Russell Chisholm, Managing Director

Russell (he/him) serves as Managing Director of the Protect Our Water, Heritage Rights coalition in the campaign to stop Mountain Valley Pipeline and dangerous fossil fuel expansion through Virginia and West Virginia.

Denali Nalamalapu, POWHR Communications Director

Denali (they/them) lives in Washington, D.C. She is originally from Southern Maine and her family is from Southern India. She is passionate about climate action and uplifting the voices of communities most impacted by environmental racism and the climate crisis through her communications work. Denali leads POWHR’s media and communications work as Communications Director. You can find her reading a book, painting, or walking in the woods.

Grace Tuttle, POWHR Development and Programs Coordinator

Grace (she/her) is the Advocacy Director at Protect Our Water Heritage Rights (POWHR). Grace is passionate about true public participation and environmental justice. She works to empower advocates who are fighting the fracked gas Mountain Valley Pipeline and Southgate Extension. She was a member of the 2022 Women’s Earth Alliance Grassroots Accelerator, which catalyzes the critical efforts of women leaders who have stepped forward to protect our families, communities, and ecosystems from environmental and climate threats. Grace is an avid gardener and was Co-Captain of the University of Virginia Women’s Rowing Team. 

Crystal Mello, POWHR Community Organizer

Crystal (she/her) lives in Shawsville, Virginia. She has lived much of her life in Southwest Virginia and has long been active in mutual aid and prison abolition work. At POWHR, Crystal will help community members identify their climate justice needs and help mobilize and empower communities to collectively resolve those needs. She will conduct outreach, base building, training, education and leadership development targeted especially to low-income Appalachians. Crystal will reach out to community groups along the MVP route in Virginia to engage in conversations around the need to end fossil fuel use and to discuss and promote community mitigation and resilience efforts in the face of climate and ecological crisis.

Katherine Wilkin, Mountain Valley Watch Data Coordinator

Katherine is from Roanoke, Virginia and lives in New York City while pursuing a J.D. at Columbia Law School. She joined POWHR because she is passionate about supporting local voices in the fight for environmental and climate justice. At POWHR, Katherine creates and maintains digital resources that support ongoing advocacy efforts, including tracking variances and other filings with FERC. You can also catch her testing new baking recipes and exploring NYC parks.