Ariana Kretz

About Ariana Kretz

My driving force comes from my lived experience. As a queer and disabled woman from Los Angeles, I saw what the climate crisis looks like on the ground. I am passionate about championing a just transition that creates a sustainable future for people and planet.I am a life long organizer, with diverse experience advocating for youth mental health, anti-racist education in K-12 schools, student disability rights, and climate justice. I have taken these passions into the policy world too at the local, state, and federal level, having worked at the Oakland Mayor\'s Office, Department of Commerce, California State Senate, and the House Natural Resources Committee. Now, I support the Climate Justice Alliance as a Policy Coordinator. In this role, I support our federal policy team by completing administrative tasks, organizing with our member organizations, and engaging in policy research.Let\'s connect! Don\'t hesitate to reach out with opportunities to collaborate, requests for mentorship, or even to rant about the general state of the world.

Experience

1. Policy Coordinator

   Climate Justice Alliance

   Sep 2025 — Present

   Updated the policy team\'s internal systems, including assignment tracking, bill/hearing/ regulations data, google drives, and meeting notes to create better operational flowSupported a cohort of four CJA members on a federal lobbying day to fight environmental deregulation, AI/data centers, and promote a progressive permitting reform vision, meeting with six different Congressional officesCo-led CJA\'s fight against the SPEED Act and mobilized individuals to write their members of Congress Develop first drafts of talking points, memos, and fact sheets for senior staffReview sign on letters and draft legislation, providing edits and recommending endorsementsProvide rapid response policy research and development on issues critical to CJA\'s membership, including permitting, AI data centers, public health, and energy development Represent CJA in coalitions comprised of Congressional staff, local/state organizers, and other national organizations with an environmental justice focusCoordinate with CJA\'s organizing arm to ensure policy resources and focus is in line with member interests

Education

• John Burroughs High School

  N/A, N/A

  2016 — 2020

• University of California, Berkeley

  History

  2020 — 2024