As Policy and Political Director, Katie will work to scale the power of the Alliance by advancing CEJA’s Building the EJ Voice in State Policy, Civic Engagement, and Electoral programs. As CEJA’s primary policy and political strategist, she will guide our team in developing and implementing an integrated, cohesive power-building strategy for systemic change through impact policy to improve the health and well-being of environmental justice communities.

Katie Valenzuela comes to CEJA with 10 years of public policy and environmental justice experience. She most recently served Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia in key roles, first as the principal consultant for the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change, and then as Capitol Director. A community organizer for 20 years and a proud resident of Sacramento since 2008, Katie helped start the Sacramento Urban Agriculture Coalition, was one of the first Sacramento representatives on California’s AB 32 Environmental Justice Advisory Committee, and is co-chair of the Sacramento Community Land Trust. Katie is passionate about racial and environmental justice, and spends a great deal of her personal and professional time helping elevate the voices of communities of color that are most impacted by climate change. Katie was born and raised in Oildale, California, and holds a Bachelors and Masters degrees in Community Development from U.C. Davis