New Board Members Join Leadership Institute

Jan. 3, 2012 - PRLog -- Santa Rosa-based Leadership Institute for Ecology and the Economy welcomes three new members to its board of directors:  former Sebastopol city council member Larry Robinson, Santa Rosa community leader Marie I. Gil, and political consultant Nick Caston.

Larry Robinson served on the Sebastopol city council until 2010; he is also a retired professor of psychology, a well known poet and ceramicist and serves on the boards of the Praxis Peace Institute and the Climate Protection Campaign.

A specialist in social equity and health care, Marie Gil of Santa Rosa was the former Director of Health for Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County serving as an advocate to improve access to care systems for the uninsured and launching a county-wide children's oral health initiative.  In addition, she has served on several county boards representing low-income consumers and minority groups in policy matters.  Her leadership extends into many areas of social and economic justice including education, labor and community organizing.  Marie is the founder/CEO of CommunitySource Associates.

For several years Nick Caston worked for then Assemblywoman Noreen Evans as a legislative aide and a senior field representative.  He has since opened his own consulting practice, Trujillo/Caston in Santa Rosa.  His experience includes a stint in Sacramento as the state transportation advocate for the non-profit Transform.  From 2006 to 2010 he served on the Santa Rosa Planning Commission and was vice-chair of the city's Economic Development Advisory Committee.

The Santa Rosa-based Leadership Institute, http://www.ecoleader.org,  provides educational programs for leaders in the public and private sectors to improve awareness of policies that lead to sustainability.  In its 11 years the institute has graduated over 300 fellows, many of whom hold or have held public office, including State Senator Noreen Evans, Assemblymember Michael Allen, and Rohnert Park Mayor Jake Mackenzie.

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We inspire communities to support strong local economies, promote social equity, and restore the environment in order to make it possible to live more sustainable lives for us and future generations.