 
Our Mission
ReThink Energy Florida’s mission is to educate, engage, and empower Floridians to take action and achieve a just transition to clean energy for a healthier, more sustainable environment through youth education, adult engagement, and community organizing.
Who We Are
The ReThink Energy Florida family is comprised of two distinct but connected organizations – ReThink Energy Florida, our 501(c)(3) educational charity founded in 2010, and ReThink Energy Action Fund, our 501(c)(4) social welfare advocacy organization founded in 2016.
After the Deepwater Horizon disaster on April 20, 2010, many Floridians were left feeling hopeless and helpless, and wanting to take action to help ensure that Florida’s environment and economy were protected from the adverse effects of risky fossil fuel development. Founders Kim Ross and Brian Lee, operating as Crude Awakening Tallahassee, organized letter writing parties to engage citizens in demanding that then Governor Charlie Crist call a special session of the Florida legislature to place a referendum for constitutionally banning offshore drilling on the ballot. Although we did not get the legislative results we set out for, we did connect people from all over Florida with their legislators and began building a network of citizens willing to educate and engage on energy and environmental issues.
Our Values
- Empowerment through deliberative democracy
- Evidence-based information
- Solutions-based problem solving
- Education-driven, particularly youth-focused
- Engagement with local, state, national, & world communities
- Grassroots organizing, education, & action
- Earth restoration
- Inclusion and Diversity
- Equity and Environmental Justice
Vision
We envision a world where communities are motivated and empowered to combat the effects of climate change, and where 100% of clean and renewable energy is available and affordable to all. Florida communities will unite in protecting and preserving their environment and lead the nation in developing more sustainable and energy independent communities.
ReThink Energy Florida will:
- Support Floridians in their efforts to affect climate change Â
- Educate young people about clean energy and motivate them to help in the transition towards global energy independence
- Help create healthy and sustainable communitiesÂ
- Promote policies making Florida a leader in renewable energy
2020 Annual Report
Directors
Kim Ross serves as an ex-officio Board member and the Vice-President of ReThink Energy Action Fund, ReThink Energy Florida’s sister 501c4 organization. She serves on the Board of Spectrabusters, and is a member of Sustainable Tallahassee.
Kim Ross
Executive Director
Ashley Hopkins
Associate Director of Education
Ben Collins started at ReThink in June 2022. He has spent his career founding and fundraising for innovative spiritual communities with some of the world’s largest religious denominations. As a self-described “brand evangelist,” Ben advocates for responsive fundraising that enriches both the donor and the non-profit.
Ben Collins
Development Director
ReThink Energy Florida co-founder, Brian Lee has engaged in progressive and environmental campaign organizing for over fifteen years. Brian has also served as a Leon Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor since his election in 2014.
Brian Lee
Campaigns Director
Cara Fleischer was on the board of ReThink Energy Florida from July 2019 until recently. She serves as an elected Supervisor on the Leon County Board of Soil and Water Supervisors and the chair of Tallahassee’s Green Faith Alliance.
Cara Fleischer
Communications Director
Te’Rel Bowman attended Florida A&M University, for twenty years at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, and now serves as Operations Manager for Big Bend Habitat for Humanity, Inc.
Te’Rel Bowman
S.E.E.D. Project Manager
Staff
Joan Leggitt has been a typesetter, proofreader, graphic artist, manager of an educational materials distribution facility, and freelance editor. In 2013, she founded Twisted Road Publications, an independent press with a mission of publishing marginalized voices.Â
Joan Leggitt
Executive Assistant
Kimberly Murphy has a B.S. in Civil Engineering Technology and Clinical Psychology with minors in Construction Engineering technology and Sociology. She has worked with many community development and environmental consulting firms and government divisions.
Kimberly Murphy
S.E.E.D. Neighborhood Leader
Lachanthia Hall is a Pastor at Fresh Wind Ministry, disability advocate for families in Florida, and a Medicaid provider with more than 10 years of experience. She has worked in the healthcare field for more than twenty years.
Lachanthia Hall
S.E.E.D. Neighborhood Leader
Marion Knowles
Associate Director of Campaigns
Talethia O. Edwards is a grassroots organizer, advocate for equity, coalition builder and speaker. She is the Founder and President of the Greater Bond Neighborhood Association, executive director of The H.A.N.D, Up Project, and CEO of her own Community Development consulting firm.
Talethia Edwards
S.E.E.D. Neighborhood Leader
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Interns
Anya Johnson is studying for a bachelor of science in sustainability at the Florida Institute of Technology. They completed the Climate Reality Leadership Training in July 2020 before founding the Florida Tech chapter of the Climate Reality Project.Â
Anya Johnson
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Communications Coordinator
Miles Kelsey is FSU student studying geology and environmental science who recently joined the Rethink Energy team as the Adult Outreach coordinator. Music is a big part of Mile’s life, and in their free time they DJ at the student radio station for FSU.
Miles Kelsey
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Adult Outreach Coordinator
Hannah Angelo-Walker is a student at FSU studying Public Relations and Environment and Society. She is passionate about environmental justice and education, and has worked with environmental conservationists to expand her knowledge within the field. In Hannah’s free time she likes to dance and explore nature around her.
Hannah Angelo-Walker
Communications Coordinator
Kourtney Wallace is a PhD student at FAMU and adjunct instructor at Florida Gateway College. She is also a graduate participant in EPA-Tuskegee University’s Environmental Justice Academy and Community Economic Training.
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Youth Education Coordinator
Kyleigh Hazelwood is a Junior at Florida State University, majoring in Political Science and International Affairs from St. Petersburg, Florida.
Kyleigh Hazelwood
Political Advocacy Coordinator
Board
Eva Armstrong has been on the board of ReThink Energy Florida since May 2017 and has been President since January 2018. She is also a member of the Leon County Water Resources Advisory Committee and the Tallahassee Board of Realtors.Â
Eva Armstrong
Board President
Cynthia Ebben started with ReThink Energy Florida in May 2017. She has a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in counselor education. For 33 years she served New York’s and Florida’s healthcare delivery systems as a government operations consultant.
Cynthia Ebben
Board Secretary
Jim Davis is retired after recently serving as the Executive Director of Sustainable Tallahassee. He has been on the board of ReThink Energy Florida since July 2019.
Jim Davis
Board Treasurer
Dr. Bruce Strouble is the Senior Manager of Equitable Climate Resilience Projects at GroundWork USA and an adjunct professor at Florida A&M University. He has been on the board of ReThink Energy Florida since January 2019.
Bruce Strouble
Board Member
Rachel Christensen has a Ph.D. in Public and International Affairs from Virginia Tech and has a wide range of experiences working with institutions of higher education and community-based nonprofits. She is always up for a cup of coffee and a good conversation.
Rachel Christensen
Board Member
Ronald Ebben is a retired broadcaster from WFSU. He has been on the board of ReThink Energy Florida since January 2019.