Climate Joy Interviews

Get Kids on Bikes – Like Mike!

Discover how Mike Vergeer is inspiring the next generation of Ashland kids to ride bikes through fun programs and safety skills. Join his vision to see throngs of happy kids riding to school and bike parking areas jam-packed!

Mike believes that biking and walking will not only help us reach our climate goals, it will put smiles on our faces, build resilient communities, and cultivate healthy independence among our youth.

You can find Mike leading a local Bike Bus for kids on his giant orange bicycle, teaching the PedalPower program to Ashland elementary students, or at The Grove fixing bikes in the community bike shop.

If you live in Ashland Oregon and find that something is keeping you from biking and walking for your short trips, Mike wants to help.

Live in another town? Start a Bike Bus where you are — learn more from Mike’s climate hero Coach Sam Balto at Bike Bus World!

Compost Like Flavia Franco!

If you live in Ashland Oregon, you know Flavia from the food scrap collection bins at the Tuesday Growers Market.

Flavia has been building her climate knowledge and outreach experience since 2006. In 2019, she learned from Project Drawdown just how powerful reducing food waste is to avoiding methane emissions, and she was hooked!

She’s a volunteer with Southern Oregon Food Solutions, the Ashland Climate Collaborative Compost Team, and Southern Oregon Climate Action Now — and president of the Ashland Bellview Grange.

Live in Ashland? Learn more about composting and bring your food scraps to the Tuesday Growers Market!

Live, Love, Connect Like Jay Preskenis!

Dear viewers, Jay passed away on May 28, 2026. These videos were filmed 2 weeks prior on May 12. It is with utmost respect that his words are shared here.

I’m honored to interview my dear friend and precious guest, Jay Preskenis. We worked together at the Ashland Climate Collaborative where Jay was in charge of community outreach. He connected with EVERYONE. In October 2025, Jay was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s and his time on this earth has been shortened, leaving him with a very unique perspective.

Jay was a beloved educator and leader with over 30 years of experience in environmental stewardship and education. He designed and implemented programs like the Social Action Environmental Justice (SAEJ) program at Ashland High School and taught Wilderness Charter School. As Coordinator of Student Services in Ashland and Principal in Medford, Jay led efforts that prioritized environmental consciousness alongside academic achievement, shaping students into responsible, eco-aware citizens. Jay has led backpacking clubs for middle and high school students.

His personal commitment to the environment was reflected in his love for backpacking, fly-fishing, and trail running.

Donate in Jay’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Meet Barb Settles – Octogenarian Cyclist

Barb is over 80 and rides her yellow bicycle all over town. Not an ebike – a regular bike! She is part of the Allison Street neighborhood climate club in Ashland, a proponent of carpooling, and may even start a ride share program to keep more cars off the roads.

Barb retired to Ashland in 2015 after 30 years of teaching in international schools outside the US – where riding a bike was not an easy endeavor. On day 2 of moving here, her family helped her hop on a bike – as they ride bikes everywhere.

Barb is eager to chip away at our carbon footprint. Her dream is to see WAY MORE people riding bikes in Ashland! She envisions Ashland as a hub for climate solutions and hopes all of us will consider minimizing our “stuff” — paring down and sharing. For inspiration on simplifying, one of her favorite books is The Sweetness of a Simple Life by Diana Beresford-Kroeger.

Join Barb in real life at a First Friday Bike Ride in Ashland. Get inspired by 3 generations of Barb’s biking family.

Meet Matt Hoffman – Revitalizing Community

Born and raised in Ashland, Oregon, Matt Hoffman has been pushing creative boundaries of storytelling, directing commercials for the world’s leading brands– Nike, Gatorade, Michelob, Nissan, ESPN, and Capital One. In 2025, Matt joined the illustrious director roster of world-renowned production company hungryman with offices in LA, NYC, and London.

Matt is the founder of Storytown Ashland – which aspires to revitalize Ashland through world-class events (like the Sarcasm Festival), emerging technology (like the Storytown App), community infrastructure, workforce development, and collaboration – all with the goal of making Ashland an ever-flowing and attractive destination for young families and artists, 365 days a year.

Meet Erin – Envisioning Climate Success

In our very first interview, beloved Ashland kindergarten teacher Tia introduces our founder Erin — and asks her the 3 Climate Joy questions.

Erin is a climate leader and communications expert helping communities turn everyday choices into powerful waves of change.

She spent 22 years running Ruby Slipper Designs, an award-winning web and marketing firm for nonprofits, and recently served as Executive Director of the Ashland Climate Collaborative, advancing community action on clean energy, transportation, composting, water conservation, and wildfire resilience.

Through her newest venture, the Climate Joy Project, Erin delivers keynote speeches, consulting, and writing that inspires hopeful, practical climate action.