Staff
Executive Director & EcoNews Editor
A resident of Eureka since 2017, Caroline Griffith is an avid public meeting attendee and can often be found at City Council and Board of Supervisors meetings. When asked as a kid what she thought she might be when she was 35, her response was “environmental something”. That prediction was fairly accurate, as environmentalism has been a factor in much of the political work that she has done. She is excited to highlight the intersections of environmentalism and social justice that are happening in Humboldt County.
Email: director@yournec.org (she/they)
Environmental Policy Advisor
Larry Glass is a life-long environmental advocate and former retail business owner for 40 years. He has served in various capacities on the NEC board for over 35 years – currently presiding as Board President and Executive Director, plus serving as the NEC’s forest advisor. Larry was elected to the Eureka City Council and served four years (2006-2010). His knowledge of local environmental issues and experience as a community leader proves a vital component of the NEC. Larry sits on the NEC’s Conservation, Personnel, Tech, Finance, Board Development and EcoNews Committees. Larry is also President and Executive Director of Safe Alternatives for our Forest Environment (S.A.F.E.), Trinity County’s environmental voice since 1979. Larry is a resident of both Trinity and Humboldt County, giving him a unique perspective for both groups.
Email: larryglass71@gmail.com (he/him)
Carlrey Arroyo, Xicanx with Yoeme roots, has been a guest on Wiyot land since 2013. They received their B.A. in Environmental Studies from Humboldt State University with an emphasis on community organizing in 2017. As a community member, they have organized for land defense and water protection, racial justice, food equity, and mutual-aid networks. Carlrey is a farmer, an artist, and an active believer in the power of community.
Email: admin@yournec.org (they/them)
EcoNews Coordinator
Chelsea Pulliam moved to the North Coast in 2011 and graduated from H.S.U. with a degree in Environmental Education in 2015. Her time in Humboldt has cultivated a deep love for California’s unique landscapes, and a passion for sustainability. She is also passionate about direct-action activism, solutions journalism, environmental psychology, effective environmental communication, and graphic design.
Email: chelseanec1@gmail.com (she/her)
Coastal Programs Coordinator
Sable graduated from Cal Poly Humboldt in 2017 with a degree in Environmental Management and Protection Planning. In the thirteen years that they’ve lived in the area, they’ve appreciated getting to connect with the environment and community in different ways. From local government, to farming, to volunteering, now they’re excited to be a part of NEC’S work in advocating for environmental and social justice. Outside of the NEC, they enjoy adventuring with their pup Griffin, helping put on drag shows, and running their seasonal florist business.
Email: coastalprograms@yournec.org (they/them)
EcoNews Journalist
Elena Bilheimer is majoring in Environmental Studies with a minor in Journalism at HSU. In her studies she has mainly focused on the importance of incorporating social justice with environmental activism to work towards creating a more liberated and sustainable world. She is especially interested in learning more about how art, design, and writing can be used as tangible tools to promote activism. Her passions include being outside, camping, gardening, reading, design, and cooking. Elena is looking forward to being part of the NEC team and contributing to such an important Humboldt organization!
Email: econewsjournalist@gmail.com (she/her)
Local Policy Intern
Claudia Alfaro Hernandez is an Environmental Science & Management major at Cal Poly Humboldt, with an emphasis on Ecological Restoration. She moved to Humboldt County in 2020 from her hometown of Jurupa Valley, California in hopes of fully integrating herself within the Natural Resources community. Within her time in Humboldt County, Claudia has worked alongside organizations, such as Ciencia Para Todos & El Leñador, to find, educate, and empower the Latinx community. Her academic and community experiences have led to her self-advocacy for supplemental support services for low income & first-generation academic students.
EcoNews Archive
My name is Griselda Valdez. I am a first-generation student at Cal-Poly Humboldt. I am getting my degree in Environmental Science and Management with a concentration in Education and Interpretation, as well as pursuing a minor in Parks Administration. This summer, I am working with EcoNews as an archiving intern. I am excited to learn and grow. I love living in Humboldt and enjoy taking nature walks, biking, and baking and recently started looking for agates.
EcoNews Journalism Intern
Oden Taylor will be serving as the EcoNews intern this spring. Taylor is a third-year journalism student with a news concentration, and he is minoring in sustainable food systems at Cal Poly Humboldt. Taylor is passionate about service-based, solutions-focused journalism that amplifies the voices of underrepresented communities. Taylor is also part of the CalMatters College Journalism Network. He has written about LGBTQ+ issues and rights, and Title IX issues in higher education, as well as covering Green New Deal and George Floyd protests in Sacramento. Taylor is dedicated to providing thoughtful journalism that highlights the intersections of racial, social, and climate justice. In his time as a journalist, he has served as the student president of the Journalism Association of Community Colleges—a statewide organization that provides educational seminars, networking opportunities, and awards to student journalists. Taylor has also volunteered with Journalists in Classrooms, an organization that places journalists in high school classrooms at schools without journalism programs to get kids excited about the field of journalism. After graduating college, Taylor plans to teach journalism and media literacy as well as continuing as a freelance writer for non-profit organizations.