board service including many years on Rose Foundation’s CA Environmental Grassroots Fund funding board. 

Mariah is an Environment Program Fellow at The Kresge Foundation. She joined the foundation in 2024. Previously, Mariah served as the director of land use and creative placemaking at Urban Neighborhood Initiatives (UNI) in Detroit, where she oversaw the use and development of UNI’s parks and green spaces, land-based youth programs, and placemaking initiatives. She also held the role of impact and improvement coordinator, where she worked to evaluate UNI’s programs. A native of Detroit, she earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work from Wayne State University