Civic Encounter

S3 EP5 - Veda Banerjee on Human-Centered Storytelling & Leveraging Diverse Communication Channels to Build Political Will for Climate Action

On this episode of Civic Encounter, co-hosts Georgia Lewis and Simi Situ speak with Veda Banerjee, Senior Director of Communications at California Environmental Voters — a journalist, nonprofit leader, and climate advocate whose career stretches from breaking news in New Delhi to landmark cultural campaigns at the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and sustainability storytelling at Goodwill of the San Francisco Bay. Veda reflects on the mentors and stepping stones that shaped her path, how nearly two decades in the Bay Area sharpened her environmental lens, and what projects like the Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz installation taught her about the power of art and public space to spark conversations around justice and civic memory. Now leading messaging strategy for one of California's most influential environmental advocacy organizations, Veda gets candid about building political will around climate, aligning diverse stakeholders through organizing and storytelling, and what went into convening Our Climate Future: A Forum with California's Next Governor. She also spotlights how it is critical we all have affordable insurance in California and the ongoing reckoning with the 2025 Palisades and Eaton Fires, closing with a message of hope for the next generation of communicators ready to help shape a just, sustainable future.

S3 EP4 - Mick Dalrymple on Green Pioneering, Biomimicry, and Building a Sustainable USC

On this episode of Civic Encounter, host Georgia Lewis and JCI President, Seth Jacobson, speak with Mick Dalrymple, the University of Southern California’s first-ever Chief Sustainability Officer [https://today.usc.edu/usc-first-chief-sustainability-officer-mick-dalrymple/] — a LEED Fellow, filmmaker, and sustainability pioneer whose career spans nearly four decades across green building, higher education, policy, and entrepreneurship. Mick traces the winding path that brought him here: from co-creating Arizona's first green building education center and growing ASU's sustainability programs to international projects in Albania and Guatemala, all while proving that storytelling is one of the most powerful tools in the climate advocate's toolkit. Now leading sustainability strategy at one of California's most prominent and publicly influential universities, Mick opens up about what it meant to originate the CSO role at USC, the push toward climate neutrality, and how the LA Green New Deal and renewable energy economics are reshaping what's possible — even amid federal rollbacks. He also reflects on earning the LEED Fellow designation, the promise of biophilia and biomimicry, and what gives him hope. His message for the next generation? Master the solutions, get your hands in the ground, and remember — individuals do make a difference.

S3 EP3 - LA Cleantech Incubator CEO, Matt Petersen on Public–Private Partnerships & LA’s Path to an Inclusive Green Economy Ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games

On this episode of Civic Encounter, Simi Situ and Amelie Wu interview Matt Petersen, who is the President and CEO of the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) [https://laincubator.org/our-model/], where he leads efforts to build an inclusive green economy by incubating startups, transforming markets through strategic partnerships, and enhancing communities through workforce development. LACI focuses on accelerating transportation electrification, clean energy, and sustainable cities. Previously, Petersen served as Los Angeles’ first Chief Sustainability Officer under Mayor Eric Garcetti, where he helped author the Sustainable City plan, advanced the city’s leadership in electric vehicles, and co-founded Climate Mayors.

S3 EP2 - LA County Assessor on the One Year Anniversary of the Wildfires and Looking Back on the First Year of Recovery & Relief

On this episode of Civic Encounter, Georgia Lewis and Simi Situ sit down with Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang to discuss the work if the Assessor’s office as LA County reaches a year of recovery efforts following the LA fires in the Pacific Palisades, Altadena, and more. Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang was elected in 2014 as the 27th Assessor for the County of Los Angeles and re-elected in 2018 and 2022. His office has played a pivotal role in making sure affected LA County residents get the information and resources they need to navigate rebuilding, taxes, and much more in the wake of the fires. Assessor Prang is Civic Encounter’s first-ever returning guest, having previously joined the podcast in 2025. To learn more about his journey—from pioneering policy on the West Hollywood City Council to modernizing government technology as Los Angeles County Assessor—listen here [https://open.spotify.com/episode/4Fyestuy1ZqTjm0VmNUksR?si=66eb3cb4665a493c].

S3 E1 - CA State Senator Caroline Menjivar on Community-Centered Policy and the Value of Lived Experience

On this episode of Civic Encounter, Georgia Lewis and Ava Sanchez speak with CA State Senator Caroline Menjivar about her journey from aspiring firefighter to EMT, Marine, and the second youngest state senator in California. Senator Menjivar shares how growing up in the San Fernando Valley and serving on the front lines shaped her leadership and commitment to public safety. The conversation explores her legislative work on health and consumer protections, including SB 20 to prevent silicosis and SB 68 requiring food allergen disclosures, as well as broader issues like child care affordability, public transportation, and the impact of immigration raids on local communities. Senator Menjivar closes with a powerful message for young people: don’t wait to lead—organize, advocate, and create change now.