executive director announcement

Dear Friend,

We are deeply grateful to the founder Tamara Roske and her family for their groundbreaking leadership and vision that birthed this organization. As Tamara transitions to new ventures, the mission will continue to be realized through the hard work of the staff and crews. In order to keep moving forward, the Board of Directors of Earth Guardians is pleased to announce

Catherine Kakolo Mongella as our new Executive Director. 

For the past decade, Catherine has been serving non-profit organizations. Working her way from program manager, to executive director of Cheka Sana Tanzania, to board member of Youth Beyond Limits, she has a deep understanding of how to implement impactful programs. Catherine has overseen a staff of 400, and managed multi-million dollar budgets. She has the expertise in financial and human resources that we identified as key needs to bring Earth Guardians up to the next level. In her home country of Tanzania, she has worked most closely with youth who live on the streets, and sex workers; with these marginalized communities, she not only recognizes, but witnesses the intersections of social and environmental justice work daily. 

Catherine will build on the forward momentum that Earth Guardians has accomplished over the past 29 years, and with her leadership we will continue to elevate and amplify the voices of youth in the environmental justice movement.

The Earth Guardians core team has been undergoing a deep introspective process regarding the interdependent intersections of social and environmental justice. This transition of leadership is a small part of the equity work that is transpiring. We hope to better understand, act, and represent the global movement in expanding our leadership and programs. 

Please help us offer gratitude to Tamara and welcome Catherine to the team.

In Solidarity,

The Earth Guardians Board of Directors:

Ietef, Board Member

Slam, Board Member

Alison, Board Secretary

Ruth, Board Treasurer

Meg, Board Chair