Theresa “Tee” McClenty, Executive Director
Tee has witnessed the impact of the climate crisis first-hand. Her youngest son was born with asthma and continues to experience complications from it as a young adult. This story, she knows, is not unique. Many communities of color are hardest hit by the negative impacts of climate change.
Tee joined MN350 in 2022 in a continuation of her career as a servant for all communities. She has dedicated her life to ensuring that all communities have ALL the resources available to them. She has worked more than 18 years in emergency medicine, seeing first-hand the impact of climate on people’s health. She attended college to obtain a nursing degree and sign language interpreter. She received a mini-MBA at St. Thomas University and is a certified project manager. She has also worked in labor unions from a rank-and-file member to an chief-negotiator and EVP, advocating with school workers and health care union sisters and brothers for improved working conditions. In her most recent role, Tee connected the community to necessary resources in mental and behavioral health, dentistry, and human services.
“It’s important to me that we recognize the impacts of climate change and how they are experienced much differently for middle-income families than they are for poor or underprivileged families, including the hardest hit from climate impacts, BIPOC communities,” Tee said. “We must do better in how information is shared and in how resources are distributed in a more equitable way for all. This is my vision for MN350. An organization where people and communities are healthy, resilient, and vibrant and where disadvantaged and BIPOC communities are no longer experiencing environmental burdens and racial injustice.”
Contact: tee@mn350.org
Wayne Larrivee, Senior Staff Accountant
Wayne Larrivee has lived in the Twin Cities his entire life graduating from Rosemount High School the year the school won a national Excellence in Education Award. He joined MN350 in October 2024. He has spent the last several years working for another nonprofit organization in the human services field that provides assistance through the many programs to the community. Before that, he worked for an accounting firm for several more years providing multiple services, including taxes, but specializing in financial statements. He has enjoyed helping the community and now helping the environment as well. Wayne has an Associate’s Degree in Accounting and Business Management.
Contact: wayne@mn350.org
Malcolm Wells, Director of Community Impact
malcolm (he/him) joined MN350 in February 2024 as the Director of Community Impact. In this role, he leads and manages the organization’s volunteer-powered teams focused on community-driven initiatives. malcolm brings over a decade of experience in grassroots organizing and education advocacy to MN350. He has a strong background in direct action, campaign strategy, base building, and partnership development.
Before joining MN350, malcolm served in various roles across public and private education for nearly ten years. He also served on the executive boards of local non-profits and unions. In these leadership roles, malcolm championed a collaborative approach that prioritized the voices of marginalized communities.
He is passionate about collaboration across organizations to work collectively towards systems change.
Contact: malcolm@mn350.org
Noelle Cirisan, Political Manager
Noelle Cirisan started with MN350 as a volunteer before contracting with MN350 on voter outreach for the 2020 election. She currently serves on staff as MN350’s Political Manager. Noelle loves bringing people together around climate justice policy at the state and federal levels.
Noelle’s interest in climate justice has been informed by her childhood on the California Central Coast where she watched a changing climate and oil spills change the lives of the people around her. She has her B.A. from San Francisco State University and a J.D. from Vermont Law School where she studied water and environmental law. She has lived in Minnesota since 2017 and loves exploring everything the Midwest has to offer.
Contact: noelle@mn350.org
Francis Kingbird, Missing Murdered Indigenous Organizer
Francis Kingbird (She/Her) has a background as a Youth Exploitation Coordinator, experience advocating and coordinating services and resources for adults and youth in the Bemidji area, and has worked in Safe Harbor. She is part of the MN Office of Justice Program’s new MMIR Advisory Council which collaborates with the community and the state to address the needs and changes necessary to build and set safe procedures and policies for our missing relatives and families.
Francis’ goal at MN350 is to educate families and communities on how MMIR, Safe Harbor, Human Trafficking, and Climate Justice are connected and how to remain safe within our communities. She also intends to help everyone understand the role they play in addressing community and legal awareness of the missing and murdered relatives epidemic.
Contact: francis@mn350.org
Daylon Prochaska, Transit Organizer
Daylon joined MN350 in October of 2022 as a Transit Organizer. Growing up in Minnesota, he quickly developed a love for our ecosystems and a passion for climate justice, becoming an organizer at a young age. Daylon organized against fossil fuels extraction, neocolonialism, and militarism in high school. Daylon organized school strikes for climate justice and worked on a number of progressive campaigns. In his free time he likes to read, craft, cook, and explore nature.
Contact: daylon@mn350.org
Krystil Rose, Office Administrator
Krystil Rose was born and raised in the Twin Cities. As a child, her parents strongly believed in giving back and kept her active with many volunteering organizations, including the MN Raptor Center and Race for the Rainbow. As she grew up, her love for nature strengthened and she knew her commitment to the planet and its inhabitants had to match that passion. Krystil is thrilled to now be a part of the MN350 team working full time for meaningful changes. Previously working as a general manager of a small business, she hopes to utilize her skills to help achieve the vision of MN350.
When Krystil isn’t working, you can find her performing and teaching dance, camping, hiking, foraging, or trying out a new creative art form. She loves trying new vegetarian food with friends or having a lazy Sunday afternoon with her cat Xena.
Contact: krystil@mn350.org
Sonita van der Leeuw, Transportation Organizer
Sonita (she/her) joined MN350 in November of 2022 as a Transportation Organizer. Growing up in Minnesota, she brings with her a passion for learning and educating others on clean energy solutions that will lead us towards a healthier future for the planet. After gaining a degree in Environmental Sustainability and Resilience at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, Sonita worked with the Iowa Environmental Council to help implement clean energy initiatives at a local level. She is excited to continue organizing and advocating for sustainable and equitable climate solutions, and ensuring that the intersectionality that lies within the environmental movement is brought into her work. Sonita enjoys rollerblading, hiking, and entertaining her cat Juniper.
Contact: sonita@mn350.org
Jalayna Smith-Moore, Food Justice Organizer
Jalayna grew up in Richfield, MN, where she developed a passion for the environment at a young age through school visits to the local nature center. This early interest led her to pursue a degree in Environmental Studies with a minor in Biology from the College of Saint Benedict. During her time in school, she was actively involved with the Climate Justice Club, FullCircle Greenhouse, and conducted research at two of the UNFCCC’s Conference of the Parties. Jalayna’s professional experience includes working with the Minneapolis Parks Foundation to expand community outreach in North Minneapolis parks and collaborating with the City of Burnsville to cultivate local produce for donation to food shelves. Through these experiences, she has developed a strong passion for urban sustainability and creating local solutions for climate change. Jalayna is excited to work with communities across Minnesota to create equitable and regenerative local food systems that promote the health of both people and the planet.
Contact: jalayna@mn350.org
Jessica Gidagaakoons Smith, BIPOC Community Support Supervisor
Jessica Gidagaakoons Smith is the BIPOC Community Support Supervisor at MN350, where she is deeply committed to advancing climate and racial justice. As a Two Spirit member of the Bois Forte Band of The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, she leverages her background in legal studies and tribal governance to address the intersections of climate change and racial equity. Previously, Jessica served as our MMIR Organizer, where she provided legal advocacy and organized community events to support families affected by missing and murdered Indigenous relatives. With a Master’s in Tribal Administration and Governance and a history of overcoming personal trauma, she is dedicated to supporting BIPOC communities and driving meaningful environmental and social change. Her extensive experience in legal advocacy, community organizing, and survivor-led research underscores her passion for creating sustainable and equitable solutions for marginalized communities by advocating for change and justice with boots to the ground for our most vulnerable populations.
Contact: jessica@mn350.org
