On September 11, SV2 hosted Power, Policy & People: Shaping Environmental Justice Today at the SV2 office. More than 50 participants, including SV2 donor partners and ecosystem partners, gathered for a timely and powerful conversation about how shifting policies and funding streams are reshaping the field of environmental justice, and how communities are responding with resilience, innovation, and action.
The panel featured frontline leaders Eddie Ahn (Brightline Defense), Violet Wulf-Saena (Climate Resilient Communities), and Antonio Díaz (PODER). The discussion was moderated by Linda Prieto, SV2’s Chief Program & Advancement Officer, and Navreet Kaur, a new SV2 Partner who brings a deep passion for food and agriculture, equity, and building climate resilience. Together, the panel and moderators unpacked the on-the-ground impacts of recent federal legislation, funding shifts, and policy rollbacks, while also highlighting the creative solutions communities are advancing. From clean energy policy and strategic planning to urban farms and air quality initiatives, the panelists emphasized that the path forward requires centering the voices of those most impacted by environmental inequities.
Eddie Ahn, attorney and Executive Director of Brightline Defense, brought both community and policy perspectives to the discussion. Brightline Defense, the environmental justice nonprofit he leads, works directly with local communities to protect the climate, clean up the air, and create good jobs. Eddie also serves as a commissioner for three regional environmental agencies: the San Francisco Commission on the Environment, the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). His remarks underscored how clean energy policy can expand opportunities for underserved communities while building resilience against climate change.
Violet Wulf-Saena, founder and Executive Director of Climate Resilient Communities (CRC), grounded her remarks in over a decade of international climate change work with the United Nations’ Least Developed Countries and Small Island States. Her dedication to elevating community leadership is deeply rooted in her lived experiences in the South Pacific. Now based in the Bay Area, Violet partners with governments, research institutions, and community-based organizations to build capacity for climate resilience and sea-level rise adaptation. In addition to leading CRC, she serves as the equity program manager for the Bay Area Climate Adaptation Network (BayCAN), an environmental justice advisor to the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), and a community advisory council member to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD). She emphasized the vital role of strategic planning in preparing vulnerable neighborhoods to withstand intensifying climate impacts.
Antonio Díaz, Organizational Director of People Organizing to Demand Environmental and Economic Rights (PODER), highlighted the importance of grassroots action in advancing environmental and economic justice. Through community organizing, PODER engages in grassroots campaigns, advocacy, and education to address environmental justice, housing, and transportation. They also work closely with the Emerald Cities Collaborative Northern California and are part of San Francisco’s Climate Equity Hub. Statewide, they work with the Building Energy, Equity, and Power Coalition and the California Environmental Justice Alliance. Antonio shared how initiatives like urban farming and air quality monitoring are not only improving local health outcomes but also building community power and resilience.
Throughout the discussion, a key theme emerged: the importance of collaboration across sectors. For true progress, community advocates, donors, policymakers, and thought partners must work together, aligning resources and vision to drive systemic change.
SV2 Partners reflected on the power of hearing diverse approaches in action:
“The panel was great. All were strong and thoughtful speakers. There was an interesting range of approaches (e.g., grassroots organizing cf. policy change advocacy via judicial and legislative initiatives). Lasting change takes all of these!” — Nancy Grove, SV2 Partner
Another partner emphasized how the conversation deepened their understanding of environmental justice:
“What an eye-opening panel! I realized environmental justice is ultimately about who breathes clean air, who controls land, and who decides how we adapt. Eddie Ahn, Antonio Díaz, and Violet Saena grounded that idea in lived experience—linking job-creating clean energy, community-centered land use, and frontline-led resilience that protects families now.” — Tara Maddala, SV2 Partner
The formal program wrapped up with a lively happy hour and networking reception, offering participants the opportunity to connect not only with the panelists but also with one another. The atmosphere was filled with both urgency and hope. Urgency to act in the face of climate and environmental injustices, and hope rooted in the creativity, resilience, and leadership of frontline communities. As SV2 looks ahead, we remain committed to fostering these critical conversations and partnerships, ensuring that donor partners and community leaders continue to learn from and support one another in shaping a just and sustainable future.
We encourage you to visit the organizations’ websites (Brightline Defense, Climate Resilient Communities, PODER) and learn how you can get involved with their transformative work.