Rich is the Executive Director of The Community Governance Partnership (501c-3), Leadership For Jobs and a New Economy (LJANE/501c-4), and the c3 connected California Organizing Academy which has graduated over 550 community organizers from their trainings throughout California. He founded The Fresno Partnership in 2013 (now the noted Central Valley Partnership), an umbrella organization for 50+ regional c3 and c4 organizations in the San Joaquin Valley. Mr. McIntyre was previously NW regional director for The American Land Conservancy (where he managed the Klamath Basin Water Wars and restoration of the Wood River Delta), Water Program Director for Food and Water Watch, and Campaigns Director for the Sierra Nevada Alliance. He has served on national and regional campaign staffs, and managed major campaigns, the most recent a Special Election for the California State Assembly (AD31) in 2016. His work focuses on designing campaigns that establish ground-breaking coalitions to forward environmental protection while highlighting social and environmental justice.

Chris brings years of international and domestic experience as an organizer, political strategist, and communications expert. He now is the Executive Director of CalWild. Prior to working with CalWild and The Next Generation, he held policy and political roles with the California League of Conservation Voters and Save the Children. He previously served as CalWild’s Communications Director for two years, including managing social media campaigns. Through Chris’ leadership, CalWild has continued to increase online advocacy work and effectiveness and has also been one of the driving forces in building CalWild’s defensive work challenging the extreme measures coming from the Trump administration and Congress. 

Ryan currently serves as the Senior Policy Director for CalWild. After directing the first-ever effort to map all of the state’s wilderness-eligible lands, he helped launch a legislative campaign in 2001 to gain permanent protection for these areas. His greatest achievements to date are the passage of the North Coast wilderness bill (HR 233) in 2006 and the California portions of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009. Ryan’s work was recognized in Congress and in the documentary film “Forever Wild.” Ryan plays a key role in the CROP Project, acting as liaison to state conservation organizations, timber interests, and directing policy. His current work includes working closely with Congressman Jared Huffman on the Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation and Working Forests Act.

Jackee's fervor for the natural world has fueled her career as a wildlife biologist, archaeologist, and backcountry horse packer. She graduated from Humboldt State University with a B.S. in Wildlife Management and Conservation, and a B.A. in Archaeology. She has worked for the US Fish & Wildlife Service and private organizations conducting wildlife research on endangered species including gray whales, desert tortoises, and Pacific fishers. Notably, her independent research of nesting shorebirds led to FWS protections and management of Salt Island in Connecticut. A graduate of our community organizer program, we immediately saw her potential. She joins us now to assist with CROP. 

David is internationally noted as one of the world’s top community organizer trainers, having trained over 3000 activists in his career. His 30 years of experience in the community development and citizen empowerment field gives him a special interest in working with community-based organizations and community organizers. Mr. Hunt has been working as part of the Community Governance Partnership team for well over a decade, and led our trainings in Tahoe, Mariposa, Stockton, Tulare, Fresno, and Humboldt, to name a few.  He continues to work with The Midwest Academy where he spent many years on staff, and whose approach and techniques are embraced in our trainings.  David is a legendary storyteller, which makes his trainings unique and memorable.

Francesca has honed skills in research, writing, and administrative task management over the course of her burgeoning career. A native Washingtonian, Francesca fell in love with social justice advocacy at an early age. She received a BA in Government from Harvard University with a focus in international relations, and now is using her skills in our nonprofit work. She has worked on various transformative grassroots campaigns, including environmental inequality remediation within minority communities. In addition to studying Spanish and Japanese, she enjoys volunteering at local art organizations and hiking throughout Southern California.