Tanisha-Jean Martin

Tanisha-Jean Martin is an Afro-Latina San Diego native, where she has worked for over a decade battling Environmental injustices and climate change issues. She was appointed by San Diego’s Mayor to The City of San Diego’s Climate Advisory Board where she serves as the Chair and is a member of the Mayor’s International Delegation team. She graduated as a McNair Scholar from San Diego State University, triple majoring in Geography, Sociology, and Political Science; she cares about people and places, and makes a difference through her research for policy changes. As the Black Graduate Student President, Tanisha-Jean earned her Master’s degree at University of San Diego's School of Leadership and Education Sciences with a certification in Life Coaching, she holds the record for most awards received by a graduating student which includes “The Best Capstone Project Award Winner of the 2018 graduating cohort” and several Trailblazer, Leadership, and Changemaker Awards. Due to Tanisha-Jean’s dedication to equity, research, and policy activism, Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards are now accepted at California State Universities and other states, with the support of California’s Secretary of State Dr. Shirly Weber to introduce her own California Legislative Bill (AB832-2013). Her award winning paper, “Segregation of Student Financial Aid in Higher Education: The Effects on Low-Income Students When EBT is not accepted at University Campuses” has been downloaded nearly 500 times all over the world to promote equity for college students. At San Diego Urban Sustainability Coalition, Tanisha-Jean is the Climate Community Director and Environmental Justice Consultant, where she creates curriculum and Facilitates the Climate Ambassador Workshops leading in the certification of over 100 Climate Ambassadors in California and 9 other states that are taking action to battle Climate Change, Environmental and Social Justice, and promote resilience in Communities of Concern. Tanisha-Jean Martin is launching her nonprofit organization, ECOfirmative, which focuses on building cooperative ecosystems through co-designed community projects, nature-based action solutions, and economy uplift through policy advocacy education.

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