Meet OJTA’s advocacy and systems director

Ana Molina has been in the environmental justice movement since 2017 when she moved to Oregon and worked with Beyond Toxics. As their statewide environmental justice projects manager, she worked on advocacy and community organizing at both the community and statewide levels.

Ana has also sat on the Racial Justice Council’s Environmental Equity Committee and is a board member and general fund grantmaker for Seeding Justice. She’s worked on various statewide campaigns including the Oregon Clean Energy Opportunity Campaign and comes from a background rooted in environmental justice.

How would you describe your role at Oregon Just Transition Alliance? 

As advocacy and systems director, I’ll work to advance OJTA’s policy and systems change advocacy goals, under the larger umbrella of the Oregon Green New Deal. I will be heavily involved in our policy work and also working with our executive director on our long-term advocacy plans.

What does a just transition mean to you?

To me, a just transition means moving away from the extractive and exploitative economy we live in. It means a paradigm shift of the things we value. It means building economic and political power in our frontline communities to lead and build the new.

What is your most memorable OJTA moment?

My most memorable moment was going to our first retreat since the pandemic last year. It was great to see how our movement has changed since 2017 when I first started working with OJTA as part of Beyond Toxics. It’s been so wild to see our work move from theory to actual policy and tangible outcomes for the communities our members work with.

What’s your favorite place in Oregon? 

My favorite place in Oregon is definitely Eugene. I love Portland, but Eugene holds a special place in my heart and is the place I hope I get to live in again. I love that nature is so accessible and less crowded. I love the Walnut Street Co-op where I used to live—it was such a nice community where we all supported each other, plus we had an awesome garden we always got compliments on.

What is one fun fact about you? 

I really like heights and cats.