Crystal Charles (she/her)

Food Sovereignty Coordinator

Crystal is a Yurok, Welsh, and Scandinavian resident of Humboldt County. She has served on the committee for Indigenous Food Sovereignty at the Northern California Tribal Court Coalition (NCTCC).

Crystal is passionate about Food Sovereignty and organic foods because she's been able to address her own health issues by learning about nutrition and adjusting her diet. She is looking forward to offering these same resources to others. Recently Crystal graduated from the Yurok Tribal Wellness Court and celebrated 29 months of being clean and sober. She is excited to support other formerly incarcerated people in their healing.

Crystal is also a peer support specialist with Yurok Wellness Court and an apprentice for acorn based food ways.

Outside of her work for Food Sovereignty, Crystal has experience as a student of massage therapy and herbal medicine, as well as a mentor for tribal youth in gardening. 

Mister Vega (he/they)

Aquaculture & Kelp Restoration Researcher

As a dedicated single parent and social worker, I am passionate about supporting individuals with disabilities and other marginalized communities.

As a recent graduate of Cal Poly Humboldt with a bachelor’s in social work, I bring a strong foundation in advocacy and direct service. My personal experience of raising a child with autism, coupled with my involvement in organizations like Project Rebound and Old Town Community Alliance, fuels my commitment to creating positive change.

As a participant in Earth Equity, I am driven by a deep commitment to Environmental Justice and human potential. My personal experience with incarceration and direct aid has fueled my passion for supporting individuals impacted by incarceration. I believe that combining ecological restoration with reentry support can create a more just and sustainable future for all.

Rooted in Humboldt County, I enjoy the outdoors, fitness, and connecting with my community.

Sonia Hunsucker (she/her)

Reentry Support Coordinator

I am a Yurok Tribal member, mother, sister, and daughter first and foremost. I also identify as a former incarcerated Lifer. I served 12 years on a 15-life sentence when I was released through Prop 1437 in May of 2021.

I came home a woman with a vision, goals, and dreams. While reentry was not an easy transition, I have remained determined to navigate towards a future that will allow other struggling people to find and gain access to the resources we all so desperately need. I want to support others as they come home.

I dedicated my time inside to self-help, ceremony, education, running the Native circle, and maintaining the sacred grounds. I came home with my A.A. in Behavioral and Social Sciences, and the drive to be part of a team ready to assist in changing the lives of those seeking something different.

My lived experiences allow me to know the needs of those integrating back into society as well as what it takes to lower recidivism rates. I joined Earth Equity because I want to be part of the movement to enhance the lives of those still incarcerated while having the platform to be part of a successful reentry team.

Food sovereignty has become a major influence on the Native community – rippling out to support those affected by diabetes, obesity, and dietary habits which lead to shorter lives. I want to be someone that leads those within and beyond my community through transformation into a completely new way of life and wellbeing. My end goal is to have gained knowledge and to have enhanced the chances of success within our community.

I spend my personal time gathering whatever natural resource is in season. 

Steph McKindley (she/they)

Economic Justice Coordinator

I am a dedicated advocate for economic justice and social equity. Drawing from personal experience as a system-impacted person, I use my voice to uplift those who have faced incarceration, promote food sovereignty, and foster well-being.

As a Senator in student government at the College of the Redwoods, I worked collaboratively to drive positive momentum within the academic environment, and redistribute funds for equitable change.

I am in the Social Work program at Cal-Poly, and live on the Hoopa Valley Reservation, raised by a Redwood Creek/Hupa tribal member. I am passionate about addressing systemic barriers that marginalized community’s encounter. I strive to create accessible, sustainable solutions that empower individuals and families.

I'm also involved in amazing groups like the Formerly Incarcerated Club, Root and Rebound, Project Rebound, and the Dept. of Rehabilitation. My hobbies include Reiki, crystals, finding four-leaf clovers, connecting with nature, and caring for my family.

I understand the barriers that incarcerated individuals face. I am learning to navigate these challenges through economic justice and social work, because everyone deserves a fair chance to thrive.   

Polimana (all pronouns)

Documentary Film Co-Director 

Greetings! My name is Polimana. Care, access, and equitability are some of the most important things to me. I believe the only way to embody these qualities is through a keen sense of empathy.

As a musician I love to put myself into others’ shoes to see where people are at and assess perspectives from as many angles as I can in order to formulate a truthful story. I take a lot of care to ask people how they’re feeling and what they’re dreaming about - to ask about their ideas about specific situations, ideas, problems, wins and losses, because I want to know. This helps me to understand and color the world from their perspectives.

This film project seemed like it would be extremely challenging in terms of drawing a cohesive narrative, so I thought it would be really fascinating to take on. Besides the challenge of it all, I also think the subject matter is extremely important and relevant to myself coming from my community, which is disproportionately impacted by incarceration and environmental racism, which I have experienced firsthand.

