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About Us Our Mission Earth Care's mission is to educate and empower in teens to create a thriving, just, and sustainable world.
Our Vision In order to have lasting positive change, we must look at the bigger picture, the true, underlying cause of contemporary problems – the way we as a global culture are living. Earth Care International (ECI) empowers teens to build their society in a way that works ecologically, socially, culturally, and economically. Although we believe that we still must repair the damage our culture has done, ECI is forward thinking and looking, concentrating on what we can do well rather than what we have done poorly.
We envision a world where humans live in harmony with the earth; where human systems align with natural systems and improve the quality of life for all living things. We envision a world where environmentally-literate young people provide leadership based on a culture of sustainable abundance that drives the day-to-day decisions they make in business, politics and their personal lives. Earth Care International plants the “seeds of sustainability" in young people. We engage teenagers in a new way of thinking, rather than telling them what to think. This way of thinking leads them to explore ways of living on this planet which gives humans and all life on earth an infinite future. Earth Care International educates young leaders to create systems that work with and learn from nature's examples. Our programs take teens beyond awareness into committed action and creation. WHY EARTH CARE INTERNATIONAL?
OUR PROGRAMS
STAFF The Staff of Earth Care is responsible for delivering and administering programs. In addition to the 7 staff members listed below, Earth Care programs are made possible though over 100 community members who volunteer their time.
Co-Founder & Executive Director
Co-founder of Earth Care International. Taylor holds a Masters in Environment and Community from Antioch University. Taylor has a graduate certificate in Integrated Skills for Sustainable Change and a Bachelor's in Computer Science. He is an entrepreneur, having founded and managed three businesses prior to co-founding Earth Care International. Taylor has created and run organic gardens for teenagers, participated in the creation of sustainable businesses designed and run by youth, taught sustainability courses at public and private high schools, and led workshops at international conferences. He has worked as specialist for Paul Hawken and was the Vice chair for the Permaculture Credit Union. Taylor is currently a member of the mayor appointed committee that advises the City of Santa Fe about sustainable city practices. Taylor@earthcare.org
Christina Selby, MA
Co-Founder & Program Director
Co-founder of Earth Care International, Christina holds a Master's in Environment and Community through Antioch University Seattle where she did her thesis on the importance of culture and cultural democracy as a fourth pillar in sustainability education. She also holds a B.S. in Ecology, Evolution and Animal Behavior from the University of Minnesota. Previous to Earth Care, Christina served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in a remote subsistence village in Panama where she implemented Permaculture and sustainable community development from 1999-2001. She also worked in environmental education for 5 years in Minnesota, Oregon and Wyoming and in the field of environmental health providing Latino immigrant families on the southside of Milwaukee, WI with community health lead-poisoning prevention programs. She has explored sustainable living methods throughout her adult life, and continues to find inspiration in the biological and cultural diversity throughout the world. Christina@earthcare.org
Rachel Balkcom, MA Senior Educator/Director of One World Coffee and Trade program
Katya A. Franzgen, M.B.A.
Keith Williams Accountant/Bookkeeper
Bianca Sopoci-Belknap, BA Coordinator of Youth Allies
Bianca holds a B.A. from Antioch College in Social and Global Studies with a focus in Sustainable Economic Development. Born and raised in New Mexico, Bianca has been organizing around issues of social justice and sustainability in her community since she was a teen at Santa Fe High School. Before joining Earth Care, Bianca worked as an educator and community advocate for a number of organizations across the country including Global Exchange, the Border Network for Human Rights, and Del Pueblo Inc.. Most recently, Bianca worked for a Santa Fe-based organization called Local Energy doing research and political education for local renewable energy projects. In addition to her work with Earth Care, Bianca currently coordinates Antioch College’s experiential education program in New Mexico. bianca@earthcare.org
ONE WORLD COFFEE AND TRADE PROGRAM STAFF MEMBERS Our Youth Leaders run the organic, fair trade, and sustainable business. They learn business skills and life skills while making a positive difference in the community. Most Youth Leaders are paid and the rest receive college or high school credit for their participation.
