Our Team

We believe the actions of each individual impact our planet, and that collectively, we are stronger. We believe that seeking justice in the name of our one and only Earth enables justice for its people, and extends to communities everywhere the opportunity to survive and thrive. With that in mind, learn more about the people who bring you One Earth Film Festival.

Most portraits by Katy Bergholz Photography

Cassandra west
one earth Collective Advisory Team
Former Public Relations Lead
Events Photogrpahy

cassandra@oneearthcollective.org
The springboard for Cassandra’s environmental awareness was getting involved with a community garden. From there she dove into learning about other vital topics: soil, water and energy. Cassandra helped start the Oak Park Area Edible Gardening Cooperative. While composting and recycling are good places to start, she’s committed to continuing her environmental education. Cassandra is also an award-winning journalist and has worked for Northwestern University, Crain’s Chicago Business and at other media & publishing institutions.

Cesar Almeida
marketing manager

cesar@oneearthcollective.org
Cesar likes to spend time DJing in local green spaces across Chicago. He believes that the definition of environment is not only limited to the birds, trees, bees, and leaves but expands to the places where we eat, live, learn, and sleep. Cesar also owns a marketing and advertising company that helps artists and entrepreneurs connect to the outdoors. He hopes to eliminate the barriers to inclusive, just, and sustainable access to greenspaces and economies across Illinois through transformative programs and services that promote the preservation of the environment, recruit a diverse workforce to the energy sector, and activate green spaces.

GAREN HUDSON
Audio Visual Tech DIRECTOR

garen@oneearthcollective.org
Garen is a musician, rock climber, and drug policy reform activist. He believes that there is a major need for collective and individual healing to occur in order for the healing of the planet. He hopes through music and connection to the outdoors, people can find that healing. Garen and his partner are avid gardeners, and are consistently working to improve their techniques to be more sustainable and regenerative.

jim babcock
one earth film fest founding member
One Earth Collective board member
Film Review and fundraising

james@oneearthcollective.org
Jim is learning about the many advantages of community solar and, with the Oak Park and River Forest PlanItGreen Team, is working to bring clean, renewable energy for 100% of the communities’ electricity. With the environmental team at his church, First United Church of Oak Park, he collaborates with many other local congregations to carry out sustainable practices for energy conservation, waste reduction, flood control, pesticide-free native gardens, and healthy food for all. Jim is an active advocate at the state and village levels of government for legislation and policies that will restore and protect the Earth's natural systems, especially the climate system.

JOANNA DREW
Grants Manager

joanna@oneearthcollective.org
Joanna plays her part in restoring harmony in our ecosystem by using a bicycle as her primary mode of transportation (when weather permits!). When she is not out and about, she works for domestic and international NGOs, increasing their capacity to raise funds to bring community projects to life. One day, Joanna dreams to live in a zero-waste home amongst the trees, composting and growing her own fruits and vegetables.

Jodi wine
One Earth Collective Board Member
LEGAL COUNSEL
PARTNERSHIPS AND VENUES SUPPORT TEAM, FUNDRAISING

jodi@oneearthcollective.org
Jodi is a strong believer that only by building public will for protecting our environment will we create the political will necessary to implement effective environmental policy. As Gregory Mankiw said so eloquently in the film Before The Flood, "Politicians, [even if] we call them elected leaders, are really elected followers. They do what the people want them to do. Once the people are convinced, the politicians will fall in line.”

Laurie casey
one Earth local Programs DIRECTOR

laurie@oneearthcollective.org
Along with three black and white chickens—April, Dolly and Cat—Laurie's family has also invited into their yard wild blue indigo, calico asters, a young oak tree (for the next generation) and flocks of goldfinches who come for the purple coneflower seeds. Laurie has supported the Festival as a volunteer or staffer since the 2013 season, doing programming, film selection and marketing. Currently she leads a group of Oak Park-based community groups in rallying residents around the Climate Ready Oak Park sustainability plan.

lisa Biehle files
young filmmakers contest Program Director
digital media Associate

lisa@oneearthfilmfest.org
lisa@oneearthcollective.org
Lisa uses corn meal gluten and beneficial nematodes on her lawn instead of conventional pesticides. She also shares a compost bin with her neighbors and is beginning to experiment with native plants. Her raised-bed vegetable garden was filled with heirloom tomatoes this year, resulting in delightful omelettes, salads and ratatouille. In the spring, she had purchased the tender heirloom seedlings from the esteemed Tomato Lady, who works at Sugar Beet Food Co-op.

monique Hamilton
urban alliance intern

monique@oneearthcollective.org
Monique is a senior at DRW College Prep in Chicago, which is part of the Noble Network of Charter Schools. She plans to work in the medical field or criminology. Monique believes all people—regardless of their gender, race, sexual orientation, or income—deserve a clean environment, clean drinking water, and good, fertile soil to grow a garden. She loves working with One Earth to inform people about contamination in our air, land and water and encourages them to make change for the better by taking action.

Natasha Mirza
Development Manager

natasha@oneearthcollective.org
Natasha found her way to One Earth after discovering the myth of "recycling" and committed herself to creating a more sustainable lifestyle with less waste. Today she can proudly point to every item of furniture, art, and appliance in her apartment as second hand! She also uses public transit and her bike to get around the city and works with a foster agency to get stray cats and kittens off the streets; outdoor cats are a major contributor to ecological damage! She hopes to continue her efforts on a larger scale and encourage others to move towards a more sustainable future through fostering, thrifting, and decreased consumption.

SUE CROTHERS
One Earth Film Fest Founding Member
Young Filmmakers Contest Founding Director
Film Review and Facilitator

sue@oneearthfilmfest.org
Sue has been thinking about her impact on the environment since her early twenties and she has dedicated herself to environmental efforts. Together with her husband, Sue built one of the first sustainably designed homes in Illinois. She is a founding member of the River Forest Sustainability Committee and PlanItGreen and is committed to supporting our local food shed as an investor with SLoFig (Sustainable Local Financial Investment Group). Sue is also an advocate for chemical usage reduction and together with her Sustainability Committee team members, introduced Keep ON the Grass, a program to reduce lawn chemicals in River Forest.