Guest Speakers

Giselle Pemberton

Giselle is an avid birder and guide for NYC Bird Alliance. She is also a volunteer leader for Outdoor Afro, an organization that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. Giselle hails from Trinidad where her love of birds and nature began. She became interested in birding in NYC during a birding event at Prospect Park and now leads walks there and various parks around NYC. She hosts outdoor events around New York, including camping, fishing, astronomy, and paddling (kayak and canoe) as a certified ACA Canoe instructor. Giselle loves to photograph birds, other wildlife, and nature, and you would often find her walking through the parks with her camera.

Stephan Roundtree, Jr., Esq

Vote Solar Deputy Program Director, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

Stephan Roundtree Jr. serves as Deputy Program Director - Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions for Vote Solar, where he supports an expert team of advocates advancing a more fair and abundant solar energy economy. Prior to joining the Vote Solar team, Stephan worked as an advocate and community lawyer with WE ACT for Environmental Justice in Harlem, NYC. There, he fought for more inclusive solar and energy efficiency policies in Albany and at City Hall. Stephan also helped design a first-in-the-nation solarize campaign for a dense urban setting in Northern Manhattan and negotiated construction and local hiring contracts for the project based on community values and input.

Originally from Dunstable, Massachusetts, Stephan holds a B.A. in History from Boston College, a J.D. from Northeastern School of Law, and a Master’s in Environmental Policy from the Vermont Law School. Stephan serves on the board of directors with NYSEIA, ACE NY, Alliance for a Green Economy, and on the Conservation Law Foundation’s Massachusetts advisory board. Stephan’s passion for energy justice is equaled only by his love of cycling and watching birds. He lives in Brooklyn with his spouse and their rambunctious cat and dog.

Local Birding Host: Tamara Jolly

Tamara serves as the Community Initiatives Manager for the Adirondack Diversity Initiative, where she brings together her expertise in biology, ecology, education, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to foster more inclusive and resilient communities in the Adirondacks. She is a passionate advocate for making nature accessible and inclusive for everyone. As a woman of color, Tamara has confronted the challenges of exclusion in outdoor spaces, which has fueled her mission to broaden access and foster belonging in nature for marginalized communities.

When she’s not working, Tamara enjoys life in Baltimore, MD, with her husband and daughter. They love hiking, camping, and exploring their property near Star Lake, NY, or going on adventures in their camping van. Tamara became an avid birder after discovering birding while attending the SUNY ESF Ranger School in the Adirondacks. She is excited to share this passion with others in the region. Tamara is always eager to embrace new experiences and loves to learn and grow in all aspects of her life.

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