Meet the Staff & Volunteer Team
Karyn is a Co-Executive Director of Creation Justice Ministries. She has served as the policy advisor and project manager as well policy analyst and research analyst at Bread for the World, focusing on the intersections of climate change, food security and racial equity. She is a steering committee member of the American Baptist Churches’ Creation Justice Network. She earned her Master in Divinity from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, where she sat on the Board of Directors, and her undergraduate degree in social relations and policy from Michigan State University. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Global Food Security and Nutrition focusing her studies and research on sustainability. She has published numerous articles on topics such as environmental racism and climate change.
Avery is a Co-Executive Director of Creation Justice Ministries. He is an activist, ecologist, and public theologian working at the intersection of Christianity and environmental justice. Avery has a background in both ecological research and faith-based environmental organizing, studying ecology in various ecosystems and organizing faith communities across the country in support of action on environmental justice. Previously he has worked for Sojourners and Interfaith Power & Light. He serves on the board for The Center for Spirituality in Nature and is a Fellow with the Re:Generate Program at Wake Forest Divinity School and the Foundations of Christian Leadership Program at Duke Divinity School.
Avery has a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Sustainability from Pepperdine University, Master of Environmental Management in Ecosystem Science & Conservation with a certificate in Community-Based Environmental Management from the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University, and a Master of Theological Studies, with a certificate in Faith, Food & Environmental Justice from Duke Divinity School. His research focuses on the role of religious communities in building climate resilience and adaptation, with emphasis on the virtue of “climate hospitality.”
Avery has a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Sustainability from Pepperdine University, Master of Environmental Management in Ecosystem Science & Conservation with a certificate in Community-Based Environmental Management from the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University, and a Master of Theological Studies, with a certificate in Faith, Food & Environmental Justice from Duke Divinity School. His research focuses on the role of religious communities in building climate resilience and adaptation, with emphasis on the virtue of “climate hospitality.”
As Policy Advocate, Helen leads Creation Justice Ministries’ work advocating to better protect, restore, and rightly share God’s lands and waters. In this work, Helen organizes faith leaders, creates policy resources, and works with partners to achieve meaningful policy change for God’s planet and people. Prior to CJM, Helen worked for the National Religious Partnership for the Environment and was the preliminary editor for Journey to Transformation 2020 Lenten Study by Bishop Sharma D. Lewis. Helen has been an international volunteer building churches, schools and clinics. She has been active in the United Methodist Church throughout her life, serving as Chair of Trustees and a member of the Finance and Administrative Council, the Rappahannock River District Board of Connectional Ministries, and the Virginia Conference Communications Board. She is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University with a degree in International Relations. Helen brings the saying, "Think globally, act locally" to life. She has a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion lens in her work and centers a reciprocal relationship with God's creation in her personal theology.
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Derrick Weston is a writer, filmmaker, podcaster, speaker, and educator whose most recent work has focused on the intersection of food and faith. He is the co-host of the Food and Faith podcast and producer of Spoon, Spade, and Soul, a podcast highlighting food and land-based ministries in the Episcopal church. Additionally, he is the producer of the short film series "A Wilderness Like Eden" highlighting the work of churches engaged in food justice work. After two decades of being a pastor and community organizer, Derrick is a strong believer in the potential of local congregations to enact change in their communities. Derrick received his B.A. in film studies from the University of Pittsburgh and his Masters of Divinity from San Francisco Theological Seminary. He also has a certification in health ministry from Wesleyan Theological Seminary and was a part of the Re:Generate fellowship on food, faith, and ecology through Wake Forest Divinity School. Derrick is the co-author of the book The Just Kitchen: Invitations to Sustainability, Cooking, Connection, and Celebration and has written numerous articles for several publications. He and his wife Shannon have four children and live outside of Baltimore, Maryland.
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Silas is a Creation Justice Fellow volunteering for the Church of the Brethren. Originally from Germany his activism is centered in political and environmental topics, especially renewable energy. He has a fundamentally peace desiring mentality and endorses a faith-based solution-oriented work manner. Like in a democracy he is certain that the willingness to compromise is one of the most important tools one can use to enact on actual creation and thus featuring future protection - he thinks it is always better to move at all than to stand still out of stubbornness. Now in D.C. he is glad to be close to the federal decision making even with the little influx he will have on the overall system. He likes to read, learn about history, come in touch with different cultures and stay educated about political and societal news.
Clara is a Creation Justice Fellow, volunteering for the Church of the Brethren and will stay in Washington DC for one year. She is very interested in topics like environmental protection and pursued these already in her time in Germany and even in this short period of time she had been in the States, Clara saw many differences concerning these topics. Clara enjoys spending time outside and to get in touch with new cultures and people and their way of seeing the world in a political and religious orientated way.
Katerina is a Mennonite pastor and educator who lives on Yokuts land in Fresno, California. Her work and ministry are inspired by Jesus' call to Jubilee justice and healing. She organizes for Indigenous solidarity with the Anabaptist Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery Coalition and works with incarcerated people in CA state prisons to grow healing gardens behind bars through the Insight Garden Program. Katerina loves writing poetry, hiking in the Sierra Nevada mountains, and learning the names of birds, plants and animals.
Gabrielle is serving as the Blue Theology Fellow for Creation Justice Ministries. In love with Christ and creation, she focuses on the intersection of ocean conservation and Christianity. Gabrielle graduated from the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine, where she studied marine biology, environmental education, and theology. She is living in Pacific Grove, California while she works with the Blue Theology Mission Station & the Christian Church of Pacific Grove. She can often be found knee-deep in the intertidal or admiring the local sea lion population.
Andrea "Danny" Folds has been volunteering for Creation Justice Ministries since 2016 and is amazed at how much their small but mighty team accomplishes. Originally from Atlanta, Andrea's studies and work have taken her from New York to Nashville, Montreal to Mexico, and now to Washington, D.C., where she lives with her partner. She is proud to serve as legislative counsel for oceans at Earthjustice, and in her spare time, she enjoys staring at trees for as long as is socially acceptable.
Emma is newly volunteering for Creation Justice Ministries. Originally from the Jersey Shore, Emma grew up exploring wetlands and preserving sand dunes. Now, with a background in email marketing and nonprofit development, she helps design email communication for CJM. In her spare time, her activism centers around period poverty and environmental justice, and advocating for better public transportation in Los Angeles, where she lives with her partner. Emma is a recently confirmed Catholic and her home parish is St. Monica Catholic Church in Santa Monica, CA.
