Charles "Cub" Loftland, Ed.D. Executive Director - Co-Founder of the Uplift Institute

Charles has been a community change agent leader for over 25 years. He is involved in educational consulting, workforce development and neighborhood planning. Retired from the United States Air Force, Charles worked a construction manager specializing in water systems and hydro-purification. As a founder of the Uplift Institute, he has focused the mission on sustainability through education, economics, regenerative infrastructure and social equity. Charles holds a bachelor's degree in Workforce Education and Development from Southern Illinois University - Carbondale, an M.A. in Urban Sustainability from Antioch University - Los Angeles and holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Sustainability at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He currently resides in California. 

"Sustainability isn't just about solar power and climate change. It encompasses every aspect of life on the planet. It is about consistent and effective movements of justice. Social equity, economic empowerment and environmental stewardship are foundations of justice for all communities. We strive to integrate sustainability into education and training with the purpose of building stronger, resilient neighborhoods and institutions." 

Damion Trasada, President, Board of Directors - Co-Founder of the Uplift Institute

Damion has been involved in practical and policy initiatives around workforce development, education, and community engagement for over twenty years. He currently serves the Solar Program Director at the Maryland Clean Energy Center.  He's also worked on a variety of political campaigns and served on the Missouri Governor's staff as a legislative liaison, federal program manager in the Department of Social Services, Deputy Director of the Missouri Housing Development Commission, and Deputy Director of State Boards and Commissions.  More recently he was the Regional Director of Wounded Warrior Project’s Warriors to Work Program which provides veterans and family members with employment counseling and placement services.  Damion has a bachelor's degree in African-American Studies from Temple University and a Master's of Public Policy from Pepperdine.  

Kirsten Melvey, Environmental Justice Communications Coordinator

Kirsten is an accomplished Environmental Justice Communications Coordinator with over two decades of experience in communications, marketing, editorial management, and technical support. Currently, she contributes her expertise to the Uplift Institute in Atlanta, GA, where she developed a comprehensive communications strategy that boosted community engagement by 40%. She has coordinated over 25 community workshops on sustainability and managed content creation across various platforms, significantly enhancing audience interaction and environmental advocacy.

Kirsten’s impressive background includes roles as an Editorial Project Coordinator at Book Mavericks and managing virtual campaigns and book releases at Iyanla Vanzant Enterprises. She has produced numerous documents, newsletters, press kits, and over 15 books, including the New York Times bestseller "The Rich And The Rest Of Us" by Tavis Smiley and Cornel West, and the NAACP Image Award Honored "Health First!: The Black Woman’s Wellness Guide" by Eleanor Hinton Hoytt and Hilary Beard. Her experience extends to social media marketing, event coordination, project management, and environmental justice advocacy, making her a versatile and invaluable asset to any team.

Danielle Bailey, Director of Urban Health Equity

Danielle has spent more than twenty years influencing community growth and change throughout the state of New Jersey.  Her commitment to working with underserved populations has afforded her the opportunity to work in both rural and urban communities. She has been committed to working in the healthcare and behavioral health industries. While working in the behavioral health industry, Danielle served as a Director of the Mental Health Initiative at Steinninger Behavioral Health Services, providing employment-supportive services and behavioral health linkages to severe and persistently ill consumers. In the healthcare industry she has served as a Program Director at the University Research Corporation’s - Center for Human Services, overseeing the daily operations of multiple programs providing resources to more than 1500 migrant families and workers. Danielle has also worked with United HealthCare-AmeriChoice, as a Community Relations Coordinator. In this role, she worked closely with primary care physicians and the healthcare community to provide education, service coordination, and linkages to healthcare services. Most recently, she was a Lead Project Coordinator at Health Quality Strategies, Inc., Researching  best practices and existing barriers to addressing opioid use disorders and chronic diseases impacting underserved communities.  Danielle has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Rutgers University, a Master’s in Healthcare Administration form Eastern University and a certification in Applied Project Management from Villanova University. She currently resides in New Jersey.

Lindsay (Franz) Franta, Urban Design and Urban Sustainability Consultant