Ashoka Alvarez (pronouns: she/they) was a 2017-18 Climate Fellow with the California Department of Public Health in the Office of Health Equity, and served as a Bay Area Regional Coordinator from 2018-2021. Ashoka was born and raised in San Francisco and studied Environmental Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where they cultivated a passion for environmental justice and health equity. Currently they work at the Environmental Grantmakers Association, a national philanthropy serving organization that works with members and partners to promote effective environmental philanthropy. Outside of work, Ashoka enjoys being outside, cooking comfort food, and tending to a steadily increasing collection of houseplants. She lives on unceded Ohlone land in Oakland, CA.