Miguel Johnson (he/him) serves as the Home Upgrade Grants (HUG) Coordinator, where he helps low to middle income homeowners navigate climate resiliency upgrades. He graduated from the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership and seeks to use his background in Political Science, Creative Writing, and Journalism to advance equity in the clean energy movement. During his time as a student, he highlighted how local communities are often kept in the dark,
using the example of a multi-million-dollar Anaerobic Digester Facility being built in Hunts Point, Bronx, which proceeded without residents understanding its purpose, potential negative impact, or benefits. Miguel also serves as the President of the Moynihan Center’s Public Service Fellowship Alumni Board and is certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to operate drones (small Unmanned Aircraft Systems, sUAS.)

Emily Mauro comes to MHET with a B.S. in Community Health Education and a background of 10 years in energy and sustainability efforts. She is most interested in work that explores and addresses the relationship between systemic discrimination and health disparities within disinvested communities. She is currently pursuing an Advanced Certificate in Public Administration at the City University of New York (CUNY) to deepen her understanding of the policy landscape in the US. Prior to MHET, she was building healthy, energy efficient strawbale homes for low-income individuals on a Community Land Trust. Emily has experience installing solar panels on residential homes, creating and implementing sustainability coursebooks and programs, and has experience writing grant proposals for small-scale renewable energy projects. In her free time, you can find Emily in her garden, enjoying live music, or camping in the mountains.

Elisabeth Balachova (she/her) is a dedicated environmentalist who was inspired to combat climate change in the 8th grade after watching Al Gore’s documentary, An Inconvenient Truth. With a B.S. in Business Economics specializing in Environmental Economics, she offers a unique perspective.

In her previous real estate career, Elisabeth served as an ambassador for the Tri-State Social Equity Task Force, where she learned about environmental racism and redlining, motivating her to support an environmental justice project at Sustainable Westchester. She later transitioned to the clean energy sector at Sealed, focusing on nationwide energy efficiency initiatives. Her expertise in building science and project management now benefits low-income communities at MHET.

Beyond her career, Elisabeth follows a vegan diet, practices strict recycling, and volunteers at Woodstock Animal Sanctuary. When not advocating for climate change, she enjoys tennis, drawing inspiration from Serena Williams.