The ‘North Star Stewards' will guide the initiative, which seeks to accelerate and expand federal advocacy for equitable outdoor access and environmental learning
ROOT Hub, hosted by Justice Outside, is officially announcing its inaugural 11-member governance body. This group of stewards, selected from a pool of 50+ movement-wide applicants, will serve as the primary governance body of ROOT Hub.
ROOT Hub's work requires strategic direction and active guidance. Its North Star Stewards are now responsible for stewarding the mission and strategic direction of a national, community-centered movement in service of ROOT’s North Star—to secure the benefits of environmental learning and equitable access to the outdoors as a human right for all young people, especially for youth and children of color.
A selection committee of movement leaders collaborated in early fall 2026 to select ROOT’s North Star Stewards. Following an active call for qualified candidates, the committee selected:
Get to know each North Star Steward member here!
The Selection Committee’s work included in-depth consideration of all applicants and making decisions that ultimately led to the selection of the North Star Stewards cohort that will move ROOT Hub into its first year of implementation. The committee members are:
Onika Abraham Lee, Blue Sky Funders Forum
David Beard, Children & Nature Network
Kate Hodges, National Institute of Early Education Research (NIEER)
Juan D. Martinez Pineda, Fresh Tracks - Aspen Institute
Cara Sklar, New America
Hannah Shulman, 11th Hour Project, The Schmidt Family Foundation
Luis Villa, Latino Outdoors
* The Selection Committee also included a Justice Outside representative as the hosting organization for ROOT Hub.
We are thankful to this Selection Committee for the time and expertise shared to make this selection process possible, as well as to all who applied to serve in a governance capacity.
“ROOT Hub’s North Star Stewards bring tremendous expertise, experience, and community care. We are confident that their perspective and expertise will strengthen ROOT Hub’s foundation and strategic direction, and we are so excited to bring this group together virtually this month and in person early next year.” — Rena Payan, Chief Program Office, Justice Outside
ROOT’s governance model aims to center the voices of community-based leaders first and foremost. With this priority in mind, the selected governance body is majority community-based organizations with five seats. There are also dedicated seats for advocates and policy experts (2), funders (3), and a seat (1) for a host organization representative.
Background:
ROOT Hub works to establish national movement infrastructure to strengthen coordinated federal advocacy around environmental learning and equitable outdoor access.
ROOT Hub grew from a recognition across the field that organizations advancing environmental learning and equitable outdoor access needed stronger infrastructure for coordinated national advocacy. Movement leaders identified challenges that individual organizations could not address alone, including the need for stronger coordination, shared advocacy capacity, access to federal resources, technical assistance, communications and narrative support, relationship building, and opportunities to influence national decisions.
The initiative was developed through listening, relationship-building, research, and discussion with leaders across the field, in support of and in consultation with movement leaders, an informal group of funders, and with facilitation and guidance from Justice Outside and Equitable Comms.
Justice Outside currently serves as ROOT Hub’s interim host organization, providing the operational infrastructure and staff support required to implement the Hub’s work.
