ABOUT US

Who We Are:
REACT Alliance (Responsible Energy Adaptation for California's Transition) is a grassroots coalition of local citizens dedicated to a singular cause. We are your neighbors, friends, and community members united to oppose the Central Coast Offshore Wind Energy Project, motivated not by political or corporate interests, but by our commitment to preserving our environment and way of life.

Why We're Different:
Unlike profit-driven entities, REACT Alliance was established to address the urgent need for transparent and unbiased information about offshore wind energy development. We directly engage with permitting and regulatory agencies to ensure community interests are prioritized and protected.

Our Commitments:

Transparency: As a grassroots organization, we operate with complete transparency. Our support comes primarily from community members. We receive no funding from the fossil fuel industry. We assure you, our grassroots funding sources and our advocacy remain fiercely independent, committed to genuinely sustainable and community-aligned initiatives.
Empowerment: We empower residents to actively engage in the decision-making process. By facilitating workshops, meetings, and public forums, we help ensure that every voice in our community is heard.
Research and Advocacy: Utilizing collective expertise, we compile research and provide evidence-based insights into the potential impacts of offshore wind energy development. Our advocacy focuses on safeguarding both the ecological balance of our oceans and the unique lifestyle of California's Central Coast.
Legal and Community Action: If needed, we stand ready to defend our coast through legal channels and community mobilization, advocating for decisions that respect our environment and community values.

Join Us:
Join REACT Alliance as we strive to shape a future that honors and preserves our natural surroundings. Your involvement, whether by volunteering, spreading awareness, or supporting our initiatives, can drive the change we need to ensure a viable, thriving future for our coast and its communities.

Together, we are a catalyst for meaningful change, advocating for a future that truly values the health of our oceans and the integrity of our coastal life.

REACT Alliance Board Members

Featured

Mandy Davis

President

For most of her life Mandy has been driven by her passion for the outdoors, fitness and a healthy lifestyle. These ingrained passions have focused her formal and experiential education and guided her lifestyle choices. As a biologist and Naturalist/Guide for her company Wildheart Coastal Adventures, she has been able to share these interests and positively influence folks to care about and protect our natural world.

In the past, Mandy's marine oriented activism has led her to participate in various organizations and grass-roots actions with Sea Shepherd, COAST Alliance, CHNMS core group and now REACT Alliance. She has worked functionally within our local system as a member of the harbor advisory board two times and has volunteered with the National Estuary program..

Mandy currently lives in Los Osos, California in her tiny home off the grid. She has two wonderful sons and has a simple, peaceful and satisfying life. Her personal motto: You have a choice...You have a voice!

Contact: Mandy@REACTalliance.org

Saro Rizzo

Vice President

Saro has been practicing as a public interest attorney on the Central Coast since 1992. Over the years he has represented numerous groups seeking environmental justice including the Avila Alliance which successfully sued UNOCAL to clean up Avila Beach in the 1990s. He lives in Avila Beach where he is raising to young boys with his wife.

Contact: Saro@REACTalliance.org

Nicole Lonner-Dorfman

Secretary

Nicole Dorfman is a small business owner and community activist. She holds a Master of Social Work degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and has dedicated her life to the betterment of families and children. Nicole served on the board of the Morro Bay Open Space Alliance, and worked to preserve open space on the Central Coast. An avid reader, researcher and writer, Nicole is motivated to increase understanding and connections across political and ideological divides. She lives in Morro Bay with her husband and teenage sons.

Contact: Nicole@REACTalliance.org

Betty Winholtz

A transplant from Iowa, Betty has lived in Morro Bay for 37 years. For the last 35 years, she has been a tutor to elementary-to-college-age students. For the last 25 years, she has been learning Morro Bay politics, even serving as a city council member for 8 years. For the last 5 years, she has been actively involved in Citizens for Affordable Living. CAL took stands opposing the new sewer plant site and its rate increases, initiating a City ordinance to prevent RV camping on the Embarcadero, opposing the recent trash increase, and supporting preservation of the zoning north of Beach Street on the Embarcadero which lets citizens decide if a battery storage facility should be placed on the Embarcadero.

Contact: Betty@REACTalliance.org

Colette Beach

Treasurer

The Central Coast is where she grew up and then never wanted to leave. Shell Beach is where she currently resides. After graduating Cal Poly with a degree in Psychology, the majority of her career has been focused on business development. The ocean is where she spends a majority of her time free diving and surfing. On land she enjoys backpacking, yoga and gardening. Colette has always had a profound interest and passion in nature. Currently she is putting all of her focus on uncovering the facts about the proposed wind project while helping her community to stay informed.

Contact: Colette@REACTalliance.org

Sheri Hafer

Sheri is from a 3rd generation Hemet, California family. She went to Cal State Long Beach and received a BS in Physical Therapy in 1984. Sheri worked at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in San Diego 8 years and Twin Cities Community Hospital for 27 years before recently retiring. She and Tom have 3 children. They own the f/v Kathryn H and fish live nearshore and spot prawn permits between Morro Bay and Big Sur. She has been actively involved in the fishing community and commercial fishing politics since marrying Tom in 1986. She is the Secretary for the Central Coast Women for Fisheries organization. She has been actively involved with the proposed Morro Bay offshore wind farm since 2015.

Contact: Sheri@REACTalliance.org

Paul Gallo

Paul was raised with a strong connection to the marine environment. In his early childhood, his family vacationed at seaports in New England where he began a deep appreciation for the ocean. A family relocation to the west coast immersed him into the beach life of San Diego as well as a concern for the ocean’s health.

After attending Point Loma Nazarene University and University of San Diego, Paul embarked on his career as an educator. He used the marine environment as an extension of his classroom. Teaching at a school that was located only a few blocks from the beach for most of his career was a perfect fit. Personally Paul has been a student of the ocean as a surfer, sailor, and paddler. He enjoys traveling to beach destinations around the world where he has seen a growing movement for ocean conservation. Paul believes strongly that users of the ocean environment have no excuse for not becoming stewards and protectors of it. The emergence of REACT has given Paul hope that, through education and activism, the citizens of the Central Coast will rise up and say no to offshore wind.

Contact: Paul@REACTalliance.org

Be a Part of a Precedent Setting Movement!

Our public meetings are every first Wednesday of each month.

Join a Working Group and Be an Active Part of the Process.

Events and Meetings

REACT Alliance Working Groups

PR and Media - Create PR material, engage in social media campaigns, interface with mainstream media, schedule public interviews.

Outreach and Events - Public interaction and education about our mission, and distribution of materials at various locations. Organize and host events and assist with fundraising.

Research and Legal - Research matters related to OWFs including current studies, information from other organizations, expert testimonials and actions taken against the industry internationally.

New Member Introduction - Educate and introduce new members to the impacts of offshore wind. Facilitate working group choice.

Meetings and Government - Maintain meeting calendar. Attend and speak on behalf of REACT and stay current on federal, state and local actions pertaining to OWF

Fundraising - Raise operational funds from individuals, businesses and groups. Coordinate with outreach and events group for larger fundraising efforts.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world.”

Margaret Meade