 Zakiya Harris: Founder: Executive Director :: Zakiya is a California native, who has been working as an artist, educator and activist for the past 10 years. She received her B.A. in Political Science and History from Rutgers University and attended New College of Law in San Francisco before leaving to pursue her life long passion of teaching. She has taught elementary through collegiate level in a variety of public and private settings. In 2003, she became the lead trainer at the DJ Project where she facilitated job training and entrepreneurship modules using the medium of hip-hop culture. In 2007, she Founded Grind for the Green, the program has been heralded for its innovation and production the 1st Solar Powered Hip-Hop Music Concert in San Francisco. Some of her recent achievements include receiving the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights Future Leaders award and becoming a Fellow in the Green For All Academy. Currently she is the Regional Director of the San Francisco Green Festival, an accomplished vocalist who performs nationally in the hip-hop group FIYAWATA and the proud mother of a beautiful 3-year old daughter. |
 Ambessa Cantave: Co-Founder Creative Director :: Ambessa is a ten-year veteran of the Bay Area’s arts, non-profit, environmental justice and activist movements. As Co-Founder of Grind for the Green, he offers experience in youth leadership and workforce development to create a fully cohesive professional learning atmosphere that assists in the creation of executive level youth leaders. Ambessa holds a B.A. in Marketing from York College. He has also served as a program manager for stellar Bay Area organizations such as Leadership Excellence and Telegraph Hill Neighborhood Center. Currently, Ambessa is a Green For All Fellow ans works as a climate change educator where he presents at high schools throughout the Bay Area, educating and inspiring youth to take action against global warming. |
 Pandora Thomas: Environmental Educator :: Pandora Thomas is Director of the Green Careers Program at Global Exchange. Pandora is completing a Masters degree from Tufts University in Environmental Policy and Planning, and she received her BA in religious studies from Youngstown State University and a Teaching Credential from the New College of California. She has taught various levels of K-12 as well as working with differently-abled adults. Pandora researched and did the initial writing and editing for a collaborative project called, Shades of Green, a Green Construction manual for a Youthbuild program that trains youth ages 18-24 in green construction skills. She received human rights advocacy training at Columbia University, and has created and delivered curriculum to diverse audiences around the themes of human rights, environmental justice, and environmental education. |
 Joy Thompson: Youth Crew Coordinator :: Joy Thompson has been working with Grind for the Green in various capacities since its inception. In the Summer of 2009 Joy came on board as staff to Coordinate thw G4G Youth Crew. For the past 4 years Joy has worked with San Francisco State University overseeing the coordination of the Music & Recording Industry Program. Prior to working with SF State, Joy worked as a Marketing Representative for the San Francisco arm of Universal Music Distribution and its affiliates. Joy is passionate about providing learning opportunities, job opportunities, and work force development for Bay Area Youth of Color. |
| Youth Crew |
 Marquise Mazique: Director of Marketing :: I am the Director of Marketing for G4G and I am interested in networking with all cultures and ethnicity’s. I currently attend City College of San Francisco were I will receive my A.S degree in Radiology. |
 E’Dreana Black: Director of Outreach :: My hobby that I enjoy doing is playing basketball! That’s my first and last love. I also work for a non-profit called United Playaz which is a program that works with kids in Hunters Point to show them alternatives to gangs, and gang violence. |
 Monique Sala: Director of Sponsorship :: Currently I attend Civic Center Secondary School and I am the class of 2009.I love music and I’m a musician and a singer. And I’m very motivated and determined. And going green is important to me because it enables me to have a sustainable life and gives me the responsibilty as a teacher to educate others. |
 Teju Adisa-Ferar: Director of Logistics :: Teju is an intellectual curious young woman who is dedicated to social and global awareness, community organizing and activism, and expanding her knowledge of sociology and social justice issues. Along with soccer, dancing, and poetry she is inspired by movements that are focused on helping sustain humanity. |
 Rachelle Ruiz: Director of Greening :: I love just about everything and am very passionate about bettering my local community in order to set an example for others and create a better world. I love learning new things and figuring out new way to create change. I try to live the most green lifestyle I can, but sometimes that becomes difficult, so it makes me happy to know I am doing the best I can by pouring my heart into the work I do for the environment, especially through Grind for the Green. |
| Taylor Gratton: Program Assistant :: I love the work that I do and I am passionate about the work that I do because I feel that in my neighborhood and not having the resources that I would have liked to have growing up, learning about how to green and live a sustainable life gives me the chance to share this information with others and this is what makes me continue the work that I do. |
 Olondis Walker: Director of East Bay Outreach :: Hailing from East Oakland, CA, O-Zone a.ka. Lil-O was influenced by artists like Nas, Jay-Z, Tupac, and Keak Da Sneak. Lil-O writes from life experience and thus is able to make music that is inspirational and relative to true hip-hop listeners everywhere. |
