Renae comes to Tri-State Transportation Campaign from the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance (NYC-EJA), where she managed the organization’s transportation advocacy efforts aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the harmful impacts of transportation pollution in New York’s most vulnerable communities. At NYC-EJA, Renae led the development of ElectrifyNY, a statewide coalition united in the fight for an equitable, electric transportation future. Under her leadership, the coalition successfully engaged the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to commit to an all-electric bus fleet by 2040. Renae was also a key advocacy partner in the successful passage of the NYC congestion pricing program, the first of its kind in North America.
Before NYC-EJA, Renae worked with the United States Forest Service in the New York City Urban Field Station (USFS), where she conducted participatory research and community engagement on social and ecological resilience on the Rockaway Peninsula in the devastating wake of Superstorm Sandy. She also managed the Science of the Living City program during her time with the USFS. Components of her work are detailed in a co-authored chapter of the technical report, Green Readiness and Response: A Collaborative Synthesis. Renae also worked on community and youth development with the Rockaway Waterfront Alliance. She received her Master’s in the Theories of Urban Practice at Parsons School of Design.
Talia joined Tri-State Transportation Campaign in July 2021. She graduated from McGill University in Montreal, QC with a BA in Political Science and minors in Geography and Communications. Talia gained a strong interest in local government and community development through her experience working for NY State Assemblymember Harvey Epstein, where she was first exposed to transportation policy at the local level. She has worked on implementing protected bike lanes in needed areas and ensuring that community members’ voices are elevated. Talia has also worked with the NY Working Families Party on the Mobilization team, where she helped organize campaigns and empower volunteers, specifically focusing on the India Walton for Buffalo mayoral race.
Laura has joined Tri-State Transportation Campaign to further grow advocacy on sustainability and justice, especially in the environment where she was born and raised to love. She particularly appreciates the emphasis on equitable planning as it relates to viable transportation, ecology, and meeting regional climate goals. She has devoted her studies and career to these matters and has bore witness to how policy can overlook the importance of systems that benefit all people rather than the most privileged. Throughout her experiences with non-profit organizations, she’s noticed clear gaps in our transit systems and how a lack of mobility makes populations of people more economically and climate vulnerable. She is intrigued to investigate the potential of equitable transportation plans and policies to advance sustainability, preserve neighborhoods, and keep our beloved cities intact. She wholeheartedly believes that more efficient and reliable mass transit would provide better security, safety, more time to live a fulfilling life, and a healthier planet. Before this opportunity, Laura influenced bold climate action to protect public health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and engaged heavily with various environmental justice communities. Because of her genuine devotion to empowering communities that have been long overburdened, her new role here will allow her to connect with key audiences and provide access to information to strengthen engagement at the local and regional level on critical transportation issues. Laura is dedicated to her continued education and living a life that reflects her commitment to the stewardship of the land.
Jenn is a proud Trenton native with a firsthand understanding of how access, or lack thereof, to quality, reliable transportation impacts the whole person and, in turn, their communities and ecosystems. This lived experience, combined with their professional background in the nonprofit and social services sectors across Mercer County, NJ, anchors their commitment to advancing equitable and dependable transportation systems for all.
Jenn’s growing passion for biking further informs their advocacy for safer, more accessible mobility options throughout New Jersey and beyond. They are excited to bring their community-rooted perspective and interdisciplinary skills to Tri-State Transportation Campaign as one of the NJ Community Organizers.
In their free time, Jenn enjoys teaching Cumbia classes, capturing their adventures on film, and experimenting with new vegan recipes in the kitchen.
