Karl Anderson, Bemidji
Eartha Borer-Bell, Minneapolis
Donna Dalton, Afton
Ameliana Duran, Shoreview
Alyssa Fabia, St. Paul
Jeff Forester, Minneapolis
Robert Garcia-Gradoville Jr., West St. Paul
Don Hickman, Merrifield
Connor Horton, North St. Paul
Jai Kim, Mabel
Gladys Mejia, Minneapolis
J. DeVon Nolen; Minneapolis
Roopali Phadke, St. Paul
Robert Tibbetts, Bemidji
Raining White, Deer River
Member bios
Karl Anderson
Anderson is the senior biology faculty member and division chair at Northwest Technical College. His research spans environmental and antimicrobial microbiology, including antimicrobial resistance, natural product discovery from northern Minnesota plants, and aquatic ecology. He previously served as a graduate research assistant with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and has collaborated on environmental research with the University of Minnesota Crookston.
Anderson also serves as adjunct faculty at the University of Minnesota Crookston and White Earth Tribal and Community College. He participates on Minnesota DNR advisory committees, with service across fisheries, budget, fish and wildlife bodies and the panfish workgroup.
Anderson's family owns farmland near Greenbush in northwestern Minnesota, and he is based in Bemidji. He brings experience in environmental research, higher education, and natural resource advisory service to the ENRTF Community Grant Program Advisory Council, along with a working familiarity with agriculture and rural land use. His background provides a practical perspective on the connections among science, education, agriculture, public investment and natural resource decision-making.
Eartha Borer-Bell
Borer-Bell is co-executive director of the Midwest Environmental Justice Network, a grassroots, women-of-color-led organization that convenes and strengthens environmental justice organizations across twelve Midwestern states. She is also the founding director of a 5.5-acre regenerative urban farm in Saint Paul and provides strategic consulting to nonprofits, foundations, and social enterprises working at the intersection of social justice, food, agriculture, health and the environment.
For nearly two decades, Borer-Bell has worked with arts and environmental organizations in the Twin Cities and across the Midwest to help create more just and equitable communities. Her work brings together environmental justice, community leadership, organizational strategy, food systems and cross-sector collaboration.
Borer-Bell holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Environmental Studies from Macalester College and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Minnesota. She brings extensive experience in environmental justice, community-centered leadership and equitable organizational change to the ENRTF Community Grant Program Advisory Council.
Donna Dalton
Dalton is the principal of Syringa Consulting, where she supports transformational change and strategic planning for philanthropic organizations. Prior to launching Syringa Consulting, she served as executive director of the Mortenson Family Foundation for 13 years, helping shape the foundation's work to center community and advance equity.
Earlier in her career, Dalton spent more than a decade managing donor-advised funds and special projects with The Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation, where she developed expertise in philanthropic strategy, community investment and values-based grantmaking. She also served in development leadership roles with several nonprofit organizations, providing firsthand understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing community-based organizations seeking funding.
Throughout her career, Dalton has focused on strengthening philanthropy through collaboration, community engagement and strategic leadership. She brings extensive experience in grantmaking, nonprofit leadership, organizational strategy and equitable community investment to the ENRTF Community Grant Program Advisory Council.
Ameliana Duran
Duran is a recent graduate of Red Lake Nation College and plans to begin pre-architecture studies in fall 2026. She previously worked as a community outreach specialist with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe urban office, where she supported outreach, programming and resource coordination for Native families and urban Indigenous communities.
Her experiences as an Indigenous community member have shaped her interest in environmental stewardship, equitable access to resources and community-centered decision-making. She brings an emerging leadership perspective grounded in direct community engagement, relationship-building and service to Native communities.
Duran’s background offers the advisory council insight into how public programs and environmental investments can be made more accessible, responsive, and relevant to younger community members and urban Indigenous communities.
Alyssa Fabia
Fabia is an applied social scientist and water professional whose work focuses on water policy, science communication, and community-engaged solutions. Their professional background includes international development and public policy, with experience supporting collaborative approaches to transboundary governance, conservation and community resilience.
Fabia has served as a Ramsey County election judge in multiple roles and currently serves as vice chair of the Ramsey County Extension Committee. Their volunteer and professional work has taken them throughout Minnesota, where they partner with residents, local governments, Tribal communities, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Extension programs, historical societies, advocacy organizations, and other nonprofits to better understand local priorities and the balance of economic planning with community longevity.
Their work reflects a commitment to listening, learning and building relationships across diverse geographies and communities. They believe effective environmental solutions are grounded in local knowledge, collaboration and community participation. Fabia brings experience in water policy, community engagement, public service and cross-cultural collaboration to the ENRTF Community Grant Program Advisory Council.
