Director, Direct Support & Innovation

• Jan 2022 - Present

Kristin Baja (“Baja”) is USDN’s Director of Direct Support & Innovation. Baja is responsible for identifying, leading, and supporting innovative projects and trainings that actively transform local government processes and lead to proactive respect-based change. She actively works to identify and compost archaic and discriminatory practices and to provide pathways for change rooted in courage, equity, and justice. Baja works across scales and actively helps facilitate deeper connectivity and collaboration between local government practitioners and their stakeholders while helping to shift to more transformational systems-level change. Show less

Equity Foundations and Racial Equity Instructor & Facilitator

• Jun 2019 - Present

Programs Director, Climate Resilience

• Jun 2017 - Jan 2022

USDN’s Programs Director for Climate Resilience and Equity. Responsible for helping cities identify strategic ways to advance climate resilience planning and implementation and building their capacity to take proactive action. In this role, I support members and partners in working at the nexus of resilience, mitigation and equity while also helping center equity in their climate and sustainability work. I help facilitate deeper relationships between local governments and stakeholders while helping to identify and shift focus to more collaborative and transformational action. Show less

Resilience Hub - Founder, Developer, and Coach

• Mar 2013 - Present

Resilience Hubs are community-serving facilities augmented to support residents, coordinate communication, distribute resources, and reduce carbon pollution while enhancing quality of life. Hubs provide an opportunity to effectively work at the nexus of community resilience, emergency management, climate change mitigation, and social equity while providing opportunities for communities to become more self-determining, socially connected, and successful before, during, and after disruptions. They are human centered, not hazard centered and are nodes of connectivity, belonging and care in neighborhoods. Show less

Climate and Resilience Planner

• Oct 2013 - Jun 2017

• Recognized by the Obama Administration as a Champion of Change for work on climate and equity (2016).• Led implementation of Baltimore City's resilience and climate preparedness initiatives and projects.• Developed and managed implementation of the City's resilience plan - a combined All Hazards Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan.• Led and managed the City's Community Rating System (CRS) application process and maintained a Class 5 ranking.• Identified, wrote and manage grants related to resilience, preparedness, and climate change.• Developed and implemented a communications framework for a public awareness and behavior change campaign centered around equity, inclusion, sustainability and resilience.• Managed the City's Disaster Preparedness Advisory Committee, sub-committees, and Program for Public Information (PPI).• Led the City's floodplain management program including the adoption of higher regulatory standards.• Developed and led climate resilience trainings for city staff and stakeholders.• Co-Led the City's STAR Community Rating System process and achieved a STAR 5 rating.• Co-led the Sustainability Plan update process utilizing an equity lens.• Served on the Mayor's outcome based budgeting team, disaster risk finance team and CIP committee. Show less

Hazard Mitigation Planner

• Jul 2012 - Oct 2013

• Lead author and manager of the Baltimore Disaster Preparedness Project and Plan: An All Hazards Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan. • Coordinated input from citizens, technical experts and public agencies to identify risks and established clear goals and strategies to address risks.• Ensured that City climate activities complement related initiatives by other International, State, or Regional hazard and climate initiatives.• Developed educational materials to encourage citizen adoption of best management practices• Managed data related to hazards, climate modeling, and climate change . Show less

Sustainability Associate

• May 2011 - Sep 2012

As the Sustainability Associate with the City of Ann Arbor, I led multiple projects related to climate adaptation, sustainability, environment, energy, and city planning. I co-wrote and designed the City's first Climate Action Plan and Sustainability Framework and supported community input sessions, the environmental commission, and an internal climate work group of residents and business owners. In addition to climate and sustainability work, I was the lead Project Director for the South State Street Corridor Study which involved interviews and relationship-building with businesses and residents along the corridor and development of a plan for corridor improvement. Show less

Energy and Climate Project Manager

• Jan 2012 - Aug 2012

As the Energy and Climate Project Manager, I assisted in development of the Southeast Michigan Climate Adaptation Assessment and the Energy and Carbon Footprint of Domestic Water Use Report. I acted as the lead researcher on both projects and conducted interviews, facilitated stakeholder meetings, and managed partnerships with utility partners. Additionally, I managed an extensive data collection process with utility representatives and local municipalities throughout the watershed. The data and findings were integrated in a published report by the Huron River Watershed Council in June of 2014. Show less

Climate and Sustainability Research Specialist

• Jan 2012 - Jun 2012

Conducted research and developed a databased of sustainability, climate adaptation and climate resilience case studies that prioritized action in marginalized communities throughout North America. In this role, I developed internal metrics for "best practices" that centered on racial equity, environmental justice and proactive climate action. Conducted research and developed a databased of sustainability, climate adaptation and climate resilience case studies that prioritized action in marginalized communities throughout North America. In this role, I developed internal metrics for "best practices" that centered on racial equity, environmental justice and proactive climate action.

Environmental Planner

• Mar 2011 - Oct 2011

This position provided me with county-level planning and stormwater management experience. In this role, I developed programming and outreach and marketing materials to support improved residential and commercial stormwater management. In this role, I generated written communication materials, posters, and pamphlets for storm water and rain garden programs while supporting the Community Partners for Clean Streams (CPCS) and RiverSafe Homes (RSH) programs; both focused on pollution prevention practices and supporting stronger connectivity to the local watershed. Show less

Research and Strategy Associate

• Jan 2010 - Aug 2010

In this position, I collected and analyzed Ann Arbor transportation data for both motorized and non-motorized vehicles that became part of the City of Ann Arbor's comprehensive public parking and transportation plan. I assisted with public participation meetings and led the coordination of community input through surveying and listening sessions. In this position, I collected and analyzed Ann Arbor transportation data for both motorized and non-motorized vehicles that became part of the City of Ann Arbor's comprehensive public parking and transportation plan. I assisted with public participation meetings and led the coordination of community input through surveying and listening sessions.

Director of Organizational Development

• Jul 2007 - Sep 2009

As the Director of Organizational Development, I worked at the intersection of operations, curriculum development, training and coaching, human resources and partnership recruitment. I coordinated operations and hiring for over 26 summer locations while managing hundreds of seasonal staff in various operations and site director roles. I designed, created and implemented a new online database to manage information for over 5,000 employees and hundreds of families while ensuring integration with our finance and grant-making. This role required management of a six-figure budget, development of a recruitment and hiring platform, and creation of a communications strategy for developing partnerships and obtaining grants. Additionally, I recruited, trained, coached and supervised operations staff at all sites. Show less

Director of Operations

• Sep 2003 - Jul 2007

As the Director of Operations, I coordinated all operations-based tasks for 26 summer sites and 10 after-school sites serving over 4,800 children in the New York City metropolitan area. In this position, I managed the organizations operations team and supervised all summer operations staff. As part of my role, I wrote and published a 300-page operations manual that documented both internal and external operational tasks for successfully managing multiple summer enrichment programs. I also developed and coordinated integration of timelines, budgets and monthly tasks for all subsections of the company. Additionally, I managed relationships with external partners, school administrators, local government agencies, and families. Show less

Site Director

• Aug 2002 - Aug 2003

Director for City of Bloomington Public Schools children's programs. Managed a team of ten staff and 50 children and was responsible for development of programming and curriculum for before and after school learning and summer extension programs. Director for City of Bloomington Public Schools children's programs. Managed a team of ten staff and 50 children and was responsible for development of programming and curriculum for before and after school learning and summer extension programs.