As Senior Director of Climate Strategies at the Foundation for California Community Colleges, I have the privilege of leading the Center for Climate Futures—a cross-departmental team dedicated to improving lives in the face of current and emerging climate challenges. Recently, our portfolio has expanded to focus on natural resource management, agriculture and food systems, and applied technologies, as these sectors are absolutely essential to our climate adaptation efforts. I collaborate with educators, industry leaders, policymakers, and community partners to ensure California’s workforce is prepared for the opportunities created by a rapidly changing economic and technological landscape. 

Right now, one of our most exciting projects is a new partnership with Pyka (an autonomous aviation startup) and a coalition of agricultural, workforce, industry, and state leaders to demonstrate the potential of zero-emission aviation in California. Funded by the California Air Resources Board and the California Energy Commission, this first-of-its-kind initiative will deploy autonomous, all-electric aircraft for agricultural spraying operations, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality, and protecting farm communities from chemical overspray. FoundationCCC is also leading a statewide exploration of workforce development pathways into high-quality careers in zero-emission aviation and advanced manufacturing.

In the video below, you can learn more about the project, its impact, and what it means for the future of California’s agricultural industry.