Sarah R. Cafasso

Communicator | Leader | Connector

she/her/hers

I’m a seasoned leader and strategic communicator with a passion for the environment and a commitment to science and tech storytelling. Most recently, I led communications and community engagement for Aclima, a climate tech company pioneering an entirely new way to diagnose the health of our air and measure climate changing pollution. With close to 15 years of experience in international development and environmental communication, I craft action-oriented communications strategies to deliver compelling, rich narratives. At my core, I’m a grassroots organizer with a knack for relationship-building.

Previous to Aclima, I directed communications for the Natural Capital Project, a Stanford University-based organization that uses a verified science approach and a powerful software platform to motivate targeted investments in nature. At the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, I led communication engagement strategies in communities impacted by hazardous waste contamination and during environmental disasters like wildfires and oil spills. I worked with diverse stakeholders — including non-profit organizations, community leaders, first responders, elected officials, and all levels of government — to communicate critical, time sensitive information about people’s health and environmental safety. 

I found my passion for effective communication while tackling language barriers as an environmental Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines. There, I lived in a remote town in the Visayan Islands, where I advocated for Coastal Resource Management planning through technical capacity building and environmental education campaigns. I spent two years in the country, learning from my Filipino friends and colleagues while developing impact-driven communications strategies informed by culture, local knowledge, and value messaging. 

My interests converge at the intersection of environmentalism, communication, and social impact. I received my MS in Communication from Northwestern University and my BS in Environmental Studies and Psychology from Santa Clara University. Though I’m a Bostonian at heart, I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, where I take full advantage of the beautiful weather by hiking and spending as much time as possible outdoors. 

Do you know of an environmental or social organization in need of communications support? I’m always looking for opportunities to volunteer my time or share my expertise, so please reach out to me. I’m especially interested in ways to increase the reach of intersectional environmentalism.