By Richard Isaac • Richard.Isaac@sierraclub.org
Our Chapter extends a warm welcome to the following individuals as they take on their new Chapter volunteer and professional positions:
Raghav Akula, Youth Committee Chair
Having been our Chapter’s student liaison for the last year and a half, Raghav Akula is now chair of our new Youth Committee.
Raghav’s primary academic interests are economics, international relations, law, and government, and he likes to approach these from the lenses of environmental policy and clean energy. A senior at Moorestown High School, he prioritizes extracurricular activities relating to debate clubs and competitions, community service, and environmental and policy work. The three debate clubs that he helps lead are Model United Nations, Model Congress, and Policy Debate, where he and other high school students contend over both national and international policies. Raghav believes that the NJ Chapter of the Sierra Club has served as his most direct conduit to environmental advocacy and political involvement.
Shirin Sood, Youth Committee Communications and Outreach Coordinator
Shirin is currently a sophomore at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North and is passionate about environmental justice and climate reform. She is involved in many environmental groups and is her school’s publicity and communications coordinator. Now the Youth Committee’s communications and outreach coordinator, Shirin is excited to work alongside Raghav on this new committee and looks forward to working on climate policy and representing youth in the climate movement.
Syona Gupta, Youth Committee Member
Syona is a youth climate enthusiast and a junior at High Technology High School, in Lincroft, who is passionate about being involved in policymaking that impacts her generation. She is very interested in using emerging technology to help solve our environmental problems.
Shriyaa Madineni, Youth Committee Member
A freshman at Monroe Township High School, Shriyaa has decided that the Sierra Club is the right place for her. She’s always been interested in nature and environmental health. Through the Club, Shriyaa hopes to make our environment a better place, and she’s looking forward to learning a lot through the process!
Jackie Greger, Communications and Outreach Coordinator
Jackie was chosen to become our new communications and outreach coordinator because of her ability to use storytelling to touch and move people toward change. She also shares a deep love for New Jersey’s people, landscapes, and ecosystems. She grew up at the Jersey Shore and dedicated her academic efforts to sustainability and environmental studies after learning how vulnerable our state is to the impacts of climate change and sea level rise. Jackie is also familiar with many environmental issues in New Jersey from two summers spent interning at the nonprofit Save Barnegat Bay. With Jackie’s knowledge of social media applications, including Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, we look forward to seeing her apply all of her skill to meet the communications goals of the NJ Chapter of the Sierra Club and ensure that our message emphasizes the deep interconnection between environmental problems and social injustice and oppression.