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Farrah N. Khan
Mayor - City of Irvine
Lead Advisor - Climate Moonshot Committee
FarrahKhan@cityofirvine.org
Mayor Farrah N. Khan made history in November of 2020 becoming the 23rd Mayor of Irvine. She not only received the highest number of votes for the position of Mayor in the city’s history, but also shattered glass ceilings as the first woman of color to hold the position, and the first Muslim woman to lead a large city in the United States. Mayor Khan is focused on ensuring that the City of Irvine is a leader throughout Orange County and California when it comes to innovation and technology, maintaining a healthy environment, combating climate change, and protecting the health and wellness of Irvine’s diverse communities. In her short time as Mayor, she has initiated several new strategies leading to Irvine becoming the first City in Orange County to spearhead COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics in local neighborhoods and senior centers, passed HERO pay for frontline grocery workers, created a new committee focused on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and passed a resolution with the support of the City Council to become a carbon-neutral City by 2030.
Sona Coffee
Environmental Programs Administrator, City of Irvine
Cool City Campaign Director
SCoffee@cityofirvine.orgSona Coffee is a sustainability professional that works with local governments to help transform cities into environmentally sustainable communities. She started her environmental public service career as the environmental manager for the City of Manhattan Beach and is now the environmental administrator for the City of Irvine, leading the City’s climate action efforts in Orange County. Sona is a proud University of Southern California alum and earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Price School of Policy, with an emphasis in environmental policy. She is passionate about educating the public on climate emergency issues, implementing clean energy programs, and creating policies that prevent plastic pollutants from entering the marine environment. She enjoys volunteering on the Sustainable City Commission for her hometown of Long Beach.
Patty Oh
Executive Director
admin@cooloc.org
From a seasoned business professional navigating the corporate landscape to a passionate advocate for meaningful change, Patty Oh's journey is one of transformation. Fueled by a desire to move beyond disillusion with the business world's impact on the Environment, Patty immersed herself in community activism. Her narrative unfolds through roles in Asian Americans in Action, climate change advocacy, and pioneering programs like Cool Irvine and Cool O.C. Patty's story is a testament to the power of reinvention and commitment to a purpose-driven life. Patty Oh's journey spans a dynamic shift from a 20-year career as a sales and brand director for Harley-Davidson to a dedicated advocate for change. She immersed herself in community activism, co-founding Asian Americans in Action in 2019. In 2022, she led the successful Cool Irvine pilot program, training block leaders in sustainable living and disaster preparedness. Capitalizing on this success, Patty expanded the initiative in the fall of 2022, creating Cool O.C. to address climate change in disadvantaged Orange County communities.
Margo Finlayson
Program Manager
margo@coolcity.earth
A lifelong environmentalist, Margo Allen Finlayson, MBA, attended the August 2018 multi-day Climate Reality training in L.A. led by former Vice President Al Gore. As a retired public health and nonprofit manager and Climate Reality O.C. founding member, Margo served as Co-Chair (2019-22). She is also an active member of the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter, Orange County Group, O.C. Clean Power, and O.C. Interfaith Coalition for the Environment. She has moderated climate panels and presented to numerous community groups, faith groups, environmental groups, and classrooms since 2018. She serves as Climate Reality O.C. Cool Cities Chair and sits on the Irvine Cool Cities Program Community Stakeholder Committee. In this capacity, she has served as a volunteer coach for the Cool Block Program.
Advisory Council Members
Dr. Alan Woo
Dr. Alan H. Woo, a passionate advocate for anti-poverty initiatives and affordable housing, has dedicated his life to community development. Born in Toisan, China, he faced discrimination in South Central Los Angeles, sparking a commitment to combat inadequate education and racial disparities. Currently serving as Deputy Director of Santa Ana Unidos and a board member for the Affordable Housing Clearinghouse, Woo's influence extends through various roles, including Planning Commissioner for the City of Santa Ana. With a public policy and social transformation background, he has impacted communities in Southern California and beyond, creating housing and economic opportunities and advocating for minority businesses. Woo's extensive recognition underscores his profound contributions to community building and poverty alleviation.
Alexander Kim
Alexander Kim is the Founder and Principal of Three Kings Public Affairs, Co-Principal of Windfall Strategics LLC. He has over 20 years of experience in government affairs, including pivotal roles in the City of Los Angeles and State of California. Holding an MBA from Pepperdine University and is a frequent guest lecturer on government/public affairs. He is a Network of Korean Americans (NetKAL) Fellow at the University of Southern California (USC) School of Social Work. Alexander obtained a B.S. in Biology/Minor in Political Science at U.C. Irvine, where he co-founded the University of California at Irvine (UCI) Korean American Alumni Chapter as its first president and remains active as an alumni in the Anteater community.
The Team Behind the Cool Irvine Website
The Next Step, a program of Irvine-based educational organization CodeSpeak Labs, is a team of ambitious and creative students working with professional mentors. Students in grades 9-14 developed the graphics and built the Cool Irvine website. Many of us are proud Irvine residents! - Sarah, Anika, Justin, Brittanie, Salma, Kyla, and Cheuk.