Our 2023 Plenary Speakers

A lifelong resident of Kent County, Delaware, Chief Coker has been elected to the position of Principal Chief of the Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware since 1996. Throughout his time as Chief, Chief Coker has worked tirelessly on the topic of environmental advocacy. At Delaware’s First Annual Environmental Justice Conference, Chief Coker challenged educators to learn and pass on the Lenape view of the interconnectedness of all living things, the sanctity of place, and the concept that man is but one small part of the web of life, not the center of it. Collaborating with the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) Renewable Energy Initiative and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council of the Oceans (MARCO) and his membership on the Chesapeake Bay Advisory Council, Chief Coker’s rare sensitivity for the balance of ecology, economy and ethnicity makes him a valued member of many committees and task forces where he continues to work diligently with federal, state and local governments to improve the health and wellbeing of the Lenape People remaining in their original homeland, now known as the State of Delaware.

Nessy is an environmental activist and a senior at Sussex Technical High School. At 15 years old, Nessy had a vision to start a community garden in her town. Seeing how many of her town’s population lived in poverty and was experiencing food insecurity, she knew she could not eliminate the problem, however she hoped to help feed her community. She partnered with The First State Community Action Agency and The Urban Garden Initiative to turn her vision into reality. She has been a featured guest speaker for Delaware Interfaith Power and Light Climate’s Retreat and Legislation Hall in Dover, Delaware. 

A Delaware native, Brigid Gregory has spent the last 10+ years working in 4 different states on sustainability initiatives ranging from energy to food and most recently waste.  Before working for Plastic Free Delaware, Brigid was the Waste Reduction and Recycling Sr. Coordinator for Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland where she managed the University's daily waste operations (recycling, composting, and incineration) and educated students, staff, and faculty. She is passionate about working with people to bring about sustainable changes in her community.  Brigid lives in Wilmington with her husband and daughters.

Shweta has been working in the field of environmental protection and conservation since 2012, initially as the Youth Environmental Educator, and later turned her love for nature into climate activism after training at Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project in 2018. She currently works with the faith based environmental nonprofit, DEIPL, mobilizing the faith community to act on climate as a moral obligation. As a person of faith, a nature lover, and a mother of two young children, she enjoys leading an organization that focuses on environmental stewardship and climate justice. 

 Kirsten is the New Castle County Organizer and Leadership Development Coordinator for Network Delaware, an organization dedicated to helping regular people gain the skills, knowledge, and resources to make change in their community. Through her role with Network Delaware, she recruits new volunteers, helps connect them with teams and programs that fit their interests, and works with them to develop their skills to fight for justice and equity. 

 Rachel is a PhD Candidate at the University of Delaware studying environmental engineering.  Rachel received her bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from Messiah University.  Rachel’s dissertation work involves the study of the environmental, social, and economic impacts of aerobic bio-digesters for food waste recycling. Rachel is a fellow with the Delaware Environmental Institute, and is passionate about sustainability and environmental stewardship. 

G.W. is an artist and environmentalist based in Delaware, he uses a variety of mediums  to create abstract images that delve into the relationship between humanity and the natural world. “Through my art, I aim to raise awareness of environmental issues, including groundwater contamination, sea level rise, and littering, and encourage people to think critically about the impact of humanity on the environment.” 

As a Nicaraguan raised in California, Reji has first hand experience with the human impacts of wildfires, including being an evacuee, volunteering at evacuation centers, and working with clean-up teams.  She has seen the disparate impacts of California fires on her Latine community. This experience inspired her work as an environmental justice advocate, and as a Community organizer for the Green New Deal Network and Working Families Party. 

Prof. Solomon is an Assistant Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Delaware who originally hails from Jamaica via Canada. His work develops microbial systems that can be used to address grand societal challenges in sustainability, energy, agriculture, materials research and human health. A key area of his work develops cost effective biological methods of upcycling of plastics into more valuable products via microbes in the digestive tracts of yellow mealworms. 

Lauren has been beekeeping for five years in two apiaries (West Chester and Newtown Square, PA). She serves on the education committee for the Chester County Beekeepers Association (CCBA) and has mentored six beekeepers to date through the CCBA's annual apprenticeship program. Lauren teaches biology and chemistry at Tower Hill School, and co-leads a week-long beekeeping program at the end of the school year with her colleague and co-presenter Cheryl Mitchell.  Their program, "Life Among the Bees", is one of many offered to upper school students after final exams, and it is unique in that it uses the school apiary as an opportunity for teaching and learning in an outdoor classroom.  

