NY Renews, coalition behind NY’s climate law, announces four new hires, including Stephan Edel, former New York Director for the Working Families Project, as Coalition Coordinator

***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***: December 3, 2019

Contact: Arielle Swernoff | (646) 450-5461 | arielle@nyrenews.org 

Web: @NYRenews | www.nyrenews.org

Coalition adds staff in preparation for budget fight, implementation battles, and polluter penalty campaign

Albany, NY -- NY Renews, the coalition behind New York’s new climate law, today announced the hires of four new staff members in advance of the 2020 legislative session. Stephan Edel, formerly of the New York Working Families Project, will serve as Coalition Coordinator. Raya Salter, formerly with the State of Hawaii and the Natural Resources Defense Council, will fill the role of Lead Policy Organizer. Xaver Kandler, formerly of Environmental Advocates of New York, and Geovaira Hernandez, from PUSH Buffalo, will join the NY Renews team as Lead Coalition Organizers. They will join Arielle Swernoff, the coalition’s Lead Communications and Digital Organizer. 

“We’re thrilled to welcome Stephan, Raya, Geo, and Xaver to our staff team,” said NY Renews Steering Committee Member and Deputy Director of Catskill Mountainkeepr Katherine Nadeau. “Despite passing the nation’s strongest climate law last spring, we will not stop fighting. We must ensure the CLCPA is implemented on our terms — laser focused on not just emissions but also on racial and economic justice. We also need to win revenue to fund a Just Transition for New York State. Stephan, Raya, Geo, Xaver, and Arielle will bring power, talent, capacity, and expertise to this fight.” 

Before coming to NY Renews, Stephan Edel was the New York Project Director for Working Families. He previously worked as a union and community organizer before attending law school to better understand the legal mechanisms that impact and often marginalize working-class communities and small businesses. He has a JD from The City University of New York School of Law. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Global Politics from Birkbeck College of the University of London. He worked extensively doing climate and environmental coalition work since joining Working Families nearly a decade ago to expand and implement the landmark Green Jobs Green New York energy efficiency program and pass On-Bill Recovery financing. Stephan has worked on campaign research and legislative efforts across issues in New York and other states, and was involved with NYRenews from early on and has been an active steering committee member. 

“I am honored to join the team at NYRenews,” said Stephan Edel, Coalition Coordinator. “As a staff member at Working Families, I have had the great opportunity to work closely with the coalition since its inception, and now I am excited to take a role facilitating and coordinating our shared work, as we build on last year's victory passing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Now I have the opportunity to work with this amazing group of people to address the most urgent crises of our time by creating a just and equitable New York powered by renewable energy.”

Raya Salter is an attorney, educator and clean energy law and policy expert with a focus on energy and climate justice. She has practiced energy law and regulation in multiple jurisdictions, including New York, Hawaii, Illinois and California. Her book, “Energy Justice,” was published in 2018. In previous roles, Raya worked for the State of Hawaii, was a Senior Attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council and a Regulatory Attorney for the Environmental Defense Fund. Prior to becoming an environmental advocate, Raya worked as an energy and utilities attorney at the law firm of Dewey & LeBoeuf in New York City. Ms. Salter has a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law and a B.A. in economics from Wesleyan University.

At NY Renews, Raya will focus on watchdogging the implementation of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and working with the coalition to develop and refine climate justice policy. 

“I am thrilled to join the NYRenews coalition, and look forward to working with stakeholders to make climate justice a reality in New York State,” said Raya Salter, Lead Policy Organizer.

Geovaira Hernandez is a Domican Afro-Latinx woman from the Bronx, NY who started organizing during college. She holds degrees in Criminal Justice and Education, which she applies to her work to eradicate environmental racism and classism, currently as the Climate Justice Organizer at PUSH Buffalo. Learning about the systems of oppression which led to so much pain and separation in her family and communities guide her toward always seeking justice and equity for those most vulnerable by these systems. She works with people to build and fortify local, state and national campaigns for a collective liberation that ensures no one and no thing is poisoned in any way, and that all have equitable access to the resources necessary to live healthy, joyful and dignified lives. 

Based in Buffalo, Geovaira will focus on campaign strategy, organizing actions, events, and popular education trainings, and building transformational partnerships within and outside the coalition. 

“I am a living example of the intersectionalities of environmental racism, and that’s why I do this work,” said Geovaira Hernandez, Lead Coalition Organizer. “I’m thrilled to be joining the NYRenews Team to take my experience building and fortifying campaigns for collective liberation to the next level to build and win a just transition in NewYork State.”

Prior to joining NY Renews, Xaver Kandler worked for Environmental Advocates of NY as their Campaigns Associate. Before Environmental Advocates, Xaver focused on environmental justice issues with the Natural Resource Defense Council and WEACT for Environmental Justice. Xaver graduated from Bard College with a degree in Urban and Environmental Studies and a dual focus on public policy and environmental justice. When not fighting for the health of the environment and communities, he can be found playing ultimate frisbee, rock climbing, and bird watching with loved ones. 

Based in New York City, Xaver will focus on campaign strategy, organizing actions and events, and building transformational partnerships within and outside of the coalition.

“I am thrilled the join NY Renews as the Lead Coalition Organizer and continue their legacy of building an inclusive and diverse statewide coalition,” said Xaver Kandler. “After witnessing the power of NY Renews in their work passing the nation-leading Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), I am excited to both help implement the law and pass new bills to fully fund New York State's Just Transition.”

About NY Renews: 

NY Renews is a coalition of nearly 200 environmental, justice, faith, labor, and community groups, and the force behind the nation’s most progressive climate law, New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. The coalition fights for good jobs and climate justice in New York State. 

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