McKenna Dunbar is an influencer

Richmond, Virginia, United States Contact Info
13K followers 500+ connections

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Pursuing the common good.

Non-Profit Executive. Electrification Expert…

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  • Sierra Club

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Licenses & Certifications

Patents

  • Natural Disaster Flood Booth

    US Attorney Docket Number #6196980

    At age 12, I was a part of Metro Warrior STEM Organization's Innovation Solution Team. As one of six US Patent Inventors of the team, we developed and submitted a patent for an innovative solution to combat climate change: a well-built, floating flood booth equipped with the following components necessary for a natural disaster. The aim was to produce a solar-powered invention that is not only resilient and secure, but accessible for households and communities. Our team submitted a provisional…

    At age 12, I was a part of Metro Warrior STEM Organization's Innovation Solution Team. As one of six US Patent Inventors of the team, we developed and submitted a patent for an innovative solution to combat climate change: a well-built, floating flood booth equipped with the following components necessary for a natural disaster. The aim was to produce a solar-powered invention that is not only resilient and secure, but accessible for households and communities. Our team submitted a provisional US Patent with The Law Firm of Andrea Hence Evans: Patent, Trademark, Copyright.

    Why a Flood Booth?

    Based on the unfortunate calamity that Hurricane Katrina brought, we outlined the top three critical challenges faced by the Gulf Coast and in New Orleans' communities impacted by one of the deadliest hurricanes ever to hit the United States.
    - National Preparedness
    - Citizen and Community Preparedness
    - Logistics and Evacuations

    Key Design Features:
    - 911 remote monitoring
    - Solar battery backup
    - Motion sensors/lights
    - Submersion lights
    - Wireless communications
    - Real time emergency camera monitoring

    Additional Components
    - Dry Foods -Meal-Ready-to-Eat (MRE)
    - 2-way Radios
    - Boat Raft
    - Short Wave Radio (weather)
    - Flashlight
    - Siren horn and Lights
    - Motion detector(s)
    - First Aid Kit
    - Security Cameras
    - Flare Kit
    - Wi-Fi Monitored Connection to First Responders
    - Submersion lights
    - Radio Scanner
    - Water
    - Emergency Cell phone

    Marketing Activities that I led for this endeavor include:
    - Monthly Newsletter(s)
    - Donation Letter/ Website
    - Website, Social Media, Polo & T Shirts
    - STEM outreach Presentations
    - Tiger Woods STEM foundation
    - Walt Whitman Career Fair
    - National USA Science & Engineering festival.

Honors & Awards

  • 2024 Young Climate Leaders of Color Fellow

    People’s Climate Innovation Center

  • Student Champion for Climate Justice

    American Public Health Association

  • Youth Diversity Champion Scholarship

    Citizens' Climate Lobby (CCL)

  • EPA's Environmental Justice Student Video Challenge Winner- 3rd Place

    Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

  • Environmental Justice Leader Scholarship

    New Buildings Institute (NBI)

  • LookUp Innovation Challenge Fellow

    LookUp and Exposure Labs

    "This challenge is for exceptional youth advocates, storytellers, and innovators (18-25) with bold ideas to address the youth mental health crisis through digital wellbeing and youth led movements and solutions."

  • BECC Fellow Student Scholarship

    Behaivor, Energy & Climate Change Conference

  • Choose Clean Water Coalition’s Young Professionals of Color Program

    Choose Clean Water Coalition

  • Host Committee Youth Professionals Scholarship

    U.S. Green Building Council and GBCI

  • Sustainability Champion

    University of Richmond- Office for Sustainability

  • Service for Change Award

    Bonner Center for Civic Engagement

  • Linda Latham Scholarship

    American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

  • Clean Energy & Climate Policy Fellowship

    Virginia Conservation Network

  • The Democracy Fellowship

    The Public Policy and Education Fund of New York, YOUnify, Center for Popular Democracy, and the Mertz Gilmore Foundation

    The Democracy Fellowship is an equity-centered collaborative training program for building the capacity of the democracy movement. It is designed to create the rapid, sustainable growth for the movement that this moment demands through training at the intersection of narrative, leadership development, behavioral science, and relational organizing. The Democracy Fellowship takes a holistic approach, building the capacity of grassroots people to address the underlying drivers of inequity as well…

    The Democracy Fellowship is an equity-centered collaborative training program for building the capacity of the democracy movement. It is designed to create the rapid, sustainable growth for the movement that this moment demands through training at the intersection of narrative, leadership development, behavioral science, and relational organizing. The Democracy Fellowship takes a holistic approach, building the capacity of grassroots people to address the underlying drivers of inequity as well as the individual issue areas through which inequity expresses itself.

    The program is meant to support the short and long term organizing efforts of state based and national democracy coalitions, with a focus on BIPOC-led organizations. It was created collaboratively by YOUnify, Policy and Education Fund of New York, and the Center for Popular Democracy. The program is specifically designed to meet the need for culturally competent relational organizing training that centers people of color. During the initial week, participants receive four hours of training (two two hour sessions). After that, they receive 90 minutes of training each week.