Jeff Forester
Forester has served as executive director of Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates for more than two decades, leading statewide efforts to protect and enhance Minnesota's lakes and rivers through public policy, local leadership, and citizen engagement. Under his leadership, the organization has worked to strengthen partnerships among local lake associations, conservation organizations and policymakers to support long-term stewardship of Minnesota's waters.
Forester is a Hubert H. Humphrey Public Policy Fellow and a Shannon Leadership Institute Fellow. He is the author of Forest for the Trees: How Humans Shaped the Northwoods, published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press, and served as associate producer of the Emmy Award-winning documentary TRANSPLANT: A Gift for Life.
Throughout his career, Forester has worked to build collaborative partnerships that connect communities, nonprofit organizations and government around natural resource stewardship and public policy. He brings extensive experience in conservation leadership, statewide environmental advocacy, public engagement and collaborative governance to the ENRTF Community Grant Program Advisory Council.
Rob García-Gradoville Jr.
García-Gradoville is a sustainability strategist and climate systems leader based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, with more than 15 years of experience spanning natural resource management, international development, climate resilience and environmental finance. His career has included service as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic, Fulbright-supported climate adaptation research in Peru, environmental and social impact initiatives in Kenya, management of global grant programs at Water.org, and leadership of agricultural climate initiatives at Cargill.
He currently serves as an analyst for the Keeling Curve Methane Prize, a member of the Earthshot Prize Expert Advisory Panel, a Brain Trust member for XPRIZE Visioneering, and a member of the Board of Directors for the Superior Hiking Trail Association. He is also an active community volunteer and participated in the 2025 Anishinaabe Spirit Run, supporting awareness of addiction recovery and wellness within Minnesota Tribal communities.
Throughout his career, García-Gradoville has focused on connecting environmental innovation with community impact through collaborative partnerships, strategic investment and user-centered program design. He brings broad experience in sustainability, climate resilience, conservation finance, grantmaking and cross-cultural collaboration to the ENRTF Community Grant Program Advisory Council.
Don Hickman
Hickman is an environmental scientist and philanthropic leader whose career spans more than four decades in natural resource management, freshwater ecology, grantmaking and community development. He began his career in aquatic ecology and water chemistry, serving with the National Park Service, the New England Rural Community Assistance Program, the Massachusetts Audubon Society, BIO/WEST Consulting and AW Research.
Hickman spent more than 25 years with the Initiative Foundation, where he served in several leadership roles, including vice president and interim president. During his tenure, he helped establish the Healthy Lakes and Rivers Partnership and administered more than $4 million in Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund investments supporting innovative strategies to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. His work also included initiatives focused on workforce development, childcare, small business recovery and rural economic development across central Minnesota.
Throughout his career, Hickman has worked at the intersection of science, philanthropy and community investment to strengthen natural resources and rural communities. He brings extensive experience in environmental stewardship, grant administration, collaborative leadership and public-private partnerships to the ENRTF Community Grant Program Advisory Council.
Connor Horton
Horton is an operations and strategy leader specializing in conservation and climate initiatives and organizational leadership. He currently serves as operations manager for the High Integrity Forest Investment Initiative (HIFOR) at the Wildlife Conservation Society, where he oversees project management, strategic planning, operational integration, and partner engagement to advance global conservation finance initiatives that support the protection of high-integrity tropical forests.
Previously, Horton developed and led The Nature Conservancy's business engagement program in Maine, working with private, public, and nonprofit partners to advance sustainable economic development through collaborative research, technology innovation, entrepreneurship and strategic investment. Earlier in his career, he served in the U.S. Army as an Arabic linguist and intelligence professional, supporting cross-cultural engagement and conducting intelligence operations in the Middle East.
Horton holds a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Business Analytics from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Middle Eastern Studies from American Military University. He brings experience in conservation strategy, innovative environmental finance, organizational leadership and collaborative partnerships to the ENRTF Community Grant Program Advisory Council.
Jai (Jay) Kim
Jai has lived in Minnesota for nearly 60 years and has developed a lifelong appreciation for the state's lakes, rivers, forests and outdoor traditions. Growing up in the Twin Cities and now residing in southeastern Minnesota, he developed a deep connection to Minnesota's natural resources through fishing, paddling, hiking, skiing and exploring public lands throughout the state.
Jai recently retired following a career as a regional banking executive and attorney. For more than four decades, he has served as a volunteer leader with nonprofit organizations focused on youth leadership, food security, conservation, biodiversity, and environmental stewardship. He currently serves on The Nature Conservancy's Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota Board of Trustees and previously served as the board’s chair. He also currently serves as Vice Chair of The Nature Conservancy's Global Trustee Council.
