Featured Summit Speakers

Cherelle Blazer

Cherelle Blazer, Senior Director of International Climate and Policy Campaign at Sierra Club.  Co-Founder of Breath is Lyfe, an environmental health arts and activism nonprofit:  Cherelle is focused on fighting inequity and systemic racism by focusing on the environment and its intersections.

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Cherelle is a proud graduate of Southern A&M University and Yale University School of Forestry and the Environment.  During her academic career she researched at the National Center of Atmospheric Research NCAR, NASA Langley and Argonne National Laboratory.  She was the Clean air/clean energy specialist for Environmental Defense Fund EDF before joining Sierra Club as a Beyond Coal campaign organizer and representative.  Most notably Cherelle has played a pivotal role in closing several coal plants in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas.  Now she works toward a global “just energy transition” from fossil fuels to renewables that centers the Global South and most historically marginalized populations and regions.  When she is not literally “fighting the power” Cherelle enjoys doing community and cultural work to venerate the ancestors and perpetuate balance, spiritual wellbeing and joy. She feels extremely blessed to work with a tight network of individuals who inspire her every day including a group of amazing world changing women!

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Kim Macharia

Kim Macharia, Executive Director of Space Prize, began her career in the space industry managing community relations for startups. She has worked on a range of projects including space situational awareness and private spaceflight. Kim has also had the privilege of representing companies at international events including the UN World Space Forum. Throughout her career she has made a concerted effort to advocate for marginalized communities and create pathways for nontraditional actors to engage in the growing space economy.

Kim is also passionate about diversifying and democratizing the space industry. She recently served as Chair of the Space Frontier Foundation and leverage the position to advocate for the development of the space economy. During her tenure, she launched ambitious initiatives centered around Climate Change, Diversity & Inclusion, and STEM.

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Sunni Patterson

New Orleans Native and Visionary, Sunni Patterson, is an internationally acclaimed Poet, Performer, Workshop Facilitator, Certified Spiritual Life Coach/Consultant, and an Initiated Priestess and Minister. She currently serves as a Resident Artist for both the City of New Orleans' Claiborne Corridor Cultural Initiative and Junebug Productions. She also works as a Community Health Worker and Artist Influencer with Ashe Cultural Arts Center. Sunni is co-founder of the Environmental Arts and Public Health Organization, Breath is Lyfe, along with Scientist and Atmospheric Chemist, Cherelle Blazer, where they create programming and events that translate Science through Art, Culture, and Community Action. Sunni lives in New Orleans, Louisiana with her husband, three children, and dog.

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Macdella Cooper

MacDella Cooper is a candidate for the Presidency of Liberia. A successful business consultant, community activist, and philanthropist, she has dedicated her life to helping the people of her native Liberia. She founded The Movement for One Liberia political party, and if elected President has an aggressive plan for fighting government corruption, inefficiency, and incompetence. Establishing a system of transparency, accountability, participation, and inclusion is the main focus of her campaign. She is working with a team of international, regional, and local experts to develop and implement her “Vision for the Future of Liberia Plan,” which is based on reforms that promote investment, economic growth, education, infrastructure development, healthcare, and youth employment.
 

A wartime refugee born in Monrovia, MacDella immigrated to the United States in 1993, living in a housing project in Newark, NJ, with her mother and siblings. She excelled in high school, graduating 3rd in a class of 1,200, was awarded a full scholarship to the College of New Jersey, and earned a degree in Electronic Communications. Upon graduation, she established a successful career in marketing, public relations, and corporate planning and consulting. Among her employers and clients were marquee fashion companies like Ralph Lauren, Duca Sartoria, Eredi Pisano, and financial companies like Citi Group, Capri Capital, Primo Prima, and Starwood. MacDella also had a successful career as a fashion model for Glamour Magazine and other publications after being discovered in a Manhattan Cafe.
 

MacDella never forgot her impoverished upbringing in Monrovia. In 2003 she founded the MacDella Cooper Foundation to educate, train, and motivate Liberia’s youth through schools and innovative informal education programs. Thousands of Liberian students and youth have benefitted from the programs of her Foundation. MacDella views investment in Liberia’s youth as the key to the future of the country. Through her leadership, dozens of schools have become “safe places of education,” providing a warm environment, meals, healthcare, and training.

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