John DeLaura Manager of One World Coffee and Trade (and Educator) John DeLaura, One World's Store Manager, is a veteran restaurateur, combining nineteen years in the restaurant business with sixteen years in full management positions. Utilizing all his experience, he has busily systematized the store's processes and procedures. John is known for his endearing laugh and thinks the best thing about the project is the teens who work and volunteer there. John likes to watch old movies with his wife Lois and to take his dog Pearl for leisurely rides.
Alex Johansen Student Leader Alex Johansen is a Freshman at Desert Academy and, with his friend Will, recently became our youngest student ever to move from volunteer to employee status. Alex says he likes dogs, video games, One World, Macs, sci fi, halo, One World (again), and halo (again). Alex is a very efficient worker and often conceives of our most outlandish, creative store ideas.
Avi Farber Student Leader Avi Farber is a senior at Santa Fe High and only misses meetings when he’s skiing. He is a member of amnesty international and has also volunteered at the Food Depot, and he enjoys journalism. He considers himself to be open minded and non-judgemental and is most interested in organizing art shows, events, and projects.
Gisselle Rodriguez Student Leader Gisselle Rodriguez is a sophomore at Capital High. Gisselle loves drawing, poetry, and reading and wants to be a surgical technician. She is an asset to One World because she is interested in getting involved in almost everything, from creating art shows, to events, to marketing, to ensuring that all our store processes and products are sustainable.
Hannah Anderson Student Leader Hannah Anderson is a senior at Santa Fe Secondary School and has been a One World participant for over a year. She is a cleaning maven, learned public speaking this year through her participation at recent Earth Care event Coming Home, and serves as our liaison with 101.5, a local independent radio station. Hannah likes to sing, draw, and kayak, and her favorite sports are ping pong and pool. She has a dog named Jet and a little brother named Heath.
Hoku Donovan-Smith Youth Leader Hoku Donovan-Smith spent high school at Monte del Sol, where he was engaged in Earth Care classes and projects, and is currently a freshman at the College of Santa Fe. Hoku’s favorite thing about himself is that he lives in a 1969 volkswagen minibus named Lucy. Hoku believes everything on the planet is perfect, based on direct experience. He believes we can choose happiness. Each of us trying to better the planet is part of that happiness. Our souls need the work we have to do. Hoku is one of our most valuable participants because of his beautiful optimism and ability to see the good in our every struggle and movement as a project.
James Longmire Youth Leader James Longmire is the One World Coffee and Trade Event Coordinator and one of the original founders of the project, and he is now a student at the College of Santa Fe. His interests include film and sustainable economics, and he's known for his creative new products, store photos, sustainable method of transportation, and the fact that he donates half of his hourly wages back to the store. Fans can find James' photos at the store sold as postcards. James heads the Event Planning volunteer committee.
Jessica Sanyoto Youth Leader Jessica Sanyoto is a senior at Santa Fe High and an exchange student from Indonesia, making her one of the only participants who has first-hand experience with coffee growers (in Sumatra). She is interested in any and all work-related experience so she’ll have some real-world credentials back in Indonesia, and she loves all creative pursuits and cooking. Soon Jessica will spearhead our seasonal food dish development, and she can’t wait.
Jessie Parker Youth Leader Jessie Parker is a senior at Monte del Sol Charter School. Jessie is a veteran Earth Care participant, having taken three Earth Care classes and holding significant roles in two Earth Care programs. Jessie likes to inspire others through conversation, event planning, and creative opportunities for communication. Jessie’s attendance at the National Bioneers Conference (the first time with Earth Care) two years in a row has significantly affected her life. She is always up for “talking big” about consciousness, spirituality, life journeys, and sustainability (her favorite topics). She is very excited about collaborating to create a sustainable, happy, healthy, and holy future for herself and the world.
John Garcia Adult Leader John Garcia is an Adult volunteer that was born in Santa Fe in 1967 and attended St. Mike’s for high school and then the Santa Fe Community College. His work and community experience includes risk management, athletics, real estate development, fundraising, promotion of environmentally friendly substances and recycling, and encouraging local politicians to support local businesses as well as adapting safety and sustainable practices that help the long term viability of the city economy and quality of life. John is wonderful with teens and supports them in event and art show planning, marketing—whatever they need help with.