Cheryl has been a beekeeper for several years with her husband at their home apiary in West Chester, PA. Cheryl teaches biology and chemistry at Tower Hill School, and leads a week-long beekeeping program at the end of the school year with her colleague and co-presenter Lauren Helfgott.  Their program, "Life Among the Bees", is one of many offered to upper school students after final exams, but it is unique in that it uses the school apiary as an opportunity for teaching and learning in an outdoor classroom.  

Susan is the Administrator of the Climate and Sustainability Section of the Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy in the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.  She directs programs to adapt to climate change, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, and promote sustainable development policies throughout the state. Recently this work included the completion of the state’s first comprehensive Climate Action Plan and programs to facilitate electric vehicle deployment.  

Robin holds a B.S. from Penn State in Wildlife and Fisheries Science and an M.A. in Biology from Miami University's Project Dragonfly. Prior to joining the Delaware Nature Society, Robin worked as a zookeeper at several zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, fulfilling a childhood dream. Robin transitioned into advocacy to champion environmental causes at the legislative level. Now her work involves leading Delaware in regional clean water coalitions, supporting Delaware's clean water initiatives, and bridging the gap between communities and their governments on environmental issues. Robin lives in Delaware with her husband and their rescue dogs, cats, and birds. 

Kerry truly believes in the power of change through a never-ending sense of creativity and collaboration. She works as the Partnership and Recruitment Manager for Project Invent- a nonprofit that promotes design thinking within communities.Previously in her role as an educator and Sustainability Coordinator, she facilitated a Makerspace inspired by the Sustainable Development Goals to spark innovation, community outreach, and action.  

Lindsey Walker leads the National Wildlife Federation’s education and community conservation programs in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Working with her team, she develops partnerships and designs projects that support environmental education, create wildlife habitat, and support communities in urban centers. Lindsey is based in Philadelphia and previously led volunteer programming, community engagement, and urban forestry efforts for Fairmount Park Conservancy. She has a Master’s of Environmental Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.

Karen has been a climate activist and organizer for over 25 years. She started a chapter of Extinction Rebellion in Delaware and owned a farm to table local food grocery for 13 years. Karen now works as the Delaware Program Manager for Philly based nonprofit Green Building United. She works closely with frontline and Indigenous groups working towards a just transition through the climate and ecological emergency. She is also involved with rewilding and native plant projects to support wildlife preservation and biodiversity.

Dustyn joined the Delaware Chapter of the Sierra Club in July 2019. He has worked in the Delaware political world since 2015. Dustyn believes that Delaware can become a leader in the fight for more renewable energy and environmental justice through collaboration and coalition building. Growing up in what was once a rural mountain town, hiking through the Appalachian Trail, and spending hours in the woods, he knows the value of being able to enjoy the outdoors as a child. Unfortunately, when he goes back to visit where he grew up, it is now industrial and sprawling development. So he also understands the impacts that unfettered growth and a lack of oversight can have on a cherished space.

Bryan is a savvy entrepreneur who is on a mission to deliver industrial biotechnology solutions to quench society's growing need for sustainable nutrition. CEO and Co-Founder of the biotechnology company Superbrewed Food, Dr. Tracy works with a talented team of scientists, engineers, and investors to bring affordable, nutritious, and sustainable food to the market. Additionally, Dr. Tracy serves on the board of the Delaware Sustainable Chemistry Alliance (DESCA) and the Forum to Advance Minorities in Engineering (FAME), one of the nation's first STEM focused non-profits. 

Arnav is a 10th grade student at Odyssey Charter High School. He is passionate about science and technology and has been actively involved in various citizen science projects. Arnav is also a strong advocate for sustainability and citizen science and is dedicated to encouraging and empowering others to participate in these projects and become their own scientists. He is excited to be leading this workshop to share his knowledge and experience with others and help them find their perfect project. 

Raised on a farm on the eastern shore of Maryland, after high school Charles went to work for a electrical contractor learning the trade and for the last 20 years worked as a maintenance supervisor for an animal vaccine company. Charles has been a volunteer with the Delaware NWTF for 26 years helping to improve habitat and restoring wild life. He has always been interested in the outdoors and saving the habitat. 

Aurora oversees social media and influencer activations for The Body Shop across the US & Canada, where she spends her time building out campaigns focused on their product and purpose-driven work. She has worked in the social media & content space for over seven years (primarily focused on retail) and is very happy to have landed at a company that shares a similar passion to hers for sustainability and cruelty-free practices.  When she's not working, Aurora is spending time at the beach with her pups in Portland, ME where she lives with her partner.