• FOUNDER & PRESIDENT

    Danielle Stevenson is a pioneering mycologist, environmental scientist, and educator specializing in mycoremediation and sustainable practices. She holds a PhD in Environmental Toxicology from the University of California, Riverside, and her dissertation was “Phyto-Mycoremediation of Brownfields in Southern California.” As the founder of D.I.Y. Fungi, Danielle has dedicated her career to harnessing the power of fungi to address environmental challenges such as soil contamination, pollution, and ecosystem restoration. Her innovative work bridges the gap between science, community action, and ecological stewardship.

    With a background in environmental studies and applied mycology, Danielle focuses on developing accessible and practical solutions to environmental issues. She has collaborated with communities, researchers, and policymakers to implement bioremediation projects that utilize fungi and other natural systems to clean up pollutants like heavy metals and hydrocarbons. Her efforts include creating educational programs and workshops to empower individuals and organizations to adopt these techniques.

    Danielle is also a passionate advocate for food sovereignty and environmental justice. She has worked extensively on projects that integrate urban agriculture with soil restoration, addressing contamination in marginalized communities to ensure safe and equitable access to local food production. Her initiatives include Healing City Soils, which combines science and community collaboration to tackle urban pollution and support sustainable land use.

    Through her research, outreach, and advocacy, Danielle Stevenson has become a leading voice in regenerative environmental practices, inspiring others to reimagine their relationships with nature and the built environment. Her work demonstrates the transformative potential of fungi to heal not only ecosystems but also the communities that depend on them.

  • VICE PRESIDENT

    Nance Klehm is a renowned ecological systems designer, urban forager, and educator whose work emphasizes regenerative land practices and community-based resilience. With over two decades of experience, Nance has pioneered innovative approaches to land stewardship, soil remediation, and ecological education, blending traditional knowledge with contemporary science to address pressing environmental and social challenges.

    As the founder of Social Ecologies, Nance develops projects that focus on soil health, composting, wastewater reuse, and the interconnectivity of urban and rural ecosystems. Her work has supported municipalities, communities, and individuals in designing sustainable systems that enhance biodiversity, food security, and environmental justice. A passionate advocate for soil restoration, Nance has led groundbreaking initiatives in bioremediation and the transformation of urban landscapes into productive, ecologically balanced spaces.

    An engaging speaker and writer, Nance has shared her expertise internationally, inspiring audiences to rethink their relationships with nature and the built environment. She has also conducted workshops and training programs that empower individuals and communities to adopt regenerative practices, from urban foraging to composting human waste. Her work has been featured in numerous publications and documentaries, highlighting her commitment to fostering ecological awareness and action.

    Nance Klehm’s approach embodies a deep respect for the natural world and a belief in the power of collective action to create healthier, more sustainable communities.

  • BOARDMEMBER & TREASURER


    Liz Barry is a visionary environmental scientist, urban ecologist, and co-founder of Public Lab, an open science initiative focused on democratizing environmental data collection and analysis. Her work centers on empowering communities to monitor and address environmental challenges, particularly in underserved and marginalized areas. Liz's expertise lies in civic science, participatory mapping, and the development of accessible tools for environmental advocacy.

    She has played a pivotal role in advancing open-source hardware and methodologies that allow individuals and communities to gather and interpret data about their surroundings. From balloon and kite mapping to DIY spectrometry, Liz’s innovations have equipped people worldwide to engage in environmental monitoring and activism. Her work has contributed significantly to issues such as air and water quality monitoring, oil spill tracking, and toxic land assessment.

    With a background in landscape architecture and a deep commitment to public engagement, Liz is also an advocate for interdisciplinary collaboration and education. She has taught at institutions such as Columbia University and Parsons School of Design, emphasizing the intersections of technology, community action, and environmental stewardship. Through her leadership and outreach, Liz Barry continues to inspire a global movement for participatory science and environmental justice.

  • BOARD MEMBER

    Jesse Damiani is a writer, curator, and emerging technology strategist with expertise in virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), artificial intelligence (AI), and digital culture. As an Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern California (USC) and host of the Urgent Futures podcast, he explores the societal impacts of emerging technologies, including their role in climate action, sustainability, and environmental storytelling.  

    Jesse has curated immersive experiences for institutions like the Smithsonian, SXSW, and the Museum of Other Realities, showcasing how technology can drive awareness and engagement on critical issues, including environmental conservation. His writing for Forbes, WIRED, and The Verge analyzes the intersection of technology, ethics, and systemic change.  

    As an advisor, Jesse helps organizations navigate the evolving landscape of AI, XR, and digital media to enhance public engagement and advocacy. His experience in immersive storytelling and emerging tech strategy makes him a valuable resource for environmental organizations looking to leverage innovative tools for education, activism, and impact.

  • BOARD MEMBER

    James Oliver-Peña (he/they) is a community mycologist and soil scientist, born and raised in Venice, California. His studies in philosophy and time in the Olympic National Forest cultivated a deep curiosity in the intersection of life and death, namely fungi. In his nine-plus years of culturing microbes, fungi, and cells with friends, labs, and community, he explores the intersections of microscopy, bioremediation, human health, urban and SoCal soil microbiomes, and a sense of self entangled with microbes. He is the co-founder of Pacific Coast Cultures, a business dedicated to education and community about microbial relationships in food and ecologies. He has worked professionally and personally with organizations, including Metabolic Studio, LA Compost, Soil Food Web School, Santa Monica Community Gardens, Climate Action Santa Monica, City of Santa Monica, Santa Monica Great Park Coalition, University of Southern California, and Los Angeles Public Library

  • BOARD MEMBER & SECRETARY

    Shanhuan is a filmmaker and systems thinker, composting established methods of narrative production to co-create rituals of collective worldmaking. As a facilitator of experiences across mediums, they work to revitalize a communal sense of interspecies belonging. Shanhuan co-founded and runs Sympoetic Ecofabulatory — a monthly interspecies meetup in Los Angeles — and is a steward of LIOS Labs School of Ecological Imagination. They work to weave networks of support and care throughout diverse communities with a focus on ecological regeneration and collective healing. Shanhuan develops teaches workshops and interspecies collaboration globally in a variety of contexts including New Moon Mycology Summit, LIOS Labs Desert Transformation Labs. During New York Climate week in 2024, they curated and hosted Interspecies Collaboration Frameworks: Ecocentric Worldbuilding for Thriving Futures, a panel discussion hosted at Biotech Without Borders. Shanhuan is an alum of Emergence Magazine’s Seeds of Radical Renewal Leadership Fellowship, futher underscoring their dedication to ecologically grounded world-tending