MAHUBE-OTWA's Gerilyn Lopez Speaks at National Conference

Gerilyn Lopez was hired for a full-time position at MAHUBE-OTWA Community Action Partnership in August of 2022, but she is already making a name for herself across the United States.

The weatherization auditor was a featured speaker at Aspen Ideas: Climate in Miami Beach in March.

The annual climate change conference featured policymakers, scientific experts, corporate leaders, inventors, innovators, and Gerilyn. She was invited due to her previous volunteer role in AmeriCorps. During her stint with the organization she was assigned to work in energy conservation at MAHUBE-OWTA.

“They invited members from the AmeriCorps alumni,” Gerilyn said of the conference. “They sent me an email. They gave me a ring and invited to fly me out to the summit. It’s a really big event.”

It was the largest audience Gerilyn had every spoken before.

“It was nerve racking,” Gerilyn said. “I don’t talk that much. I’m pretty quiet.”

A member of the White Earth Tribal Nation, Gerilyn began and ended her speech in her native language. Her voice, energy conservation experience and role as a weatherization auditor made an impact on the audience, which applauded her.

“It went good,” she recalled.

She then participated in round-table discussions. She interacted with the CEO of GMC and even Grammy award-winner Billie Eilish’s mother. Not bad for a young lady who focus is helping people with energy conservation in her role at MAHUBE-OTWA.

“It’s like a new thing every day,” Gerilyn said of being a weatherization auditor. “You’re always learning something.”

Her speech can be read here: Gerilyn Lopez Speech