Through the eMobility Microgrant Initiative, Evolve partnered with local nonprofits, Community Champions (community reviewers), and Corporate Catalysts to award funding to grassroots eMobility projects that address community mobility needs in Houston’s historically underserved neighborhoods. Between August 17th-September 30th of 2022, Evolve accepted microgrant applications across the Greater Houston area, including Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, and Galveston.
Evolve recruited nine Community Champions through a public nomination process, who will review microgrant applications, advocate on behalf of their community, and identify projects that maximize value and impact for their neighborhoods.
We're excited to introduce the 2022-2023 Community Champions cohort!
D'Jomme Adia
My name is D'Jomme Adia. I currently work for AAMA as the Work and Learn Center Manager. I support opportunity youth ages 16-24 who are disconnected in employment and educational pathways through our career readiness and digital literacy program. I am excited to join Evolve Houston as a Community Champion because transportation equity is needed in Houston's under-resourced communities. Evolve's microgrant project aims to close the gap and create green, healthy, and thriving communities.
Arlinda Arriaga
My name is Arlinda. I am currently a board member of the Second Ward Super Neighborhood Group. My role as a board member focuses on community engagement and information. I am excited to join Evolve Houston as a Community Champion because it is important to make investments in the nonprofits and businesses that are interested in further serving our communities.
Wilson Calvert
My name is Wilson Calvert. I currently work at the City of Houston Planning Department, as an Assistant Planner. My role focuses on platting activity. I am excited to join Evolve Houston as a Community Champion because I think EVs provide a path to lower localized emissions and I'm excited to help facilitate that process.
Sarah Cove
My name is Sarah Cove. I currently work at Taligens, as a Managing Director. My role focuses on helping clients design and implements transformational change programs in their organizations. I am excited to join Evolve Houston as a Community Champion because I believe in a more equitable world where everyone benefits from cleaner energy and transportation.
Adriana Gonzalez
My name is Adriana Gonzalez I currently work at Camara de Empresarios Latinos, as President/CEO. My role focuses on educating, informing, supporting, and connecting Latin entrepreneurs I am excited to join Evolve Houston as a Community Champion because of the opportunity to support emerging leaders and businesses.
Bryan Kaus
My name is Bryan Kaus. I currently work at Phillips 66, as Director of Commercial Business Improvement. My role focuses on optimizing and advancing commercial energy operations while providing energy and improving lives. I am excited to join Evolve Houston as a Community Champion because Houston is my adopted home, and I am passionate about helping it and all its citizens unlock its potential as the city of the future through deliberate action.
Hernan Lozano
My name is Hernan Lozano. I primarily work with the Acres Home Community Advocacy Group, as a neighborhood partner. My role focuses on motivating our community residents to voice their needs and attend engagement meetings. I am excited to join Evolve Houston as a Community Champion because I am aware of the great need for investment in our Complete Communities and I would like to help catalyze efforts to improve the opportunities for our more disadvantaged neighborhoods in the greater Houston area.
Paresh Patel
My name is Paresh Patel. I currently work at e^2=equitable energy, as Founder & CEO, and at InnoGrid, as Co-Founder. My roles, respectively, focus on enabling drivers to offset their tailpipe emissions with clean energy credits as a nudge to ultimately adopt EVs, and on developing Houston’s first community microgrid and distributed energy testbed with a mission “to provide equity through energy resiliency” for LMI and underserved communities. I am excited to join Evolve Houston as a Community Champion because I am passionate about accelerating the transition to, and convergence between, e-mobility and clean energy for all in Houston.
Ed Pettitt
My name is Ed Pettitt. I currently work at the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice at Texas Southern University as a Graduate Research Assistant. My role focuses on green space, transportation, health, and energy justice. I am excited to join Evolve Houston as a Community Champion because I believe in building a more connected, sustainable, and equitable city for ALL Houstonians.
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Evolve looks forward to working with this year's Community Champions.