AHMAD GARIB (They/Them/He/Him)
Marketing Coordinator

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Ahmad is a Chicago-based audio-visual technician and creative producer with a background in sound production technology. At One Earth Film Festival, Ahmad contributes to marketing, social media, and media production to help bring environmental stories to wider audiences. Ahmad’s work spans live events, digital media, and community arts initiatives. Outside the festival, Ahmad collaborates with musicians, filmmakers, and nonprofits to support creative projects rooted in culture, storytelling, and social impact.

ANDY NUNEZ (He/Him)
Graphic Designer

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Andy is a graphic designer and marketing student at Dominican University, graduating this May. Through his work with the One Earth Film Festival, he helps design visual materials that support the festival’s mission of connecting people to environmental stories through film. Andy approaches design with intention and care, believing it should not only look good but also serve a purpose and tell a meaningful story. He enjoys turning ideas into visuals that people can easily understand and connect with.

Outside of his work, Andy spends much of his time designing for campus organizations, making time for loved ones, playing guitar, and enjoying good food.

CESAR ALMEIDA (He/Him)
Marketing Manager

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Cesar, the founder of Creative Capitol, the One Earth Film Festival’s official marketing partner, likes to spend time DJing in local green spaces across Chicago. He believes that the definition of environment is not only limited to the birds, trees, bees, and leaves but expands to the places where we eat, live, learn, and sleep. His company helps eliminate barriers to inclusive, just, and sustainable access to green spaces and economies across Illinois through transformative programs and services that promote environmental, cultural, and creative sustainability.

ERIN TURNEY (She/They)
Creative Assets Lead & Operations Support

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Erin is an environmentalist and artist, specializing in videography; she is also passionate about herbalism. They tell stories through film, illustrating the interconnectedness of all living beings worldwide. Since 2015, Erin has partnered with One Earth to strengthen their bridge between film and environmental activism. They also work closely with their community, sharing accessible herbal medicine and knowledge sourced from local plants.

GAREN HUDSON (He/They)
Technical Coordinator

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Garen is a musician, rock climber, and drug policy reform activist. He believes that there is a major need for collective and individual healing to occur in order for the healing of the planet. He hopes through music and connection to the outdoors, people can find that healing. Garen and his partner are avid gardeners, and are consistently working to improve their techniques to be more sustainable and regenerative.

JANI WODI (She/Her)
One Earth Film Festival Intern

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A self-proclaimed global citizen with a deep love for travel, culture, and the stories that connect us all. Jani Wodi is a college senior at Lake Forest College studying Business Marketing and Data Science. She is super creative and loves exploring different mediums of art from painting to filmmaking as ways of experiencing and expressing the world around her. She believes in the power of storytelling as a medium for connection and change, which is what draws her to the One Earth Film Festival and its vision of a more thoughtful, conscious world.

JOANNA DREW (She/Her)
Grants Manager

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Joanna plays her part in restoring harmony in our ecosystem by using a bicycle as her primary mode of transportation (when weather permits!). When she is not out and about, she works for domestic and international NGOs, increasing their capacity to raise funds to bring community projects to life. One day, Joanna dreams to live in a zero-waste home amongst the trees, composting and growing her own fruits and vegetables.

JOSHUA BYNUM (He/Him)
Digital Communications & Program Support Coordinator

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Josh is an environmentalist with a specific interest in racial justice and food. He firmly believes that we only have one Earth, and if we continue down the current path, we will simply have no place to go. Josh hopes to use digital advocacy to foster community, drive, and advocacy both within and beyond the Chicago region. In his spare time, Josh enjoys watching anime and is a frequent visitor to the nearest forest preserve.

KIM PHAM (She/Her)
Host Communications & Coordination Support

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Originally from Oklahoma, Kim believes the best sunsets reside in the Great Plains. She grew up in a family that loved to trade homegrown vegetables and herbs. Kim's mindset when it comes to environmentalism is the same approach she takes in bettering herself. Small, consistent, and imperfect efforts matter more than sprints of perfect action. In her free time, she loves to collage, using scrap materials and giving them a fun, new life.

LISA BIEHLE FILES (She/Her)
Young Filmmakers Contest Program Director

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Lisa uses corn meal gluten and beneficial nematodes on her lawn instead of conventional pesticides. She also shares a compost bin with her neighbors and is beginning to experiment with native plants. Her raised-bed vegetable garden was filled with heirloom tomatoes this year, resulting in delightful omelettes, salads and ratatouille. In the spring, she had purchased heirloom seedlings from the esteemed Tomato Lady, who works at Sugar Beet Food Co-op.

MARIA IMAN (She/Her)
One Earth Film Festival Intern

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Maria Iman is an intern with One Earth Collective and a senior at Dominican University, where she is majoring in Communications with a minor in Social Media. Outside of her academic and professional work, Maria is a professional Latin dancer and choreographer. In her free time, she enjoys listening to podcasts and audiobooks.

MICHAEL ALEXANDER (He/Him)
Development Manager

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Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Michael now calls Chicago, Illinois home. With extensive experience in sales, business development, and operations, he has built a versatile career marked by his ability to connect with people and adapt to various professional environments. A passionate plant collector and world traveler, Michael has explored cultures across the globe, enriching his perspective and deepening his love for meaningful conversation. He thrives on building relationships, sharing stories, and turning ideas into reality. Michael is driven by his natural curiosity and warm communication style, always seeking to make meaningful contributions wherever he goes.

NEDRA FABITO (She/Her)
Special Events Support

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Nedra grew up in rural Maine, living close to the land. As a child, she would disappear into the woods to create secret worlds of wonder, always returning home in time to gather fresh vegetables from her family’s expansive garden for dinner.

She attended her first Earth Day celebration in Boston in 1991 with Ana Garcia and a group of Boston College classmates—all of whom remain friends today—and is thrilled to support the One Earth Film Festival. Nedra brings more than 30 years of corporate marketing experience, along with a sense of wonder and hope as action.

PETER AKAI (He/Him)
One Earth Film Festival Intern

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Peter Akai is an Urban Studies student at the University of Illinois Chicago and serves as President of the Undergraduate Urban Studies Club. Originally from Oak Forest and now based in Bridgeport, he brings a strong background in community engagement and event planning. As an intern with One Earth Collective, Peter supports data management and volunteer coordination. He is also an Eagle Scout, reflecting his long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship and leadership.

SANDY GEE (She/Her)
Young Filmmakers Contest Social Media and Communications Director

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With over 30 years of experience in both the public and private sector of education, Sandy has worked with learners of all ages, leading workshops, classes, and presentations focused on stress management, meditation, personal development and wellness. In her current role with One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest, she is dedicated to amplifying student voices and fostering meaningful connections between young filmmakers and professionals in both the film and environmental sectors.

SANAA DAVIS(She/Her)
One Earth Film Festival Intern

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I am Sanaa Davis. I am an intern working with One Earth Collective. I will be working on data collection, and I am a public health major in my senior year. I’m passionate about women’s rights and sustainability. I love cats and puzzles, and anything that teases the brain.

SUE CROTHERS (She/Her)
One Earth Film Fest Founding Member
Young Filmmakers Contest Founding Director

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Sue is a dedicated environmental advocate and community leader. Beyond her work with the contest, she served as a Commissioner for the River Forest Sustainability Commission, where she played a pivotal role in implementing community-based sustainability inititiatives. She worked closely with the Village Board of Trustees to advance sustainable policies and ordinances that supported the well-being of the entire community.

Additionally, Sue was one of the original core team members for PlanItGreen. In this role, she helped foster a greener, more resilient Oak Park and River Forest through broad-based collaboration.