Board of Directors
Misti O'Quinn, Co-Chair of the Board 2024 - present
Joppa Community Liaison (2019 - 2023) & former Particulate Matter Education Committee Chair (2018-2019)
Evelyn Mayo, Co-Chair of the Board 2018 - present
Particulate Matter Education Committee Chair 2017-2018
Evelyn Mayo is a Senior Policy Analyst at the Initiative for Energy Justice. She has ten years of experience organizing grassroots campaigns and engaging in policy development to advance environmental justice. Before joining IEJ, she served as the founding Director of Paul Quinn College’s Urban Research Initiative, where she was a faculty mentor for the HBCU Climate Change Consortium, developed and launched environmental justice curriculum, and mentored honors students. She conducted research and policy development with students and environmental justice partners to minimize pollution exposure, change unjust land use policies, and increase career pathways in public policy for HBCU students. She began her career as a paralegal in poverty law at Legal Aid of NW Texas and Disability Rights Texas, advocating for environmental, housing, and economic justice in Texas. Evelyn holds a Master’s in City and Regional Planning from UT Arlington and a B.A. in Environmental Science from Columbia University.
Cindy Hua, Outreach & Education Chair (2024 - present)
Former Chair of the Particulate Matter Education Committee 2019 to 2023
Cindy is a PhD candidate at SMU with a Masters in Sustainable Design and Bachelors in Biology. As a STEAM educator, Cindy is committed to environmental justice and making science and data accessible to the public for advocacy efforts.
Satavia (Tae) Hopkins, Board Member
Former Treasurer 2021 - 2024
Satavia is an Oak Cliff born-and-breed Air Force veteran who's now an independent project manager and consultant. She is an accountant, project manager, HR expert and a mother. She served as the Treasurer of DAR for three years and now remains as a dedicated Board Member.
Laura Quintero-Chavez, Neighborhood Self-Defense Project Team 2021 - present
Laura started working with the Board on the West Dallas NSDP in 2021. She helped do outreach and engagement in the Singleton industrial corridor and has supported the GAFs Gotta Go/GAF Vete Ya campaign. She is a former DISD Architecture teacher, is pursuing her Masters in City and Regional Planning at UTA and previously worked at Dallas Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation.
Collin Yarborough, Secretary 2022 - present
Collin is a Dallas native and current PhD student at SMU’s Lyle School of Engineering. His research is focused on creating an equitable intersection of transportation and land use. In 2021, Collin Published “Paved A Way,” a book taking a historical look at the impacts of infrastructure, policy, and racism in shaping neighborhoods of color in Dallas. Prior to returning to school, Collin worked for seven years as an engineer and compliance manager in the utility industry in Texas. He serves on the boards of the Dallas Mexican American Historical League and Downwinders at Risk while volunteering in other environmental justice advocacy capacities across Dallas. On the side, Collin runs and bikes around Dallas and helps his mother with their non-profit cookie bakery.
Kayla Butler, Treasurer December 2024 - present
Kayla Butler is a graduate of Dallas' only HBUC, Paul Quinn College, and was the Co-Founder of the "Green Team" campus sustainability initiative. She majored in Business and Accounting and has experience working at J.P. Morgan Chase and a passion for numbers, event coordination, trivia and advocacy. Throughout her collegiate career and experience she has committed herself to urban research, policy, sustainability development, consulting roles in a fortune 500 company, financial advisory, managing student accounts, sales and trivia against fellow hbcu’s.
Veronica Alvarez Vega, Board Member February 2024 - present
Veronica Alvarez Vega was the Director of Transformation at Dallas TRHT. Veronica is a native of Guanajuato, Mexico and originates from a small ranch and farming town known as Apaseo el Alto. Veronica has provided leadership in community engagement and relationship building for over a decade within the nonprofit sector. Veronica holds a Bachelor's in Psychology and a Master’s of Education in Student Development and Leadership in Higher Education. She has worked alongside local and statewide organizations to bring about transformative policies for city of Dallas residents through political activism and education. Prior to joining Dallas TRHT, Veronica served as the Family and Community Partnerships Coordinator for Lumin Bachman Lake Community School. Here she was able to utilize her strengths and leadership to grow and foster long standing community partnerships as well as connections with valuable stakeholders. Vero now is an Organizer with the Workers Defense Project seeking immigrant and worker rights for labor and other jobs.
Leah Butler, Education Committee Member December 2024 - present
Leah is passionate about leveraging her education and leadership experiences to bridge the gap in educational opportunities for disproportionately underserved and marginalized communities. As a student at Paul Quinn College, Leah had several leadership roles and teaching assistant positions. These experiences deepened her commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment, ensuring all students have the resources and opportunities they need to succeed. Since graduating in May 2024, Leah has become a full-time DISD High School History Teacher and dedicates her time outside of work to environmental and social advocacy with Downwinders at Risk.
