HONOLULU - Sierra Club of Hawai'i and Hawai'i Center for Food Safety are pleased to announce that beginning January 9th, Joshua Noga will serve as Senior Program Manager for the HCFS Building Power Program.
"Joshua is a strong leader rooted in his community. He has been a real asset to the Sierra Club, helping us to confront racism as we fight to end climate change and protect the irreplaceable natural resources of the Hawaiian Islands," said Marti Townsend, Director for the Sierra Club of Hawai'i.
Noga served as Conservation Program Coordinator for the Sierra Club for 18 months, in which time he launched a volunteer work program to support local traditional farmers, facilitated a dozen citizen lobby days at the Hawai'i State Capitol on issues related to stream restoration and protection of groundwater, and hosted numerous community meetings to help people engage in decision making around the clean up and relocation of the Navy's jet fuel storage facility at Red Hill. Noga will continue his involvement with the Club as a volunteer.
In his role at HCFS, Noga will focus on engaging and organizing community advocates in the movement for a just and sustainable food system in the Hawaiian Islands.
"Josh adds critical community organizing skills to our team. The power HCFS has in the courts and at the legislature will now be matched in the streets," said Ashley Lukens, Director for the Hawai'i Center for Food Safety. "We are doubling down on our commitment to HawaiÊ"i to ensure our food systems are sustainable today and for future generations."
"I am extremely honored and humbled to have the opportunity to build a strong community organizing program with the HawaiÊ"i Center for Food Safety," said Noga. "Ashley Lukens and her team at HCFS understand the challenges facing local communities throughout Hawai'i. Together, we are committed to building power in our communities to effect long-lasting change for a truly safe, healthy and biodiverse food system in Hawai'i."
Josh's Bio: Joshua Noga was born and raised in the ahupua'a of Kalihi-Palama on the island of O'ahu. Like his father and uncles before him Noga was a standout defensive lineman and an all-state football player at Farrington High School. After a decorated football career, Noga graduated with his BA History from the University of San Diego in 2005. After several years as a school administrator in Los Angeles, Noga moved back home to take a position as Associate Director of Admissions at a local college in Honolulu in 2009. While back on O'ahu Noga and his wife Helena settled in the ahupua'a of Hau'ula, where his grandparents had settled sixty years prior. Noga is an active member of his community serving as the community relations chair for the Ko'olauloa Hawaiian Civic Club and arose as a community leader to protect rezoning of ag-land from development in Ko'olauloa. After many successful years organizing as community leader in Ko'olauloa Noga decided to leave his professional career as a school administrator to follow his passion for community organizing joining the Sierra Club of Hawai'i staff as a chapter organizer in 2015. Noga lives in Hau'ula with his wife and three children.
