Caring For Our Common Home

Sara has co-lead the Romero Institute since 1992, and has over forty years of nonprofit leadership, grassroots organizing, national education, and fundraising experience. She was the director of the Karen Silkwood Fund, executive director and co-founder of the Christic Institute, and the executive director of the State of the World Forum in San Francisco. She was the national labor chair for the National Organization for Women and a member of the California Commission on the Status of Women. She holds a BA in anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley.

Daniel has co-lead the Romero Institute since 1992. A Harvard-trained attorney, his work for the last forty years has placed him at the center of some of the most important legal cases of our time. His lawsuits have involved the Watergate and Iran-Contra Scandals, the Pentagon Papers, and the killing of Karen Silkwood. He is former chief counsel of the Christic Institute and the Office of Social Ministries for the Jesuit Order.

Benjamin's passion for social justice organizing began over twenty years ago. Right after high school, he and two friends bought an old van and drove from Albuquerque to Nicaragua volunteering in rural communities. Following that trip, he co-founded Big Noise Films and directed the award-winning documentary, "Zapatista." He has worked as an organizer and contract negotiator with the New York State Nurses Association and was the field director for US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse’s successful reelection campaign in 2012. Benjamin studied political science at Brown University.

Jon has served as Greenpower’s Director of Science and Research since April, 2016. He is an environmental scientist and educator with experience in climatology, Earth science, botany, pedology, marine biology, toxicology, pollution studies, and nanotechnology. He earned his B.S. in Ecology & Evolution from UC Santa Barbara in 2011, and his Ph.D. in Environmental Science & Management from the Bren School at UC Santa Barbara in 2015.

Leslie advances our Greenpower initiative by making connections and partnering with local communities to foster coalescence and support for renewable power. Making a difference in an interconnected world matters most to Leslie. Through a variety publishing industry, marketing, and community roles, including serving as an elected school board trustee, Leslie works to connect with diverse groups to contribute toward the common good. Concurrently, Leslie works as an organizer for political candidates and initiatives and serves on the board of the Northern Monterey County Community Foundation. She studied liberal arts at California State University, Fullerton.

Chris manages Romero’s websites, database, and audio/video library. He holds a BA in astrophysics, and a minor in electronic music from the UC, Santa Cruz.

Kelsey facilitates social media for the Romero Institute's various projects and provides assistance in written communication. A recent alumna from UC Santa Cruz with a BA in History, she was previously the editor for the illustration and opinion desks at the UCSC campus newspaper.

Jesse contributes written content and guides our content strategy. An award-winning journalist, PR pro, and business development specialist, he has decades of experience writing, editing, and developing relationships between people and organizations. He loves working with people of heart and intelligence on meaningful projects. Jesse holds a BA in film from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Daniel oversees all Romero Institute departments and helps decide strategic direction for the organization. He has over 15 years of experience as a deputy director, organizer, researcher, and writer. He holds a BA in political theory from Harvard College and an MA in social science from the University of Chicago.