  • USGBC Live Scholarship

    U.S. Green Building Council

  • Truman Scholarship Finalist

    The Truman Foundation

  • Panelist at 2022 William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review Symposium- "Community Lawyering and Grassroots Environmental Justice Movements"

    -

  • Ken Brooks Scholarship

    Virginia Water Monitoring Council

  • Udall Scholarship

    -

  • Davis Projects for Peace Awardee

    -

  • Greening Youth Woman of Color Environmentalist

    The North Face and Greening Youth Foundation

  • Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship

    U.S. Department of State

  • Recruited for JPMorgan Chase & Co Corporate Strategy & General Management Sophomore Edge Program

    JPMorgan Chase & Co.

  • The Andrew’s Scholarship

    The University of Richmond

  • David D. Burhans Civic Fellowship

    Center for Civic Engagement at The University of Richmond

  • Holt Summer Study Abroad Scholarship

    Carole Weinstein International Center at The University of Richmond

  • Katrina A. Pendergrass Scholarship for Academic Excellence

    -

  • Inaugural Recipient of The Arts Fellowship

    The National Cathedral School

    In 2018, I was an inaugural recipient of National Cathedral School's Art Fellowship, culminating in the publication of GLASKASTEN, a literary arts magazine dedicated to showcasing personal narratives surrounding themes of art, society, and intersectionality.

  • Storytelling Fellow for Teach for America's Kaleidoscope Program

    -

    I investigated the intersection of Native Identity, Spirituality, and Mortality which culminated in a TED X style talk.

Languages

  • German

    Full professional proficiency

  • Spanish

    Native or bilingual proficiency

  • English

    Native or bilingual proficiency

Organizations

  • Navigating Grey

    Board Advisor

    - Present

  • Virginia Energy Efficiency Council

    Board Member

    - Present

  • Sustainable Development Fund

    Board Member

    - Present

  • Virginia Opera

    Prism Society of Young Professionals

    - Present

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

    Expert Panelist

    - Present

    Invited as expert panelist (1 of 30 individuals chosen across the country) to inform the revision of CDC's BRACE framework for climate and health action planning.

  • Journal of Mental Health and Climate Change

    Editorial Board Member

    - Present

  • Appliance Pollution Standards Coalition

    -

    - Present

  • MOCOKONO

    CEO

    - Present

  • RVA Green Drinks

    Leadership Team

    - Present

  • Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance’s Advanced Ready Workforce Southeast Stakeholder Technical Group

    Technical Industry Stakeholder

    - Present

    Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy(EERE) under the Building Technologies Office, Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance’s Advanced Ready Workforce Southeast Stakeholder Technical Group have a goal to increase market penetration of advanced building technologies in the Southeast. Together, we inform the resource development and deployment processes for developing materials and training to support technical and cultural understanding of…

    Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy(EERE) under the Building Technologies Office, Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance’s Advanced Ready Workforce Southeast Stakeholder Technical Group have a goal to increase market penetration of advanced building technologies in the Southeast. Together, we inform the resource development and deployment processes for developing materials and training to support technical and cultural understanding of technologies for service providers in Virginia and Florida. Implementation Priorities: Heat Pump Water Heaters Air Source Heat Pumps EV Charging Battery Storage

  • Climate Mental Health Network

    Gen Z Advisory Board Member

    - Present

  • Divest MVP

    -

    - Present

  • Ecological Justice Initiative

    Founder and President

    - Present

  • Spider Solar Education Working Group

    -

    -

    The purpose of this working group is to ensure the educational benefits of University of Richmond's Spider Solar contract are realized. - Establish criteria and timeline for fund distribution - Review funding proposals/ideas - Approve funding allocation - Request funds from AES partner for upcoming year - Ensure requested funds are distributed to internal partners - Produce summary report of fund distribution and high-level outcomes

  • Eco-Corridor Stewardship Advisory Task Force

    Student Leader

    -

    The aim of the group, which will include students, faculty, and staff from The University of Richmond, will be to generate a conservation and stewardship advisory document for the Gambles Mill Eco-Corridor. The Task Force will address the following guiding question: What steps does the University need to take to steward Little Westham Creek and the Gambles Mill Eco-Corridor while maximizing the educational, ecological, and cultural resources and opportunities within the Eco-Corridor in…

    The aim of the group, which will include students, faculty, and staff from The University of Richmond, will be to generate a conservation and stewardship advisory document for the Gambles Mill Eco-Corridor. The Task Force will address the following guiding question: What steps does the University need to take to steward Little Westham Creek and the Gambles Mill Eco-Corridor while maximizing the educational, ecological, and cultural resources and opportunities within the Eco-Corridor in alignment with University mission and values? The Task Force will develop and present a report with final recommendations to senior leaders by December 2021. The report will consider educational opportunities, conservation and management issues, recreational use, cultural history, and any threats to the integrity, stability, and beauty of the area. The report will also outline financial resources necessary to maintain ecosystem health and long-term maintenance of the Eco-Corridor. The Eco-Corridor Stewardship Task Force will develop their findings in collaboration with University faculty, staff, and students, as well as stakeholders in the surrounding community. The Task Force may also engage the services of professional experts.

  • Climate Reality Project

    Mentor

  • Flood Resilience Coalition

    -

  • Greening Youth Foundation

    -

  • NASA SERVIR

    -

  • Stop the Abuse of Virginia Energy(SAVE) Coalition

    -

  • The North Face

    -

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