CYNTHIA HERRERA
Sustainability
Baltimore,MD
Summary
Highly organized and collaborative professional with 10 years project management, racial equity research, and community-based planning experience. Exceptional interpersonal communication skills in English & Spanish, collaborative supervisor, direct-report manager and colleague. Demonstrated commitment to equity through policy and practice.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
6
6
years of post-secondary education
3
3
Certifications
2
2
Languages
Work History
Systems & Evaluation Manager
NAACP
Baltimore, Maryland
05.2019 - 7 2021
- Established multi-team collaboration to execute systems, knowledge management, accountability and evaluation that advances following objectives for Environmental and Climate Justice Program: 1. Reduce Harmful Emissions, Particularly Greenhouse Gases & Co-Pollutants 2. Advance Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy 3. Strengthen Community Resilience and Livability.
- Established quantitative and qualitative methods to increase tracking and measuring progress using SMART goals for deliverable-based outcomes.
- Increased rate of reporting on program progress, milestones, and outcomes to grant funders, executive office and board committee members.
Climate Programs and City Policy Manager
WE ACT For Environmental Justice
New York, New York
07.2017 - 05.2019
- Led WE ACT staff/members in delivery of multi-faceted Climate Resiliency Project resulting in increased energy democracy and emergency preparedness: identified issues, analyzed information and provided solutions to challenges establishing 1. affordable rooftop solar for low-to-moderate income homeowners with green jobs component along with 2. peer-to-peer emergency preparedness communication network, strengthening social cohesion in northern Manhattan.
- Developed and implemented organization’s public policy agenda based on existing community-driven priorities and ongoing consultations with staff and WE ACT community members, addressing Northern Manhattan’s Climate Action plan (NMCA), centering equity at all stages of planning and implementation.
- Resolved conflicts and negotiated mutually beneficial agreements between private sector energy industry partner, Quixotic as well as identify and work with key partners and experts in renewable energy, energy efficient, transportation and workforce development to advance organization’s public policy agenda.
- Worked flexible hours; nights, weekends, and holiday shifts to provide leadership to WE ACT programs/projects related to building neighborhood capacity in response to climate change; organized and led community-based planning initiatives, including facilitating workshops with over 100+ participants, and developing planning materials for bilingual audience.
- Build community and government awareness on key policy issues driven by community-driven climate action planning through public speaking, government relations, and media strategies-leading to emerging grant-funding opportunities to sustain next phase of implementation of Northern Manhattan Climate Action Plan.
Community-Based Research Consultant
Research Foundation, The City University New York
New York, New York
09.2016 - 02.2017
- Developed interdisciplinary process for community-based adaptation and equity assessments to inform municipal government about neighborhood perspectives related to climate preparedness governance.
- Collaborated with Mayor’s New York City Panel on Climate Change’s working group on community-based vulnerability assessments of adaptation and equity for Northern Manhattan.
- Developed extensive literature review of Northern Manhattan’s social vulnerability and racial inequities while identifying community stakeholders.
- Performed stakeholder-based interviews to capture stakeholder-driven data using systemic approach.
- Executed case study with trusted community non-profit, WE ACT for Environmental Justice, as key advisor in capturing neighborhood scale spatial vulnerability and resilient assessments for New York City.
Climate Change Research Initiative Fellow
NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies
New York, New York
10.2015 - 08.2016
- Led high-level science research on urban climate adaptation, using new technologies, materials, and innovative thinking for neighborhoods with sparse tree canopy and under urban heat island stress.
- Improved operations through co-supervision and mentoring interdisciplinary research team of 2 college students and 1 high school student under limited guidance of NASA Climate Scientist.
- Leadership role conducting extensive year-long literature review and field exploration on enhanced ways to measure microclimates in urban cities and fluctuating thermal behavior at local street level.
- Performed thermal data fieldwork and analysis on NYPD rooftops with black and white-solar reflective surfaces, comparing differences in surface temperatures, while measuring performance.
- Completed co-written report and orally communicated cross-functional scientific fieldwork findings to local and scientific community.
- Established and presented scientific poster on use of thermal imaging to capture local air temperature readings at City University of New York Symposium.
Research Assistant
National Center for Disaster Preparedness, NCDP
New York, New York
09.2015 - 08.2016
- Co-drafted proposals with emphasis on heat waves for environmental and public health grants that are inclusive to city resiliency for multi-hazardous populations.
- Summarized and graphed key findings on qualitative community surveys through data analysis.
- Contributed to authoring publication, “Resilient Children, Resilient Communities” by NCDP and Save the Children.
- Contributed to authoring publication, “American Preparedness Project: Where US Public Stands in 2015” by NCDP and the Earth Institute.
