Transition US is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves as the official national hub for the Transition Movement here in the United States. Founded with great help from Post Carbon Institute in 2009 and governed by a Memorandum of Understanding with the international Transition Network. Our Board of Directors oversees the organization’s financial health and strategic development, while four part-time staff members run operations.
Vision
We envision a just world where humanity lives in harmony with nature and cultivates regenerative systems for all aspects of living. We envision communities (everywhere) who are co creating healthy, healing, and connected ways of thriving on (the) Earth.
Mission
The mission of Transition US is to catalyze, coordinate, and support a national network of grassroots groups who are actively cultivating just, resilient, and regenerative communities.
Values
- Environmental Justice
- Transformation
- Growth
- Justice
- Equity
- Caring
- Healing
- Intergenerational
- Intercultural
- Creativity
- Place-Based
- Participatory
Our Team
Executive Director

Jess Alvarez-Parfrey, (she/they), California
Marissa Mommaerts, (she/her), Colorado
Network Organizer

Communications and Outreach Lead

Elvia Cruz-Garcia, (she/her), California
Alex Zubia, (he/him), California
Alex Zubia, who goes by “Xef” is a Chef by trade. Born and raised in Fresno, CA (yokuts Land). Alex attended The California Culinary Academy in San Francisco (Ramaytush Ohlone land) in 2007. His passion for cooking came with his passion for eating. From 2008-2015 he worked at Community Regional Medical Center’s Emergency Room as a Patient Liaison. During that time he witnessed people from his community dying from diet related issues. That realization led him to opening his food truck, which focused on healthier, farm to fork versions of familiar foods. In 2015, Alex moved to Santa Barbara (Chumash Land) to further his skills as a chef. There, he discovered that so much of the beautiful produce he was cooking with came from Fresno. He wondered why he never saw all this produce available in Fresno. Alex moved back to his hometown in 2021 to fight for food justice as a Food Sovereignty Director at Fresno Barrios Unidos. Alex’s goal is to bring his community back to eating and cooking their indigenous foods which are so plentiful in the Central Valley.
Network Organizer

Network Organizer

Gabriela Silva Hernandez, (they/she), California
Gabi (they/she) is deeply rooted in community, self-love, and practicing holistic sustainability. Growing up in alternative economy structures, they realized how pivotal community is in addressing and meeting the needs of one another through non-extractive exchanges. They have three years of experience in working with unions, founded a local community pantry in Isla Vista, and facilitated healing spaces for LGBTQ and misogyny-affected people. Through their work, they have brought attention to issues of gender-based violence that exists internationally, held space for mutual exchange of support, and fought the greediness of large corporations and institutions.
They believe that the first step in creating a more equitable and regenerative future is imagination, because “para soñar es vivir”(in order to live, one must dream first). Having collaborated with people from all walks of life in political, healing, and creative spaces, they realize how vital storytelling is in understanding one another as well as envisioning transformative change.
They aim to create intentional space that uplifts stories and ideas as to what a liberated future will be.
In doing this work, they ground themselves through meditative practices such as yoga, meditation, and nourishing their body with what Earth graciously offers.
With a B.A in Black Studies from UCSB, they have devoted themselves to a life-long commitment in dismantling oppressive systems and institutions whilst incorporating healing and joy going forward.
Don Hall (him/he), Colorado
Don Hall has had the good fortune to participate in the international Transition Towns Movement in a variety of capacities over the past 12 years. Initially serving for two years as the Education and Outreach Coordinator for Transition Colorado, he went on to found and direct Transition Sarasota (Florida) from 2010 to 2016. A certified Transition Trainer and experienced facilitator, Don was named Co-Director of Transition US in 2017 and became its Interim Executive Director in 2020. Don holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Leadership from Naropa University, a certification in Permaculture Design from the Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute, and currently lives in a multigenerational housing cooperative in Boulder, Colorado. In 2019, he edited and published 10 Stories of Transition in the US: Inspiring Examples of Community Resilience-Building.
Training Director

Board of Directors

Ana Rosa Rizo-Centino, California
Ana Rosa Rizo-Centino is the newest member of our Transition US board. She is the Executive Director for One Step A La Vez, an organization that helps youth take their first step toward a more positive future. Ana Rosa graduated from UC Santa Barbara and has worked locally, statewide and nationally on many social justice efforts such as language justice, educational access, governmental transparency, support for working families and environmental justice issues, like ensuring everyone has clean drinking water. Ana Rosa continues this work through her involvement in developing a Central Coast Grassroots Green New Deal, her position on The City of Santa Barbara Creeks Commission, her role as vice president of the Santa Barbara (SB) County Outreach and Equity Commission for the SB countywide climate action plan, her radio show called ¡Que Madre! on KZAA 96.5fm, her roles on several non-profit boards, such as SB CAN and La Casa de la Raza, as well as her involvement in the steering committee of the Central Coast Climate Justice Network. She also serves as the president of the Central Coast Environmental Voters (formerly CCLCV). Last, but definitely not least, she is the proud mami of two daughters: Adela Susana & Gloria Jin-Ni.
Lisa Lin, Texas
Lisa Lin leads the Transportation Demand Management Department for Rice University in Houston, TX, where she implements sustainable and active transportation strategies and initiatives for the campus. Previously, Lisa was the Climate Program Manager for the City of San Antonio’s Office of Sustainability and managed the City’s first Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. Prior to that, she was the Sustainability Manager with the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability at the City of Houston. She represented the City at international convenings through C40 Cities, helped Houston achieve a STAR Communities (now LEED for Cities) rating, and oversaw the annual Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) reporting effort. She also has experience working for a global environmental NGO on climate mitigation and started her career at a commercial architecture firm where she led the company’s green building efforts. She is the board chair for the Bayou Land Conservancy and a regional council member for the USGBC-Texas Gulf Coast. She is currently a part-time postgraduate student focusing on sustainable urban development at the University of Oxford in the UK. In her spare time, Lisa performs with her string ensemble and teaches cello lessons. She and her husband, Sam, enjoy hiking, biking, and gardening.


Ruah Swennerfelt, Vermont
Ruah Swennerfelt, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, is a founding member of Sustainable Charlotte Vermont, (a Transition Initiative), where she serves as president. She is an active member of the Charlotte Grange, the Charlotte Community Partners, and the Middlebury Friends Meeting (Quakers).