About Project ADAPT

Recognizing the importance of cultural and social location, Project Adapt works collaboratively with a team of “cultural advisors,” inviting ongoing feedback and critique. Our most trustworthy future will arise only when all voices and ages are present, especially those who are oppressed in our current society and the ones who will inherit what is to come.

As we face the widespread and multi-layered break-down of climate chaos, the facilitated trainings hosted by Project Adapt embrace interfaith, multi-cultural, inter-species perspectives as well as adaptation practices for individuals and communities. In this way, Project Adapt invites us to implement the changes needed for living, loving and dying within Earth’s natural cycles. By addressing the reality of what will be in the short and longer term, we join together with the youngest among us to tend our collective future.

The Project Adapt team includes:

Rev. Lauren Van Ham

(she/her)

Rev. Lauren Van Ham is an interfaith chaplain who has served in healthcare, corporate, and academic settings.

Her specialization is at the intersection of spirituality and ecology; and she calls the work, Eco-Chaplaincy. Her current and previous consulting work in this area ranges from faith communities, to individuals, to multi-national corporations.

Steve Hicken

(he/him)

Steve Hicken is the former Executive Director of Ignite Institute at the Pacific School of Religion (PSR).

His previous career endeavors include cross-cultural and international service experience with indigenous peoples as well as directing the largest division at Catholic Charities in Santa Clara County.

James Keene

(he/him)

James Keene is a former Chief Executive who served local government organizations as CityMan ager in Palo Alto, California, Berkeley, California, Tucson, Arizona; and County Manager of Coconino County, Arizona. After retiring, he formed City Dharma as a framework for continuing his life-long commitment to public service and livable place-making. His special interest is on deepening the literacy and capacity of individuals and communities to respond to the core problems of our time (climate change, inequality). He is also a poet, photographer, grandfather, and Zen student who lives on Bainbridge Island, Washington.

Cultural Advisors:

Tianna Renee Arredondo

(they/them)

Tianna is an artist, facilitator and environmental justice consultant whose practice is deeply rooted in spiritual ecology and emergent strategy. They have worked at 350.org, Power Shift Network, and SustainUS creating healing justice, spokespeople, and DEI leadership programs to support climate leaders.

Tianna is currently a funded cultural worker creating self-help tools for QTBIPOC folks to thrive on their healing journey through their trans-disciplinary creative consulting practice, Genuinely Curious. When they are not tending to these offerings, you can bet they are listening to music, eating good food, writing, or hanging out with friends.

Ras K Dee

(he/him)

Ras K Dee is a DJ, renowned lyricist, producer, and lead vocalist/keyboardist for Audiopharmacy.  A Native California Pomo/African from Sonoma County, Ras is also founder of founder of The NEST Community Arts Center, (Forestville CA), an Indigenous Led, sustainably built hub for all artists, and the editor/producer of SNAG Magazine, a Native owned arts and culture magazine.

Byron McMillan

(he/him)

Byron McMillan is an Indigeneity and Water Resource Educator with Dr. Salamanca’s Dream, LLC. He is contracted with the Albuquerque Water Authority to lead tours of the Rio Grande and Bosque Ecosystem for students and adults. Byron is passionate about community engagement through regenerative intelligence that builds self-sufficiency and psychological resilience in the shadow of chaos and degeneration caused by human immaturity. 

Ella Suring

(she/her)

Ella is a student activist with an expressed commitment to health, equity, environmental and social justice. She is the student co-founder of the first-of-its-kind Climate Literacy Resolution passed in the Berkeley Unified School District.(Berkeley, California).  Ella is also an Ashtanga Yoga practitioner and strives to make the world a better place through the intersection of activism and spiritual work.