Author: Sydney Kirwan

Ana Leilani Ka’ahanui is co-founder of the DC metro area nonprofit Capital Nature.  Her organization’s mission is to connect the people and visitors of the DC area to the abundance of nature in the region. She is a forest bathing guide through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs and is devoted to sharing the practice, needed now more than ever. Her work has been featured in the Washington Post and on LA’s NPR affiliate KCRW. Ana is also a Virginia Master Naturalist and committed to connecting people to nature through citizen science and other biodiversity initiatives such as the global City Nature Challenge. She enjoys engaging others in citizen science by leading nature walks and teaching about the app iNaturalist. She has worked at the U.S. Green Building Council since 2003 in various capacities that connect people to the green world. Currently on the Marketing and Communications team, she manages projects, curates digital assets and serves as the staff photographer. Ana is passionate about using the built and natural environment as a teaching tool.

Juan Rodriguez is the director of the Clearwater Nature Center in Clinton, Maryland, a facility that offers a variety of interpretive programs hosted by park naturalists.   Environmental education is strongly supported at the nature center through exhibits, displays, programs, special events, clubs, trips, and volunteer opportunities. 

Juan is a zoo professional and educator with over 20 years of public engagement, visitor education and animal care management experience. Previously, Juan was the animal keeper at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute for 16 years, most notably working with the giant pandas.

Born in San Juan Puerto Rico, he moved to the mainland and relocated to Washington D.C. with his two older siblings and mother. He has a BS in biology from George Mason University and an MS in Leadership in Museum Education from Bank Street College of Education.

Bri Nakamura is the Practice Leader of Innovation in the Water Environment Federation’s (WEF) Water Science and Engineering Center (WSEC) since 2015.  At WEF, Bri works with the volunteer technical committees, along with planning and managing the WEFTEC Innovation Showcase, part of the largest annual water conference and exhibition in the world, and the WEF InFLOW (Introducing Future Leaders to Opportunities in Water) Program, a scholarship program aimed to enhance diversity and inclusion in the water workforce.

Prior to WEF, Bri worked for an engineering consulting company in the DC metro area; mainly focusing on municipal wastewater projects. She holds a BS in Civil Engineering from Syracuse University and is recently expanded her knowledge of business management through the completion of The PowerMBA program. Bri is a 2016 Water Leadership Institute graduate, a licensed professional engineer (PE) in the District of Columbia, and a certified Envision Sustainability Professional (ENV SP).

Audrey Lin (she/her) is an organizer from the Boston area currently based in Washington, D.C.  After graduating high school in 2019, she co-lead the September 20th Boston climate strike and helped bring 15,000 people to the city. She now works full time for the Sunrise Movement, and has been involved in student organizing campaigns, direct actions, and campaign planning. Outside of movement work, she enjoys spending time with her housemates, running in Rock Creek Park, and making art.”

Julia Anastasio joined the Association of Clean Water Administrators in May 2014 as the new Executive Director and General Counsel.  Ms. Anastasio has 18 years of experience in government law and policy. In the early 2000s she worked for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and for the last 9 years she has worked with the America Public Works Association (APWA). With APWA, she focused on environmental, sustainability and infrastructure development at the local, state and federal levels and has extensive experience in with federal advocacy and administrative law before Congress and the Executive branch agencies. She is passionate about the role of state government in in developing and implementing national water policy and looks forward to working with ACWA’s membership.

Ms. Anastasio earned her B.A. from Franklin Marshall College, her Masters in Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School, and her J.D. from American University.

Hilary is an experienced Animal Keeper with a demonstrated history of working in the animal care field across a wide diversity of taxa.  She is dedicated to improving captive husbandry and education and passionate about improving the field from within. Hilary is skilled in Environmental Education, Conservation Issues, Animal Husbandry, Community Outreach, and Public Speaking.

Jamoni Overby is the DC Conservation Advocate for Audubon Naturalist Society.  Jamoni uses her background in policy, project management and community engagement to focus on issues surrounding clean water, electrification, environmental justice, and equity. Jamoni has been with ANS since October 2021 partnering with several DC environmental organizations to spearhead and continue the legacy of programs that increase access to nature while addressing the climate crisis and its impact on disenfranchised communities.