I really look forward to seeing the kinds of bridges we can build with this project.

Brandon Salus (he/him)

Documentary Film Crew 

Hello. My name is Brandon (I go by Bliss). It is an honor and a privilege to sign on to SeaForester’s Abolition Ecologies film project.

I am excited by Earth Equity’s mission to reduce recidivism, to cultivate just food practices, and to nurture system-impacted communities.

Almost every aspect of society can be questioned – especially by a population which has been (for lack of a better word) failed by the system – or has failed to abide by that system.

Nature holds none of society’s hypocrisy – and therefore offers only perfect truth to highly marginalized peoples.

Daisy Smith (she/her)

Community Care Coordinator & Documentary Film Crew 

My name is Daisy Etta Smith. I am Yurok, Tolowa Dee-ni, and Pomo. I am also a beginning basket weaver and a traditional Pomo dancer. 

Life after any amount of incarceration can be trying, even with a support system.  I see Earth Equity as a new dawn, a new day, and a new beginning. Together, we can make positive change possible in our lives and environment.

Travis Chaney (he/him)

Documentary Film Crew 

My name is Travis Chaney. I'm a Humboldt County native that has dedicated my life to helping people in their times of greatest need.

I've been a mental health social worker and advocate. I've worked with the highest need populations in order to provide services and resources that enliven and enrich their living experience.

I've worked with diverse populations including the Houseless, at risk youth, those with substance abuse and mental health issues, and individuals who have been involved with the legal system.

I am interested in community efforts to provide better opportunities for disadvantaged populations, especially those dealing with the negative consequences of the prison industrial complex.

I have personally been effected negatively by my own encounters with law enforcement. I'm devoted to finding solutions that involve Restorative Justice allowing for full integration back into society.

Brendan Killeen (he/him)

Documentary Film Crew

I am a returning student entering Cal Poly Humboldt for a fourth or fifth act of life. I'm disabled, homeless, formerly incarcerated, and am still justice-involved. 

I was the president of the formerly incarcerated students club at College of the Redwoods while attending for the past year. I've been involved in anti-poverty, food security, environmental, and free speech activism since I was 14 years old. 

I'm going into social work with an eye on working in research, policy, and advocacy. I'm the father of a grown son who is also a student, and I have a wonderful dog companion named Darwin.

Nova West (they/them)

Documentary Film Co-Director

I am an artist, filmmaker, photographer, and environmental educator from Minnesota. As a National Geographic Explorer, I am working to create more diverse and holistic landscapes for wildlife storytelling.

    My work focuses on visual arts and camera operation, specializing in wildlife and underwater filmmaking. During my career I’ve collaborated with organizations like National Geographic, Discovery, Netflix, Pristine Seas, NOAA, and Ocean Exploration Trust.

I also sail as a Video Engineer and Expedition Documentarian aboard the E/V Nautilus, operating deep-sea ROV camera and broadcast systems while documenting groundbreaking science and exploration operations.

Recently, I released my independent documentary, Diving for Rays, which is available for streaming on Waterbear Network. I am also involved in film festivals, serving as a participant, judge, and panelist. As a long-time board member of the Jackson Wild Queer Collective, I work to create spaces and events for creatives across the globe collaborate.

Aerin Monroe (he/him)

Documentary Film Advisor (SeaForester)

I’m a writer, producer, environmental consultant, designer, and land steward of Afro-Latin, Creole and Caribbean descent, raised in Oakland, CA. Since being gentrified out of the Bay Area three years ago, I've been living with my wife and children in Humboldt, CA.

My background is in natural landscaping, organic agriculture, journalism and land management. My work focuses on Afro-Indigenous land practices and stewardship, Climate Justice, sustainable food systems, regenerative agriculture, ecosystem restoration and land/food sovereignty for BIPOC communities.

 In 2023, I wrote and produced a docuseries, in collaboration with Save California Salmon, called Sowing Seeds: Racial Justice and the Environmental Movement.

Each episode offers insight into aspects of Environmental Justice by centering Black and Indigenous scientists, educators, and activists all working to bring about positive change within Humboldt County.

This series worked to create awareness of climate issues and provide guidance on how we can work together to ensure healthy ecosystems and equity for communities most severely impacted by climate change and injustice. 

James (he/him)

Aquaculture Fellow

My name is James. I’ve been living in Eureka for going on 20 years. This is a very beautiful place to live. I love the mountains, the redwoods, the oceans, and the climate. I feel at home in this kind of environment. 

I’m interested in working with Earth Equity because I want to be educated about kelp and its benefits for the planet and people. I’m happy to be part of this work to help develop something good for the community here. 

It’s important to me to be able to heal the climate, cure ocean acidification, and care for marine ecosystems.

