Community Environmental Council Welcomes New Partnership Council Members and Intern, Including Lawyer and Financial Expert

Additions to CEC Partnership Council 

The Partnership Council is made up of a broad spectrum of community leaders who act as ambassadors to advocate, network, and promote on behalf of CEC. They welcomed Kristin Hogue, Wendy Read, and Aaron Ritter as new members.

Kristin Hogue is a concerned citizen interested in volunteering her time to inform and educate our community about the current environmental issues and challenges being addressed by CEC. She is also actively involved in The Climate Reality Project, led by former Vice President Al Gore, and Meals on Wheels, where she was recently nominated to serve on the Board of Directors. Kristin came to Santa Barbara in 1998 and feels fortunate to live in a city that is leading the way in environmental policy. Currently pursuing postgraduate work in Environmental Studies at SBCC, she also holds a BA with honors in Social Ecology from UC Irvine.

Wendy Kilbourne Read was an actress starring on an NBC television series when she volunteered to work with a 6-year-old foster child.  Over the next 12 years, she watched as he was moved 27 times.  His experience ultimately inspired her to quit acting, complete law school, and pursue a career as an advocate for foster youth. With over twenty years of experience in nonprofit management as well as foster care and education law, her work as a licensed attorney in Santa Barbara has expanded to include organizational and management consulting.

A strong believer in the power of education to transform lives and communities, Wendy is a passionate supporter of nonprofits dedicated to education and social justice.  She currently serves as Co-Chair of the Santa Barbara Council of Human Rights Watch and previously served on the boards of The Living Peace Foundation, The Lois & Walter Capps Project, The Children’s Project Academy, Cate School, and Sycamores/Hathaway Social Services.

Aaron Ritter is a financial advisor who is passionate about making a positive impact, particularly regarding the environment. He is driven by a feeling of ethical responsibility to do whatever he can to help combat climate change, which he considers the most urgent and unprecedented challenge of our time. As a result, Aaron works primarily with socially and environmentally conscious clients, especially those who are philanthropically-minded. Firmly guided by his life mission of stewardship and care for the earth, he volunteers for Sustainable Future, the Environmental Defense Center, Food From the Heart of Santa Barbara, and other organizations aligned with his vision and purpose.