Billy Parish

Biographical Information
"In 2002, Billy dropped out of Yale University to co-found the Energy Action Coalition and grew it into the largest youth advocacy organization in the world working on the climate crisis. Energy Action Coalition's Power Shift '09 conference brought nearly 13,000 youth to Washington, D.C. for trainings, networking sessions and to lobby Congress and the Obama Administration.

"A serial social entrepreneur, Billy has helped launch dozens of youth, climate and green jobs- related organizations and initiatives, including Green Owl Records, a green music label affiliated with Warner Music Group; ItsGettingHotInHere.org, the largest youth issues blog and second largest climate change blog in the world; The Navajo Green Economy Coalition, which recently passed groundbreaking green jobs legislation on the Navajo Nation; and the Clean Energy Corps, a proposal based on the Civilian Conservation Corps designed to rebuild the U.S. and create millions of new jobs and opportunities for community service, parts of which became law in 2009.

"Billy serves on numerous non-profit and clean-tech boards from The Clinton Global Initiative to Motor Excellence to 1Sky, and has been honored as a 2005 Rolling Stone magazine “Climate Hero,” 2006 Mother Jones "Student Activist of the Year", one of Salon.com's 2007 "Sexiest Men Living", and as an Utne Reader “50 Visionaries Who Are Changing Your World” in 2008. In 2007, he was elected as a Fellow by Ashoka, the global association of the world's leading social entrepreneurs. Billy is writing a book and developing a series of new initiatives to support a global wave of green entrepreneurs to re-imagine and rebuild our world. Originally from New York City, Billy now lives with his wife Wahleah and daughter Tohaana in Flagstaff, AZ."


 * US Advisory Council, 350.org

Related Sourcewatch

 * Hollyhock Leadership Institute: Former Faculty Members