- Led project on NCDP’s greenhouse gas emissions audit for 2015 energy consumption.
Project Coordinator
The White Roof Project
New York, New York
06.2015 - 12.2015
- Increased communication serving as first point of contact for this issue-based non-profit, focusing on energy efficiency and disaster risk management in densely populated urban areas, such as the Lower East Side.
- Performed inspections identifying qualifying buildings, coordinated and supervised 5th annual white rooftop paint days in Manhattan and trained over 100 volunteers in white solar-reflective roof coating, increasing 20-40% savings on energy bills for beneficiaries.
- Established self-led corporate social responsibility packet for potential private donors using in-kind greenhouse gas credits.
- Increased project outreach with civic, business, and community-based organizations (ex: project managing rooftop paint day with NYS Senator, Brad Hoylman).
- Performed cost-effective resource and inventory, managing organization's rooftop painting season supplies and secured building insurance for all paint day volunteers.
Research & Administrative Assistant
The Earth Institute
New York, New York
09.2014 - 06.2015
- Assisted research of extreme weather patterns in United States.
- Exercised judgment in negotiating sensitive information with visitors, students, and staff while handling confidential assignments.
- Worked independently to assist high-level visitors and 30+ direct phone calls with flexibility and patience.
Environmental Community Specialist
United States Peace Corps
Washington , DC
09.2011 - 11.2013
- Monitored, budgeted, and evaluated Energy and Climate Partnerships of America's (ECPA) USAID-funded grant for rural and urban clean technology project through quarterly reports, objectives, indicators, and quantitative figures. Co-built ten energy-efficient ovens in rural and urban households, promoting sustainable urban forests, reducing wood-burning by 80% and improving associated respiratory illness outcomes. Created innovative workshops to enhance business management capacity of ECPA projects, including microfinance opportunities, basic bookkeeping and importance of quality control.
- Cultivated mutual trust with community stakeholders from interdisciplinary backgrounds in further developing town’s need-based assessment. Introduced community mapping to address exit strategies during local emergencies such as: volcano eruptions, dust bowls, flooding, earthquakes, and water-formed tornadoes from nearby lake at schools. Served as on-call community liaison (emergency responder) for 25 volunteers living in vulnerable areas susceptible to volcano eruptions and civil unrest.
- Built capacity: reforestation in areas prone to lake tornadoes; organic composting; and seed collection in food desert villages to over 200 parents and children using inclusive participatory techniques.
- Successfully maintained political yet cordial working relationships with municipal government.
Education
Master of Science - Sustainability Management
Columbia University in The City of New York
New York, NY 08.2014 - 05.2016
Bachelor of Arts - Child Development: Child and Family Studies
California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA 09.2001 - 05.2005
Skills
Responsible
undefinedCertification
Climate Change and Health Certificate, Yale University School of Public Health
Additional Information
- International Experience: Korea 2010 | Nicaragua 2011-2013 | Guatemala 2014
Accomplishments
- Supervised and supported team of 7-14 staff members and 3 direct reports
- Developed data visual for compelling storytelling on Canva
- Collaborated with team of 8 in development of Northern Manhattan Climate Action Plan's member-based working groups
- Columbia Business School Social Enterprise Fellowship Recipient
- Earth Institute Sustainability Management Student Fellowship
- Co-authored New York Panel on Climate Change 2019 report focused on community case studies of place-based resilience planning in LMI communities
- Co-authored NASA Climate Change & Technology report
- Co-authored National Center for Disaster Preparedness report on people's qualitative perceptions of risk
- Co-authored National Resource Defense Council report on improving community resilience to extreme summertime heat
Timeline
Systems & Evaluation Manager
NAACP
05.2019 - 7 2021
Climate Change and Health Certificate, Yale University School of Public Health
01-2019
Art of Leadership in Racial Justice and Human Rights, Rockwood Institute
11-2018
The Agritecture Collaborative Design Workshop, Association for Vertical Farming
12-2017
Climate Programs and City Policy Manager
WE ACT For Environmental Justice
07.2017 - 05.2019
Community-Based Research Consultant
Research Foundation, The City University New York
09.2016 - 02.2017
Climate Change Research Initiative Fellow
NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies
10.2015 - 08.2016
Research Assistant
National Center for Disaster Preparedness, NCDP
09.2015 - 08.2016
Project Coordinator
The White Roof Project
06.2015 - 12.2015
Research & Administrative Assistant
The Earth Institute
09.2014 - 06.2015
Master of Science - Sustainability Management
Columbia University in The City of New York
08.2014 - 05.2016
Environmental Community Specialist
United States Peace Corps
09.2011 - 11.2013
Bachelor of Arts - Child Development: Child and Family Studies
California State University - Los Angeles
09.2001 - 05.2005
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