Annie Downey is a librarian at the University of North Texas.  She has two beautiful daughters and a thoughtful husband who inspire her daily to work towards creating a better world.  Annie is drawn to working with WYT because the beauty of the world and inside each of us needs to be protected and given lots of chances to grow and WYT cultivates and provides that space.  She is a devoted educator who believes social justice, developing creative and thoughtful citizens, and growing strong communities are what education should be all about.  Annie has a BA in Anthropology, an MLS in Library Science, and is in hot pursuit of a PhD in Higher Education.

I began working to support the Whatʼs Your Tree Program before it was formed by supporting Circle of Life in whatever way I could. This began with building the cabinets for Juliaʼs Tour Bus and continued with facilitating one of the first WYT groups in the Bay Area. Before meeting Alissa and Julia I was involve with Helen Caldicott first as a donor and later as a board member of her organization, Nuclear Policy Research Institute. I remain fascinated with the nuclear issue as an example of our willingness to continue pouring vast resources into this most deadly technology. I have enjoyed being part of developing this Whatʼs Your Tree Program as it is a tangible way to engage people who want to effect the change we all need to embrace are we to survive. I am 58 and have spent most of my life working as a fine furniture maker and carpenter. I feel honored to have been invited to join this team and welcome the opportunity to challenge myself by contributing what I can as a National Steering Committee member.

Michael recently moved back to his home state of Indiana, after spending the last 15 years exploring different career paths and passions. He  attended the US Air Force Academy, worked in corporate America, traveled to 40 countries and all 50 states, and worked in outdoor experiential education for Outward Bound and as an assistant middle school teacher.  More recently, as he found his passion of working with plants, he owned and operated an organic vegetable, flower, and herb farm and worked as the Finance Director of EO Products, a manufacturer of organic and natural personal body care products. In addition to being a regional leader for the Southern Indiana region of What’s Your Tree, he is currently the director of The Center for Community Empowerment, Inc.  At this center and through What’s Your Tree, he helps to empower individuals and communities, through the healing arts, personal and community growth workshops, small business consulting, and sustainable living workshops, which include gardening. He lives in Jasper, Indiana, which is the regional home to What’s Your Tree Southern Indiana.

I am a mother of two beautiful daughters, professor of sociology, and love activist. My journey with What’s Your Tree began with Julia Butterfly Hill’s book, The Legacy of Luna. I immediately connected with Julia’s story, most particularly, her messages of resilience by just “going with it” when you’re in a stormy place and being of service.  After hearing Julia speak, I went through What’s Your Tree 101 and two years later I continue to grow within my purpose. I believe What’s Your Tree has the potential to change everything and I am happy to be a part of the What’s Your Tree team.

Bio coming soon!

Angelina Frost is a mother, an educator, an entrepreneur, a writer, a community-oriented social activist and an artist of life and living fully. She dedicates herself to human and organizational transformation. Angelina realizes that in her personal and executive coaching practices, as well as facilitating groups and coordinating other group facilitators in her region for the What’s Your Tree Program, a part of the Engage Network. Angelina currently resides in Fairfax, California, where she enjoys hiking, mountain biking, and participating in a thriving, progressive community. You can reach Angelina at angelinawhatsyourtree [dot] org (angelinawhatsyourtree [dot] org). You can also visit her website at www.phoenyxangelina.com.

Alissa Hauser as thrived in the non-profit arena for almost two decades.  She has worked in a variety of social change arenas- from community-based healthcare to political offices to education.  In 2001, Alissa met Julia Butterfly Hill and her life as an environmentalist and spiritual activist began.  For 7 years, Alissa ran Julia's nonprofit organization, Circle of Life, which was the predecessor organization to The Engage Network.  She had the honor of producing We the Planet in 2003 and 2004- the largest environmentally-friendly rock concerts ever produced at the time.  Alissa has served on several Boards of Directors in the arts and music realm; and now volunteers time with Urban Peace Movement (an Oakland-based organization that transforms both the mindset and the culture of violence in our cities) and Solar Richmond ( A green jobs training organization based in Richmond, CA that empowers low income people as emerging leaders in the green economy).

Originally from Asheville, North Carolina, Jodi Lasseter is a mountain woman passionately committed to environmental and social justice.  Jodi brings her expertise in teaching, facilitation, organizational development and community organizing to her involvement with the What’s Your Tree National Steering Committee.  She believes that What’s Your Tree is an invaluable vehicle for the most vital work of our time, the complete shift to a life-sustaining, egalitarian society.  She has worked with numerous NGOs in South America, East Africa, Western Europe, Mexico and the US to strengthen global justice and indigenous peoples’ movements. Jodi is certified in permaculture and holds a Masters Degree in International Development and Social Change from Clark University, and undergraduate degrees in Women’s Studies and Anthropology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

My What's Your Tree journey to find my purpose began on December 30, 2005, while reading a newspaper in the Gypsy 360 Cafe in Arroyo Seco, New Mexico. My horoscope for that day read "Keep your eyes open, your mind clear, and your heart happy." As I decided that would be my new mantra for 2006, a deep inner voice told me that to accomplish those three things, I needed to take better care of my body. At that moment, I made a New Year's resolution to become a Vegetarian.

Back in Denton and a few months later, while maintaining a vegetarian lifestyle, I noticed I felt better and that my body felt cleaner. With a natural desire to take it to the next level, I began researching Veganism. The word "vegan" led me to an article written by Julia Butterfly Hill about being a "joyous vegan." In the article she wrote that "being vegan is not about giving up anything. It is about giving back, to animals and to the Earth, to our air, water, and energy supply; to future generations and to myself. Being vegan means recognizing that what we put on the end of our forks is one of the most revolutionary acts we can take today."

Reading that passage made me realize that not only was I taking better care of myself with my food choices, but that I was also taking better care of our planet and all things living! Curious to know more about Julia and her story, I read the Legacy of Luna and began checking the Circle of Life website from time to time. At one point I noticed on her calendar that she was going to be in Denton, TX to speak at the Earth Day celebration in April 2007.

It was at the Earth Day celebration that Julia announced that she would be launching her new program in Denton called What's Your Tree? I signed up for the program and participated in the Spring session. During the 7 week program, I saw my life with more clarity which helped me to distill my purpose as simply "to be a messenger for Peace, Love, Harmony, and Respect for all things living."

I continued to be active in the program which grew and flourished. I led a group in the Fall of 2007 and helped to organize other groups in the Spring of 2008. The whole journey has led me to find my own "tree" to climb which is a new non-profit project called the Peace Kitchen.