Professional

The one thing that has been a constant in Lea's life is her passion for working with students of all ages. Lea believes it is critical to foster environments where young people feel valued and affirmed in their school communities to inspire their academic achievement and civic engagement. Lea is enthusiastic about environmental and social justice issues and has experience in developing curricula that is culturally relevant. Lea has devoted her career to working in the nonprofit and education fields. Prior to Eco Education she was the Director of Education & Evaluation at Youth Frontiers. She also spent 13 years at The Blake School (Minneapolis) in a variety of administrative roles including Grade Dean, Assistant Athletic Director, and Girls Varsity Basketball Coach. Caty Royce is a career organizer, having spent her professional life working to develop and implement strategies that make structural change for economically fragile communities and communities of color. Caty began her journey as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal, West Africa where, as a rural development agent, she worked with a rural community to enhance health and economic opportunities for its members. For eighteen years serving as the Director of the Community Stabilization Project, Caty organized in the metropolitan area developing public policy and organizing campaigns around the issues of affordable housing and race. Community members working with Caty have preserved over 5000 units of affordable housing and passed the first affordable housing set aside program in the state of Minnesota. As a member of the Equal Access Group, Caty was instrumental in the creation of the first Equal Access ordinance in the nation: ensuring that businesses owned by people of color, women and people with disabilities will benefit from contracts with the city of St. Paul. The Saint Paul City Council proclaimed November 28, 2007, “Caty Royce day” thanking her for “the love, creativity, faith and dedication that she has invested in making the world a better place.” For the next two years Caty worked to develop programming, policy and community action aimed at racial and economic integration as Director of Fund for an Open Society. Elise is the program advisor and Youth Advisory Board Coordinator at Eco Education and is interested in exploring the intersectionalities of environmental issues, identity, privilege, oppression, and community agency. As Program and Youth Board Coordinator she is working to collaboratively recognize difference and synchronize inclusive initiatives and actions with emerging multicultural needs in our communities.