Ze-Kun Li, Executive director

Ze (he/him) got his first taste of community organizing in 2010, when, as a De Anza College student, he helped organize a 15,000-person march in San Francisco to advocate for adequate educational funding. This invaluable experience created a belief in the power of student organizing and motivated him to successfully run for student body president. As student body president in 2011, he led a group of 75+ student leaders to create systematic changes - including a deal with VTA to create the first community college eco-pass, where students now pay only $7.75 per quarter to have unlimited usage of any Valley Transportation Authority bus and light rail.

Prior to joining Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action, he built multi-sector coalitions in the 9 counties of the Bay Area to support the largest affordable housing bond in the country. Before that, he was the Director of Campaign Operations for a leading California political strategy firm, where he guided California State Senate and State Assembly, Countywide and City Council electoral campaigns to victory. He’s won 24 out of 26 campaigns because he values strategic partnerships, coalition building, in-language communication and utilizes polling and data to inform decisions.

Over a decade of experience working with private, public and non-profit stakeholders has taught Ze to prioritize the philosophy of “people support what they help create.” His innate ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders and students creates synergy that turns an idea into a reality. He is passionate about youth empowerment and helping to mentor the next generation of changemakers to tackle the climate crisis, and creating systematic changes in education to level the playing field to green career opportunities.

Ze holds a B.A. in Political Science from Santa Clara University.

Contact: Ze@svyouthclimateaction.org

Christine Zack, Program Manager

Christine Zack is a wildlife biologist, environmental educator, and program manager with over a decade of experience mentoring youth, leading environmental projects, and building community partnerships. She is passionate about empowering young people to take action on climate change and positively impact their communities.

As Senior Education Manager at Environmental Volunteers, Christine redesigned and relaunched the teen docent program in 2019, expanding participation from 1 to 40 by 2023. She created leadership roles, specialized training, and recruitment processes, securing support for expansion through internships and capstone projects. Of the teen docents, 85% decided to pursue STEM majors, and 95% have been accepted to four-year colleges. Students have gone on to become local leaders, founding several youth-led environmental education and conservation organizations.

In recent years, Christine has focused on creating climate change programs and curricula for elementary and high school students. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors bird watching, volunteering with local environmental nonprofits, or relaxing at home watching Netflix with her partner, Jon, and their cat, Gus.

Christine holds a degree in Biological Anthropology from UC San Diego and a Master’s in Biology from Saint Joseph’s University.

Contact: Christine@svyouthclimateaction.org

Hoi Poon, Co-Founder & Senior ADvisor

Hoi Poon is a seasoned Strategist, Community Organizer, and Marketer with over two decades of experience in various sectors. Throughout her career, she has managed and advised successful campaigns at the local, state, and federal level, directed policy and issue-oriented projects, and conducted marketing and fundraising for non-profits.

Hoi's extensive experience in the private, public, and non-profit sectors has enabled her to understand different perspectives and bridge divides among people to achieve common ground and create positive change. She has also served on numerous non-profit boards focused on education, environmental issues, and community development.

In 2019, due to the urgency of the climate crisis, Hoi began an early retirement and founded SVYCA to focus on advancing climate solutions and engaging key stakeholders and youth across the Bay Area to combat global temperature rise.

Erin Zimmerman, Communications Consultant

Erin Zimmerman has been studying the political impacts of environmental change for over a decade. She received her Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Adelaide, Australia, in 2013. Her doctoral dissertation examined the influence of non-traditional security issues, such as climate change, on regional governing institutions in Asia. Her master’s thesis, completed in 2010, examined the negative impact of environmentally induced migration on state stability.

As an environmental advocate Erin has been involved with many organizations in Australia, Switzerland and the United States of America. Most recently, she was trained as a Climate Reality Leader in 2019 by the Climate Reality Project. She was also the climate columnist for the San Jose Spotlight and invited columnist with India currents between 2020 and 2022. She currently lives in Colorado and, in addition to her work with SVYCA, she also works at the Colorado-Wyoming Climate Resilience Engine — an National Science Foundation Funded entity focused on fostering the development and deployment of climate resilience technologies.

Esther Duong, VP of internal operations

Esther Duong is the Vice Chair of the Leadership Team and student mentor for the San Jose team. In the past, she has worked on the Leadership Workshops, the Environmental Literacy initiative, and various projects on the San Jose team as a co-lead. She is also a student at UC Davis studying Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning with interests in city planning, urban green spaces, and native ecosystem conservation and restoration. In her free time, Esther likes to read, listen to music, and bike around campus.

