GCV Education Fund Team

Brionte’s love of the Georgia environment grew from a striking moment in her childhood:

“When I was ten years old, my family and I got in our car and drove away from our military base in the hot, dry Mojave Desert to start a new life in Warner Robins Georgia. I will never forget waking up in the car after four long days of travel and being blown away by the view outside of my window of Georgia’s thick, green forests blanketing the landscape as far as the eye could see. Before that moment, I had only seen so many trees in textbooks. It was this experience that ignited a fire in me to love, explore and protect the environment.”

My love for the Georgia environment began at a young age. My most vivid memories stem from my childhood. My grandparents were school teachers who would visit every summer and Christmas. During the summers, we would visit several places in Georgia such as Ocmulgee Mounds National Park, Okefenokee Swamp, High Falls State Park and the Callaway Gardens, to name a few. My grandfather was a science teacher so many of the trips were lessons about nature. He also would stress the importance of why we should protect and take care of nature. The beauty of these sites always left me in awe, and I developed a great appreciation for nature.

I want to use my professional experiences as well as her personal ones to help the GCV team succeed in promoting conservation and equity for all.

Allie fell in love with Atlanta’s green spaces at an early age, walking throughout forests in the city and later backpacking and camping in north Georgia. At the University of Georgia, she was introduced to the power of organizing when she joined a group of students to advocate for the shutdown of an outdated and dirty coal boiler on campus.

After college she spent seven years leading clean energy advocacy campaigns with the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, successfully opening up access to solar power through a statewide Florida ballot campaign in 2016. Allie then made the pivot to support environmental champions in the 2020 election cycle, serving as the Field Director for Warren for President and Debbie for Congress.

When she’s not working on campaigns, Allie can be found cheering on her favorite Atlanta sports teams and exploring new hiking trails with her dog Tunji.

Sheknita Smith is a native of Macon-Bibb County. She is a servant leader with over 20 years of combined experience in community engagement, political advocacy, workforce development, and social services. Ms. Smith is known as a community activist and strategist who believes in ensuring that the voices of marginalized people are uplifted in every room.

Her heart for people is known throughout her community. Most recently, Ms. Smith served as the Regional Political Director for the Georgia gubernatorial race campaign covering Middle Georgia and South Metro Atlanta. Ms. Smith holds a Bachelor of Social Science Degree from Mercer University and a Master of Divinity from Mercer’s McAfee School of Theology. In her spare, she enjoys spending time with her eight beautiful grandchildren.

In 2020, Alexis was the Communications Director for Connie DiCicco’s campaign for State House in Marietta. This campaign opened Alexis’s eyes to the world of local politics in Georgia, and showed her that we need to elect outstanding candidates all the way down the ballot to ensure that all Georgians can live in a clean, thriving environment.

In her free time, Alexis loves to go to Sofar Sounds concerts and be outside – she is especially passionate about chasing down a good sunset. She hopes her work will help to amplify GCV’s message to Georgians of all ages and backgrounds.​

For the three years, where she first began as an intern, Mia has worked at The Delamar Firm LLC, a Metro-Atlanta area law firm which specializes in small business litigation, family law and estate planning, Mia served as Senior Legal Assistant to the Managing Attorney.

As a classically trained musician and dancer, commercially trained vocalist, Mia is a professional recording artist, writer and choreographer. She also is an actress who believes in the importance of The Arts. One of her mottos is to “Fail Forward”. She wants to prove that you can have a successful career in entertainment and also fight for causes you believe in that make a difference in people’s everyday lives.

Mia loves the beach and frequents one of Georgia’s close kept treasures, Tybee Island. She believes keeping the environment healthy and clean helps keep Georgia’s natural wonders beautiful for generations to come.

Deborah’s academic background includes a BA in Political Science from Winston-Salem State University and theological studies at Beulah Heights University from 2012 to 2015. Her dedication to community empowerment through education is evident in her commitment to engaging, equipping, and empowering communities.
She excels in generating ideas, fostering community involvement, and establishing collaborations, particularly within faith-based groups. Deborah’s approach to education as a catalyst for community empowerment underscores her unwavering commitment to driving positive change.
Her adept communication skills enable her to effectively convey intricate ideas and inspire action among diverse audiences. Deborah’s extensive volunteer work and teaching experience highlight her steadfast dedication to making a tangible difference in the lives of others.
In essence, Deborah’s journey is a testament to her unwavering dedication to service, education, and leadership, aiming to bring about impactful change within communities, both locally and globally.

CiCi Arriaga is a proud daughter of Mexican immigrant parents. She fell in love with Georgia and its natural environment since she arrived in the United States at eight years old. Since graduating from college with a BA Writing and Communication from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, she has become an empathetic and dedicated Community Organizer with a deep passion for helping others and a strong determination to perform great work. CiCi is dedicated to empowering individuals and creating a more inclusive and equitable society for all.

Her passion for organizing stems from her immigrant parents and the values instilled in her by their story: a deep sense of gratitude for the sacrifices made by countless others to afford us this moment, and an understanding that each of us are part of a deeply interconnected community. She believes that when people come together, rooted in these common values, we can transform established systems and build a better world.

CiCi is driven by the love of her family and friends, the vision of a new and different world, the inspiring victories won by people who come together to fight, and her love for avocados too.

Every day, she is motivated to fight for a better future, not just for herself or her family, but for all.

William Carnes was born in upstate New York, and soon relocated to Atlanta, GA with his family. He graduated with AP Honors from Cedar Grove High School in 2007. Shortly after, he started a professional career with an extensive background in HR, payroll, administration, operations, and non-profit. Prior to joining Georgia Conservation Voters, William worked for Georgia Council for Recovery, which is a non-profit focused on uplifting the voice of recovery. During his spare time, William loves to travel, attend concerts/local festivals, cook, and spend time with his loved ones. Currently, William resides in the city of Atlanta.

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