Throughout his professional and volunteer service, Jai has worked to strengthen nonprofit governance, strategic leadership and collaborative conservation initiatives. He brings extensive experience in organizational governance, conservation leadership, philanthropy and statewide community engagement to the ENRTF Community Grant Program Advisory Council.
Gladys Daniela Mejia
Mejia serves as program director for Resilient Cities & Communities, where she works with municipal, county and state partners to advance climate resilience initiatives focused on urban forestry, water resources, indoor air quality and energy efficiency. Her work emphasizes coalition building and collaboration with neighborhoods, community organizations and public agencies to support locally driven environmental and community goals.
Throughout her career, Mejia has worked in public service, nonprofit organizations, local government and the private sector, including roles with the Minnesota Attorney General's Office, the City of Minneapolis Health Department and the insurance industry. She is a member of the Minneapolis Global Shaper Community and an active board member of Huellas Latinas. Mejia has developed expertise in community engagement, strategic communications, project coordination and cross-sector collaboration, with a strong commitment to strengthening communities through equitable public service.
Mejia is bilingual in English and Spanish and is originally from Honduras. Her leadership is grounded in building relationships, listening to community voices and creating partnerships that improve environmental and community well-being. She brings experience in climate resilience, public engagement, environmental justice and collaborative leadership to the ENRTF Community Grant Program Advisory Council.
J. DeVon Nolen
Nolen is a community leader and environmental justice advocate whose work focuses on food systems, climate resilience, community wealth building and neighborhood revitalization. She has dedicated her career to strengthening community-led solutions that improve environmental health, expand equitable access to resources, and support healthy, resilient neighborhoods throughout Minnesota.
Nolen serves on numerous local and statewide organizations advancing environmental justice, food security, urban agriculture, clean energy and community development. Her leadership includes service with the Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council, Twin Cities Food Justice, Minneapolis Climate Action, the Minnesota Chapter of the American Association of Blacks in Energy and the Cultural Wellness Center. She also helped shape the Northside Green Zones initiative as a founding member of the Environmental Justice Community Council.
Throughout her career, Nolen has focused on building partnerships that connect environmental stewardship, public health, community development and equity. She brings extensive experience in environmental justice, collaborative leadership, community engagement and systems-level thinking to the ENRTF Community Grant Program Advisory Council.
Roopali Phadke
Phadke is a professor of environmental studies at Macalester College, where her teaching and research focus on the relationship between science, public policy and community engagement. Her work examines energy and water policy, participatory decision-making and the role of communities in shaping environmental outcomes.
Phadke has led major research projects supported by state and federal agencies and has more than twenty years of experience building programs that advance participatory science, community stewardship and public engagement. She also serves on the boards of local and national nonprofit organizations.
Her work is grounded in bringing technical knowledge, public values and community perspectives into environmental decision-making. She brings expertise in environmental policy, research, public participation, and collaborative governance to the ENRTF Community Grant Program Advisory Council.
Robert Tibbetts
Tibbetts is an enrolled member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe and currently serves as the language and cultural division director for the White Earth Band of Ojibwe. Throughout his career, he has dedicated his work to education, language revitalization, cultural preservation, and service to Tribal communities.
Tibbetts taught in public schools and Bureau of Indian Education schools for more than 20 years, including service at an Ojibwe language immersion school. His work has focused on strengthening Indigenous language, culture and educational opportunities for future generations.
Growing up, Tibbetts' family relied on hunting, trapping and other traditional practices to help provide food, experiences that fostered a lifelong connection to Minnesota's natural resources, and Ojibwe cultural traditions. He has remained an advocate for environmental stewardship throughout his career.
Tibbetts brings extensive experience in Tribal leadership, Indigenous language and cultural preservation, education, and natural resource stewardship to the ENRTF Community Grant Program advisory council. His perspective reflects the enduring relationship between healthy natural resources, cultural traditions and community wellbeing.
Raining White
White is the deputy plants program director with the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Division of Resource Management, where he has worked for more than eight years in the Plants Department with a focus on invasive species management, aquatic plants and native ecosystems. His work supports the protection, restoration and long-term stewardship of natural resources within the Leech Lake Reservation.
White currently serves as chair of the Minnesota Noxious Weed Advisory Committee and as a member of the Statewide Aquatic Invasive Species Advisory Committee for Minnesota, contributing technical expertise and Tribal perspectives to statewide non-native species management discussions. An enrolled member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe from the Pillager Band, White grew up on the reservation exercising Treaty rights through hunting, fishing, gathering and wild rice harvesting. These experiences continue to shape their approach to advocating for tribal sovereignty and treaty rights, environmental stewardship, conservation and the relationship between healthy ecosystems and healthy communities. White brings expertise in Tribal natural resource management, botany, invasive species management and Indigenous stewardship practices to the ENRTF Community Grant Program Advisory Council.