Julie Dalness Youth Leader Julie Dalness left Santa Fe High early to attend the Santa Fe Community College to study general education. At One World, she has quickly become one of our most valuable players, and she’s particularly interested in sustainable business and event planning. Julie is 19 years old.
Leah Paisner Student Leader Leah Paisner is a junior at Santa Fe Prep. She likes reading, watching movies, anime, volleyball, and tennis. She has done a good job of learning customer service and how to never sit down while on the job.
Mara Lafferty
Mara Lafferty, age 20, grew up in
Santa Fe and was home-schooled until she earned her GED at age 16.
She has had plenty of experience working in coffee shops and
curating art shows, she is an open and healthy communicator, and she
loves the vibe of One World. Mara has quickly joined the activity of
the participant groups, offering ideas and putting in time to
redesign the interior of the store. Micayla Duran Student Leader Micayla Duran, age 18, attends the community college. She is particularly interested in global economics and Latin America and is happily expecting her first child in May or June. Micayla is a valuable leader in the project, taking initiative, communicating beautifuly, and helping her peers to succeed.
Michael Rael Student Leader Michael Rael is in the 8th grade at Monte del Sol Charter School. He is interested in sustainable business and wants to bring massage chairs into the store (and perhaps the customers can use them when he's done). Michael spent last summer learning about and creating alternative energy in a program on a local farm and plans to help One World with an energy audit and alternative energy plan.
Monica Rainer Student Leader Monica Rainer is 16 years old and is home schooled. Born in Chicago, she found her way to Santa Fe with her mother a couple years ago and has quickly risen in the project to become a paid employee. Also a member of Earth Care project Youth Allies, Monica serves as a valuable liason between the two youth activism programs.
Valentine Kendall Student Leader Valentine Kendall is in the 8th grade at the Academy for Technology and the Classics. Very interested in both science and writing, Valentine often conceives of ideas that are undeniably out of the box. 13 going on 20, Valentine is also one of our best conversationalists.
Will Risbourg Student Leader Will Risbourg is a freshman at Desert Academy and, with his friend Alex, recently became our youngest student ever to move from volunteer to employee status. Will likes computers, coffee, video games, and science. He is particularly good at customer service and often offers ideas that seem far beyond his years.
INTERNS Earth Care Interns are young professionals interested in gaining hands on experience working in a non profit organization. Interns are a key to Earth Care's success and have the same input as our staff.
Adrienne Barrett
Design and Communications Coordinator
BOARD OF TRUSTEES The Board of Trustees meets every other month for three hours and perform various duties in between meetings such as: fundraising, attending conferences, community outreach, financial planning, etc. The Board of Trustees is financially and legally responsible for the integrity of the organization.
Marilyn Winter-Tamkin, MSW Board President Business Owner, Social Activist, and Community Specialist
Rose Linda Martinez, PhD Professor, Organizational Development Consultant
Cyndi Harris, MS Cyndi is a community member, partner, consultant, and coach. She is founder of New Dimensions Consulting and is committed to supporting organizations and leaders focused on community and environmental well-being and social justice in creating high performing, inclusive, and resilient organizations. She serves on the faculty of NTL Institute for Applied Behavior Sciences Diversity Practitioner Certificate Program, Dealing with Covert Processes at Work, and Human Interaction training programs. Cyndi has participated in visioning and co-creating 4 different organizations focused on supporting not for profit organization and group effectiveness. Prior founding New Dimensions Consulting she held leadership positions in corporate/for profit business environments. She has been an active community volunteer throughout her career including community wide efforts promoting inclusion and dismantling of oppression and re-visioning region wide communities in St. Louis, MO. In Santa Fe, Cyndi also volunteers at The Wildlife Center and The Hospice Center. Business Owner, Social Activist, and Community Specialist
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Each member of the Executive Council meets with the Executive Director at least once a month to discuss the growth and leadership of the organization. They provide advice on various strategies from an organizational perspective to more effectively administer our services.
Kirby Hamilton Chairman - The Colony Group
ADVISORY COUNCIL Members of our Advisory Council offer specific knowledge and expertise in the field of sustainability and/or education and assist in various aspect of our business. Some help with establishing contacts, some with organizational planning, and others advise on a programmatic level.
