Christine Palm, Founding Director

Christine Palm recently completed three terms in the Connecticut House of Representatives, where she served as vice chair of the Environment Committee. After seeing first-hand how young voices were often dismissed by elected officials, Palm decided not to run again in order to launch The Active Voice, LLC.

Palm worked closely with young environmentalists on her first signature piece of legislation — a bill that requires the teaching of climate change in all public schools, for which she was given the Walter Cronkite Award for Climate Change Education.

Before running for office, Palm taught high school in Hartford for 10 years, was press officer for the Office of the State Treasurer, and communications director of the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women. Palm, a frequent and widely published commentator on politics, was a newspaper reporter and columnist. She was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for essay writing.

Elizabeth Allen, Outreach and Media Coordinator

Elizabeth Allen is a student-athlete at Dickinson College, where she is double-majoring in Environmental Studies and Political Science. Liz plays on the women’s soccer team and coaches her former high school team in the summer. On campus, she is the Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging representative for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. On EIB, she works with staff to improve policies regarding discrimination.

Studying land conservation and the politics of climate change has made her particularly interested in the ethics of environmental policy. She hopes to continue her education and earn a masters degree in environmental policy.

Venishia Nakandala, Outreach and Administration Coordinator  

Venishia is an Environmental Science student at the University of Connecticut. Driven by a deep-rooted passion for tackling climate change, her purpose is clear: to create a sustainable future for generations, especially for her two young daughters. Venishia spends her free time volunteering with local community projects focused on conservation, sustainability, and environmental education. Whether it’s leading tree-planting initiatives, attending clean-up events, or educating others about climate action, she is dedicated to making a tangible impact.

As a mother, Venishia is committed to showing women of all ages that they have the power to shape a better world—and she’s determined to fight for the future her daughters deserve. Through her academic journey and community leadership, Venishia strives to inspire others to take action in the fight against climate change.