Diya Kandhra, VP of Professional development

Diya Kandhra is a student at UC Berkeley (majoring in Environmental Economics and Policy), and an avid climate advocate for policy changes from the local to the state level. Within SVYCA, she has co-founded and co-led the Morgan Hill Team, co-founded the County Advocacy Team, has served as an active member of the State Advocacy Team, and has helped organize various workshops and presentations. Outside of SVYCA, in high school she was the co-president for Ann Sobrato High School's Environmental Club, had interned with the City of Morgan Hill's Environmental Department, and created interactive activities on climate literacy within AAUW's Young Women Leaders program. In the future, she wishes to focus her studies and advocacy efforts on energy and transit issues. In her free time, she loves to listen to rock music, run, and play flute, piano, or guitar.

Gwyn Azar, State Advocacy co-lead

Gwyn has been an active member and leader in SVYCA since the organization was founded in 2019. She has been a co-lead of the Cupertino Team, Climate Literacy Team, and is currently serving on the Leadership Team. An alumni of Cupertino High School, she is now a student at UC Davis studying Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning with a minor in Spanish. She is passionate about climate solutions, policy, and advocacy. Outside of SVYCA she is a big band nerd, and currently plays trombone in the UC Davis Marching Band. 

Elisa Floyd, At large

Elisa Floyd, a Senior at Homestead High School, champions environmental sustainability wherever she goes. In the summer of 2022, she co-founded the Fremont Union High School District’s (FUHSD) Climate Action Team, a partnership between FUHSD and nonprofit Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action (SVYCA), in order to help create a districtwide climate action plan with comprehensive solutions including climate literacy and waste management. She currently serves as the student board representative on the FUHSD Board of Trustees, representing over 10,000 FUHSD students. Elisa’s commitment to our planet and its people began in the 4th grade, when she worked with her teacher to implement her elementary school’s first Zero Waste Program. Since that young age, she has and continues to focus on using education to empower youth communities to engage in climate advocacy and become environmental stewards. When she’s not working towards creating a greener future, Elisa is an avid fan of Frontline PBS, loves to run, walk, and explore different places, enjoys Matcha and coffee, and finds joy in spending time with her friends.

cici xu, State Advocacy co-lead

Cici, an Economics and Energy Studies student at Yale University, is the former co-lead of the Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action State Advocacy Team and Saratoga/Los Gatos Youth Climate Action Team. Cici currently takes on the role of co-main organizer for SVYCA’s annual Youth Leadership Summit. Cici, being affected by severe environmental issues throughout her childhood, became extremely passionate about fighting back climate change, speaking up for environmental justice, and bringing awareness of sustainability to her community.

carolyn zhao, at large

Carolyn is a former co-lead of the Santa Clara Youth Climate Action Team and has a fun time exploring her newfound passions for environmental and social justice. She’s a foodie, both for information as well as delicious sustenance, and loves to paint, dream, learn, and pet her cat Robert while watching Netflix in her free time. She hopes to one day make the world a better place through her climate advocacy, a possible scientific discovery, and joy.

Peri Plantenberg, College Youth Leader, Sunnyvale Team Mentor

Peri Plantenberg is a UC Berkeley student and a Summer 2024 Community Engagement Intern for the City of Sunnyvale’s Environmental Services Department. She is one of the youth founding members of SVYCA after joining in the summer of 2019. She helped expand the nonprofit by co-founding several teams, co-leading several initiatives including  workshops and speaker series, and mentoring youth leaders. She also served as the first President of the Board of Directors when the organization transitioned from grassroots to a nonprofit 501(c)3.  Peri is passionate about climate advocacy and empowering youth leaders. Her LinkedIn is www.linkedin.com/in/peri-plantenberg.

Daphne Zhu, Coordinator and Youth Leader, San Jose

Daphne is a senior at Lynbrook High School, and a co-lead of the San Jose and Nature-Based Solutions action teams. Her love of nature since childhood has made her dedicated to fight for environmental preservation, and she joined SVYCA with the goal of creating impactful change—which she can say has definitely become true. She loves the supportive community she has found here, and whether through SVYCA and advocacy or any other field, she hopes that many others will join the local and global community working to protect our common home. Outside of SVYCA, she serves as the president of her school’s environmental club, a member of the FUHSD Climate Collective, and a Youth Commissioner of the Santa Clara Valley Water District. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, practicing clarinet, spending time outside, or watching historical c-dramas!

Jayden Wan, Coordinator and Youth Leader, San Mateo County

Jayden Wan is a senior at Burlingame High School, and Co-Lead of San Mateo Youth Climate Action. Hoping to pursue a career in urban studies and sustainability, he's often searching for new ways to further his skills as both an advocate for the environment and as a designer.