Paul Hawken- Founder, Groxis, Co-author, Natural Capitalism
Paul Hawken is an Environmentalist, Entrepreneur, Journalist, and best selling author. At the age of 20 he devoted his life to changing the relationship between businesses and the environment, and between human and living systems in order to create a just and sustainable world. His practice has included starting and running ecological business, writing and teaching about the impact of commerce upon the environment, and consulting with governments and corporations on economic development, industrial ecology, and environmental policy. He has appeared on numerous media including the Today Show, Larry King, Talk of the Nation, Charlie Rose, and has been profiled or featured in hundreds of articles including the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Washington Post, Business Week, Esquire, and US News and Report. We are honored to have him as part of our team.
Jamie Cloud - President, The Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education
Jamie Founded The Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education (formerly the Sustainability Education Center) and is one of the worlds most forward thinking individuals in the realm of Sustainability Education. She is a pioneer in educating our future generations about a world of abundance and regeneration. The Sustainability Education Center explores the relationships between economic systems, ecological systems and justice in contexts ranging from local communities to global institutions. The goal of these explorations, and sustainability education in general, is to prepare young people and citizens with the knowledge, skills and attitudes which will enable them to meet their own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own. The Center pilots its programs and materials in the schools throughout the world.
Tony Gerlicz - Head of School (Head Learner), Monte Del Sol Charter School
• uses the arts as cultural expression, connections as a means of learning; • uses technology as a tool for learning; • uses the community as part of the learning, both locally and globally; • fosters a global perspective, all in the context of high academic expectations and achievement in a diverse and caring environment that fosters life-long learning and individual and community responsibility. Monte Del Sol has created a new model of public education, one where small school size ensures that every student is known and cared about and every student is challenged to achieve at a high level. They believe that young people need to see their education as having real impact on their worlds.
Jim Haim - Co-founder The Wilderness Charter School
Jim co-founded The Wilderness Charter School seven years ago. The school for juniors and seniors in Ashland, OR, focuses on educating students to become stewards of the planet. Students attend classes in a strawbale classroom while working on the property surrounding the classroom, making biodiesel, implementing Permaculture design, installing and studying a photovoltaic electrical system, and using a variety of alternative technologies to build structures on site and out in the community. Part of the students' curriculum is attending the Bioneers Conference held in Marin California. Students also cultivate a sense of place and community by spending four weeks out in the wilderness, backpacking and working with local organizations such as Lomakatsi Restoration Project. Jim believes that a key element in the environmental movement is creating a sustainable example of culture so others have a format they can look towards as their awareness of the world's environmental and social situation unfolds.
Mike Mann- CEO, BuyDomains.com and Executive Director of Grassroots.org
Jack Shea- Executive Director, The Teton Science School
Jack founded The Journeys School that serves students in grades K-12 in multi-age classroom settings. The school develops a student's sense of place through experiential, student-centered learning across all academic disciplines. By 2004 the Journeys School and Teton Science School's Teacher Learning Center will be housed in environmentally intelligent buildings on its new campus in Jackson Hole where the school will serve 200-220 students in grades Pre-K to 12 and provide learning opportunities for hundreds of school teachers from across the country. The Teacher Learning Center and the Journeys School will be known for their innovative approach to integrating the environment into school settings and curricula. Their success will be multiplied because when they train a teacher, they teach a classroom.
Nancy H. Shea - Founder, True Nature Consulting
Walter Stahel- Executive Director, The Product Life Institute
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Before
coming to Earth Care, Rachel taught at Santa Fe Prep for seven years and taught humanities within an Upward Bound program in
Oakland, CA, for one year prior (when she also served as Assistant
Director of that program). At Prep, she has taught English,
Philosophy, Economics, and Social Activism. She served as Director
of Prep’s Teen Action Program for three years and has helped
students develop numerous community projects, including a student
exchange between Prep and the Indian School and most recently a Fair
Trade Store and coffee shop in Santa Fe, which will serve as a
fundraiser for Peace Jam. Rachel holds bachelor’s degrees in both
sociology and studio art from Kenyon College and a master’s degree
in liberal studies from St. John’s College in Santa Fe. Beyond
teaching, her professional experience includes publishing,
journalism, and photography. 
