Climate of Emotions Speakers

An inspiring leader, Wanjira has over 20 years of experience advocating for social and environmental change on both local and international platforms. Over the years, Wanjira has also served important strategic and advocacy roles raising the prominence and visibility of global issues such as climate change, youth leadership, sustainable energy and landscape restoration at Women Entrepreneurs in Renewables (wPOWER), the Wangari Maathai Foundation (WMF), and the Green Belt Movement (GBM) the organization her mother, Wangari Maathai (2004 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate) founded in 1977.

Wanjira is the Managing Director for Africa and Global Partnerships at WRI. She is also the current Chair of the Wangari Maathai Foundation and the former Chair of the Green Belt Movement in Kenya. She currently serves on the Board of the World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF), as a Leadership Council member of the Clean Cooking Alliance and a member of the High-Level Group of the Africa-Europe Foundation. Wanjira is one of a few Six Seconds EQ Practitioners in Kenya and was named one of the 100 Most Influential African Women in 2018, 2020 and 2021.

Join us at NYC Climate Week 2024 to meet Wanjira

Sophia has served on the National Youth Council for a year, representing them at the UNICEF Gala in NYC and training the first cohort of national youth advocates as a Youth Advocacy Guide Champion Trainer. Working with UNICEF USA’s Chief People Officer, Michael Klompus, she analyzed data trends regarding DEI within the UNICEF USA office. She also spoke at the “Are We On Mute” webinar, dissecting youth civic engagement data extracted from the Harris Poll. As a New York State Youth Council representative, she lobbied for mandatory financial literacy classes. Her advocacy for Muslim girls’ rights, featured twice in the New York Times, drives her fight against educational inequities. She is now a freshman at Cornell University and
a Milstein Scholar studying philosophy and computer science.

Join us at NYC Climate Week 2024 to meet Sophia.

Aryan is a dedicated advocate for children’s rights, with a strong focus on education, mental health, and climate action. For the past five years, he has championed UNICEF USA’s mission, engaging with 16 congressional offices to push for critical legislation such as the MINDS Act and the Keeping Girls in School Act. Currently a sophomore majoring in astrophysics, Aryan is determined to merge his passion for science with his commitment to humanitarian causes. He founded the Physics2Astrophysics initiative, which has provided free, accessible learning opportunities to over 40 high school students. As a Science Outreach Fellow at Princeton University, Aryan also teaches in underprivileged communities, driven by his belief that investing in children is key to building a better future.

Join us at NYC Climate Week 2024 to meet Aryan.

Tamii Sakurai is a tap dancer based in New York. She is an Artist in Residence at the American Tap Dance Foundation (ATDF). Her close affiliation with ATDF started as a founding member, then the dance captain, and one of the rehearsal director of Tap City Youth Ensemble, a performing youth tap ensemble of ATDF. Tamii has also had the privilege of working with numerous leading tap companies such as Brenda Bufalino’s “New”American Tap Dance Orchestra, Michelle Dorrance’s Dorrance Dance and Caleb Teicher’s Caleb Teicher and Company. She studied Mathematics and Dance at Hunter College, where she has developed her style of teaching tap dance incorporating numbers and visuals. In 2016, she has made her debut on Off Broadway on STOMP. After the closure of the New York City production of STOMP in 2023, she has joined the International Tour, and has performed in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Monaco, Switzerland, Japan, Taiwan and more! Her recent solo tap works has been premiered at Rhythm in Motion as part of Tap City, New York City Tap Festival. She enjoys sharing the love for the art form through teaching and participating at local jam sessions. 

Past Speakers