Board Chair

Aina is the President and Executive Director of VertueLab, a Pacific Northwest Innovation Lab and Funder of early stage climate entrepreneurs. She’s been a climate tech entrepreneur and a 3x founder and CEO.

She’s also worked across the US and Europe, and notably was the first Black woman to run a venture backed tech company in Germany.

Board Member

LaTanja Silvester is a seasoned policy advisor, labor leader, and political strategist with over two decades of experience driving equity, workforce development, and economic justice across the South. She currently serves as Senior Policy Advisor for Labor and Climate at Oxfam America, leading initiatives in Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, and North Carolina to strengthen wages, worker protections, and climate resilience for vulnerable communities. Previously, LaTanja served as President of Service Employees International Union Local 21 LA, representing thousands of Louisiana public sector workers. Under her leadership, the union secured historic contracts, expanded pay equity, and developed labor–management partnerships that continue to impact public sector workers today.

Board Member

Dr. Terrence Chambers is an internationally recognized expert in solar energy technologies and a leader in renewable energy research. As a professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, he directs multiple research centers, including the Louisiana Solar Energy Lab and the Green Hydrogen Center of Excellence. With expertise spanning photovoltaics, solar thermal, thermal energy storage, and green hydrogen, Chambers has played a pivotal role in advancing clean energy solutions. He has secured major research funding, including an $87 million grant for the Hubs for Energy Resilient Operations (HERO) initiative, which aims to develop solar-powered microgrids for disaster resilience. A dedicated educator and mentor, Chambers has received multiple teaching and leadership awards, solidifying his impact on the next generation of engineers and energy innovators.

Board Member

Rodney serves as the Business Manager and Financial Secretary of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 130 in New Orleans, Louisiana. In this capacity, he oversees the local's operations and financial matters, ensuring the union's commitment to its members and the electrical industry.

Throughout his career, Rodney has held various significant roles within Local 130. He has been an Organizer, Chairman of the Executive Board, Political Director, member of the Apprenticeship Committee, and a trustee on the Health and Welfare Board. These positions have allowed him to contribute to the union's growth, advocate for workers' rights, and enhance earn-and-learn training programs for apprentices.

Board Member

Grant is a seasoned aerospace and safety professional, currently serving as the Deputy Director of Safety and Mission Assurance at NASA Stennis Space Center. With over two decades of experience in systems engineering, software safety, and mission assurance, he has held key leadership roles at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, ManTech International, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.

Grant’s expertise spans human spaceflight systems, robotic spacecraft development, and defense systems, with a strong background in business development and engineering management. He holds an MS in Systems Engineering, along with BS degrees in Electrical Engineering and Physics. In addition to his technical achievements, he is deeply engaged in pastoral leadership, currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry at the Oblate School of Theology.