Katya grew up in Taos and has a deep
connection to Northern New Mexico. She received a Bachelors of Arts
degree in Philosophy from Occidental College in Los Angeles,
California and went on to the Anderson School of Management at the
University of New Mexico in Albuquerque to receive her Masters
degree in Business Administration. Having had the opportunity to see
some of this planet’s most beautiful places such as Kenya and
Zimbabwe, The Great Barrier Reef in Australia, and The Galapagos
Islands off the coast of Ecuador, Katya has been inspired to focus
her MBA on working with non-profit organizations that promote
environmental sustainability and social justice. She comes to Earth
Care International from the Santa Fe Rape Crisis Center and is a
children’s ski instructor every winter.
Keith
came onboard with Earth Care in July of 2006. He brings with him 5
years of non-profit bookkeeping and accounting experience through
other organizations, such as: Alpine (Texas) Chamber of Commerce;
Girl Scouts of the Permian Basin (Odessa, Texas); and eBigBend
Community Learning Center (based in Alpine, Texas). After several
years of living in rural West Texas, Keith decided it was time for a
change. His love of the desert southwest (especially the Four
Corners area) and outdoor adventure drew him to Santa Fe, a place
where he could take advantage of his particular skills with ample
opportunity for exploring the great outdoors.
Marilyn is a retired psychotherapist and
social worker, and long time community activist. She has served on the Board of Directors of a number of
organizations that promote social and environmental health through
education and activism. These organizations include The Thursday
Night Group, The Stepfamily Association of America, Concerned
Citizens for Nuclear Safety, Santa Fe Preparatory School, The Cohen
Foundation and the Santa Fe Business and Community Alliance. She is currently a partner in
Julia's Organic Gardens, an organic lavender farm in Pagosa Springs,
Colorado. She was a co-founder of Colorado Dream Homes, an award
winning building company in Pagosa Springs that specializes in low
energy, low maintenance homes, and was co-founder of The Stepfamily
Specialists, a psychological consulting firm. Marilyn is married
with two sons and two grandchildren.
Kirby is the Chairman of the Board and Co-Founder of The Colony Group,
which has provided financial counseling, investment management and
estate planning to its clients for over 20 years. With a broad
background in business, finance and real estate development, Kirby
has also been active in non-profit work for many years, having
served as Chairman of the Institute of Self-Active Education, which
developed workshops within the Boston Public Elementary Schools,
supported by area manufacturers, utilizing the by-products of their
manufacturing processes to stimulate the creative imagination of
school children. In the past, Kirby has also served as Executive
Vice-President and General Manager of Matrix International
Industries, a consumer products company, and Chairman and CEO of
Blackstone Bank and Trust Company.
Tony Gerlicz founded and directs Monte
del Sol charter school in Santa Fe, NM. The mission of Monte Del Sol
is to graduate students with the skills, desire, and
Mike founded
Nancy
founded True Nature Consulting which empowers individuals and
organizations by facilitating dynamic one-on-one and group processes
which bring about authentic change. TNC specializes in working in
difficult circumstances that demand advanced facilitation skills and
the ability to work with diversity and conflict. TNC also trains in
leadership enhancement. Previous to TNC Nancy served as the
Executive Director of The Murie Center. The Murie Center is a voice
for the value of wild nature and its connection to the human
spirit. Nancy has a PhD in Environmental Philosophy and twenty five
years of program development and administration experience in a
variety of environmental non-profits. She also has extensive
teaching experience at the college level in philosophy and biology. 
Walter has been the Executive Director
of The Product Life Institute since its foundation in 1982. before
that, he was active in contract research and business activities. He
is recognized as the original founder of the concept of
cradle-to-cradle. Since 1988, he has been a deputy secretary-general
of the International Association for the Study of Insurance Economics,
Geneva; inter-linking the issues of loss prevention and waste
prevention since 1984, he was also active in the areas of Science
Policy and Local Employment Initiatives. He is member of the Mitchell
Prize Winners Association, Houston TX, and a founding member of the
'Factor 10 club'. Stahel is the author of books and numerous article
on the shift to a more sustainable society, and specifically the links
between a higher resource efficiency and local job creation. He
regularly works in Europe, Asia and the USA. Please click here for