Tyler Graham (he/they)

Research Assistant

My life has been shaped by transformation, resilience, and a deep connection to the natural world. I have always felt most at home in wild spaces—forests, rivers, open ocean, and landscapes where life moves at its own rhythm. That love led me to work in conservation and ecological restoration, where I could put my hands in the earth and be part of healing the land.

But my path hasn’t been a straight one. Due to an Unfortunate series of life choices I was incarcerated, and during that time, I was forced to confront the direction my life was taking. It was in that cursed space, stripped of distractions and the majority of my humanity, It became crystal clear that Colonialism had stripped me of my clan of the name of my gods, our songs, our dances, our traditions, and everything that made me who I am. made the decision to change me. I committed myself to growth, to learning, and to shaping a future My Ancestors could be proud of. That commitment led me to college, where I am now a full-time student studying Computer Information Systems.

Technology might seem like a world apart from my love of nature, but to me, they are connected. Just as ecosystems rely on balance and resilience, so does the digital world. I’m particularly drawn to cybersecurity and ethical hacking, where I can use my skills to protect and empower others. My devotion to decolonization drives me to think critically about the systems we build—whether in nature, society, or technology—and to work toward solutions that honor both people, creatures and the planet.

My journey is still unfolding, but one thing remains constant: my need to be in and protect the spaces that give me life. Whether through ecological restoration, ethical tech, or advocacy, I am committed to making a meaningful impact—one that respects the past, acknowledges the present, and builds a better future.

Felix Evans (they/she)

Green Life Facilitator

My name is Felix, and I am a perpetual student of the revolutionaries and liberation movements that come before me. I draw on a range of life experiences to inform my work at Earth Equity, from supporting the frontlines of Indigenous-led water protection camps and Land Back projects, to conducting marine science research on algae in the estuaries of the Atlantic coast.

I am excited about the transformative worldbuilding that is possible at the intersection of knowing the land and earth, and knowing the people in our communities, including those incarcerated in the belly of the beast.

As a mixed-race person of Korean diasporic and eastern european settler descent, I am especially curious about the role of international solidarity in our resistance to the intrinsically connected issues of environmental exploitation, global capitalism and militarization, and the prison-industrial complex. 

SJ Harris (she/they)

Green Life Facilitator

I am a white queer anarchist abolitionist educator who has worked alongside youth in school gardens across San Francisco for the past 7 years to (hopefully) foster relationships to land that directly interrogate and dismantle systems of white supremacy and exploitation. 

I sing at least one third of the things that I am trying to communicate and am an excellent whistler. I am about to start my last semester at SFSU  studying for a degree in Race and Resistance and while liberation will never come from institutions, I am grateful for the ways this learning has disrupted the dominant and false narratives of the united states imperialist agenda in education.

Even more, I am grateful for what I have learned from the comrades I have dumpster dived with to liberate food from being wasted and for my unhoused neighbor who gave me tennis lessons and shared stories.

Recently, I have been working with Earth Equity to build solidarity and relationship with incarcerated folks in San Quentin. We are currently co-facilitating an Environmental Justice learning group focused on Ocean care. 

I wholeheartedly believe in our revolutionary capacity to build worlds beyond incarceration, capitalism, and empire - where we demand collective joy and the recognition of abundance! 

Jiajing Wang (all pronouns)

Green Life Facilitator

I work towards building a regenerative and self-sustaining world where all people can realize themselves and their dreams.

At Earth Equity, I am a facilitator that learns and works alongside system-impacted people to generate strategies and scholarship to restore our coastal kelp forests, while also advocating for an abolitionist future.

As a high school educator, I encourage and empower my students to think for themselves and to look for connections between their own lives, their communities, and their world.

As a queer, first-generation Chinese immigrant, I come to Turtle Island with reverence and care, holding the truth of my ancestry and the truth of settler violence as I navigate my role here on Ohlone land.

Having been formally trained as a materials science engineer at MIT, I am excited by opportunities to learn and teach about science in ways that are rooted in real-life application, explicitly justice-oriented, and challenge the reductionist nature of Western science.

On an average day, I can be found biking to the ocean, reading under a tree, or yapping at a community garden

Julia Dunn (they/them)

Holdfast

I am an Environmental Justice facilitator and organizer. My work exists at the nexus between community care, personal healing, and creative liberation. My practice is grounded in Abolition Ecologies, Lessons from the Ocean, Queerness, Disability Justice, and Play. 

I am dedicated to our work at Earth Equity because we contribute to the vast scholarship and skills of system-impacted people. We recognize and reify the urgency of Climate Justice, while honoring the slow and subtle processes of trust and transformation.

I am dedicated to SeaForester because we co-create accessible educational experiences, empower people to cultivate relationships of mutual healing with Kelp, and speak to essential needs for connection and belonging.

I love to paint, swim through kelp, think about dolphins, and create strange poetry. When I was 11 I made eye contact with a whale and immediately burst into tears of joy.

Email me: Julia Dunn