Please join the DWMC on June 29th for this important conversation on Intersections of Sustainability and Social Justice: a Global and Local Issue with Lacey Raak.
This luncheon will be especially heart warming and exciting, as we will be honoring Former County Supervisor, Jane Parker for her outstanding contributions to Monterey County.
Honoring
Former County Supervisor
Jane Parker
Former Monterey County Supervisor Jane Parker, served the Fourth District between 2009 and 2020. During her successful tenure, she implemented key environmental protections, spurred economic development and local job creation programs, and increased the availability of crime and gang violence prevention resources. Additionally, Jane Parker's leadership resulted in fundamental changes, notably increased transparency and accountability, in the culture of County government.
Jane Parker has been a strong advocate for progressive values rooted in social and economic justice over the course of her entire career. Of paramount importance for her has always been the advancement of women, both in and out of government. Under her leadership, Monterey County became one of four counties in the state to claim a progressive Lactation Accommodation policy for its employees. Prior serving as an elected official, Jane worked as Associate Director of the ACTION Council of Monterey County where she focused on improving the quality of life for residents including developing affordable housing solutions, re-designing the Child Welfare System, and developing a strong financial base of support for Girls Inc. of the Central Coast. Before joining the ACTION Council, Jane served as Vice President of Development for Planned Parenthood Mar Monte.
Today, Jane Parker continues to encourage and support socially progressive community and elected leaders.
It is our great honor to acknowledge Jane Parker for her outstanding work to advance women and promote a world rooted in care and well-being.
Intersections of Sustainability and Social Justice:
A Global and Local Issue
Throughout her career, Lacey has worked in the field of sustainability and environmental policy. First, as a U.S. Department of State Intern on international sustainable development in Washington, D. C., and later in Indonesia, where she was a Fulbright Scholar researching regional implementation of the National Sustainable Development Strategy.
Following her work at the City of Monterey, where she helped to develop the City’s first Climate Action Plan, Lacey started her career in higher education. She served as the University of California at Santa Cruz’s first Climate Action Manager and later became the Director of Sustainability for the campus. In 2016, Lacey continued her career becoming the first Sustainability Director at California State University, Monterey Bay. At CSUMB Lacey supported the evolution of sustainability from a facilities-focused, expert-oriented field to “Inclusive Sustainability”, as coined by faculty and staff at UCSC. Inclusive Sustainability focuses on improving the environment and the lives of those living within it regardless of income, class or identity. In fact, it seeks to promote all unique cultural and ethnic traditions that support, respect and provide stewardship for the earth and its resources. She also served as founding Chair of the City of Seaside Environmental Commission until 2022, helping to pass a plastics ordinace designed to also support small local businesses.
Lacey holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota, where she majored in Global Studies with a minor in Journalism and Mass Communication, and a Master of Arts from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in International Environmental Policy. She has two young kids and enjoys Saturdays at the Seaside Park work days.
This Month’s Highlighted Not-for-Profit:
Regeneración Pajaro Valley
Regeneración was founded in early 2016 through a series of conversations with community leaders. These conversations illuminated the need for a climate justice organization in Watsonville; Regeneración has emerged to address this need. Regeneración was founded on the principle that climate change is a social justice issue with local impacts and must be engaged with on a local level in order to build resilient communities. Regeneración amplifies the voices of the people most affected by climate change in the Pajaro Valley by conducting research, holding public events, and hosting webinars/online forums with the purpose of educating the general public. Learn more about Regeneración Pajaro Valley here.
A short Presentation about Regeneración Pajaro Valley will be given by Maria Perez.
Maria Perez was born in Salvatierra, Guanajuato, Mexico and immigrated to the United States when she was 11 years old. She obtained her Bachelors of Science in Conservation and Resource Studies from the U.C. Berkeley with a focus on climate and energy policy. Maria has been involved in multiple environmental educational programs around Watsonville and was a founding member of Regeneración while in High School. Recently she joined the Commision for the Environment for Santa Cruz County. Hoping to continue advocating for community-centered climate solutions, Maria currently serves as the Community Organizer for Regeneración Pajaro Valley.