Susan Stephenson (she/her), Executive Director
susan@interfaithpower.org
Susan serves as Executive Director of California Interfaith Power & Light and has been involved since helping to found the organization in 2000. Susan has also served as executive director of Interfaith Power & Light national where she helped design and develop the state affiliate model and climate programming for faith communities. She has been a climate leader in the state for more than two decades, having organized the California Global Warming Campaign in 1999 which resulted in several landmark legislative victories. Susan leads CIPL’s congregational climate resiliency work for which she was recognized in 2023 as an “Impact Warrior” by the Golden State Warriors (her favorite NBA team). Susan received a B.A. in English from the University of North Carolina. When not advancing climate solutions or helping green houses of worship, Susan can be spotted hiking in the Oakland hills or attending a music festival.
Gregory Stevens (they/he), Northern California Director
gregory@interfaithpower.org
(650) 313-3998
Gregory serves as the Northern California Director. As a former Baptist preacher, long time labor organizer, and interfaith community activist they bring a creative mix of skills to our team as we seek to strengthen multi-religious responses to climate change. Gregory grew up in Tampa/St.Petersburg Florida, where their love for crawling critters, furry felines, and old oak trees solidified into political and social activism for planetary healing. They have a BA in Religion and Gender Studies from the University of South Florida, a MDiv from Claremont School of Theology, and a MA in Anthropology from the California Institute of Integral Studies. In their free time they enjoy overstuffed used bookstores, the smell and feel of giant Redwood Trees, watching documentaries about ancient cultures, and all things Unitarian Universalist.
Bekah Estrada (she/her), Southern California Director
bekah@interfaithpower.org
(341) 699-1019
Bekah Estrada serves as the Southern California Director. She received her M.Div from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California and her BBS in Ministry and Leadership Studies at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. Before joining CIPL, Bekah served as the Director of Christian Life at the University of Southern California and pioneered a new role on campus as the first Eco-Chaplain at USC. Named after her hometown of Earth, Texas, you can watch Bekah’s story of becoming an Eco-Chaplain in the mini-documentary “Bekah, from Earth.”
Rev. Rebekah Kokalis (she/her), Director of Development
development@interfaithpower.org
Rev. Rebekah Kokalis is an interfaith minister and experienced meditation teacher with over two decades of practice. A native of Southern California, Rebekah has lived and worked throughout the state. After graduating from UC Berkeley, she served in the Peace Corps in Niger and Togo, where she gained a deep appreciation for environmental protection and the joy of grassroots action. With over 15 years of expertise in administration, grant, and financial management, Rebekah has focused much of her career on conservation and environmental protection. Previously, she served as the Financial and Administrative Director for the largest park program for the Wildlife Conservation Society in Africa, where she led initiatives in sustainable conservation efforts and built connections to indigenous communities that she still works with on promoting indigenous rights today. Though she no longer resides in Africa, she is often found diving in remote locations—or at the very least, planning her next adventure.
William Morris (he/him), Clean Transportation Fellow
whm31@humboldt.edu
William is a climate activist located by a refinery in Torrance, CA. He holds his degree in environmental science with an emphasis on ecological restoration and a minor in watershed management from Humboldt State University. William is a Faith Organizer with GreenFaith working on the People vs. Fossil Fuels campaign. He also works with Young Evangelicals for Climate Action (YECA) serving first as a field organizer and is now Chair of the steering committee. He volunteers with The Climate Reality Project, is the founder and chair of the Los Angeles chapter’s Faith-based Communities Committee, sits on the steering committee of California Interfaith Power and Light, is founder and chair of the creation care committee at Faith United Methodist Church, is part of the leadership team with Faiths4Future, and a member of the board at Circle Faith Future. William also has worked with faith organizations abroad spending time in Kenya, Chad, and Indonesia. He spends his time engaging with faith communities, schools, universities, and organizations around the topics of faith-based climate justice and education. His work has been featured in Rolling Stone Magazine, ABC News, and the BBC.
Gerald Bernstein, Renewable Energy/Special Projects
jerry@interfaithpower.org
Gerald is the volunteer coordinating a variety of congregational energy efficiency and renewable energy projects at CIPL. He spent over 25 years providing business consulting services to companies in the transportation and energy industries, followed by 10 years with the California Community College system with responsibility for developing student and incumbent worker training programs in transportation and renewable energy. He has a BS in Aeronautics (RPI) and an MS in Engineering Management (Stanford). His favorite leisure activity is hiking and photographing diverse forest biomes.