Ashel Eldridge sees the hyperlocal movement as a natural reaction to the dread of climate change. Originally from Chicago, Eldridge is a frontman emcee, producer, and the founder of Earth Amplified, a collective which performs conscious music, poetry and spiritual activism nationally. Earth Amplified now throws a monthly urban culture and health event series called System Out of Our System (S.O.S.) Juice, a for-profit and non-profit hybrid that sells juice and compost, promoting health and sustainable agriculture through green jobs for low-income youth.

Eldridge is also an educator with the Alliance for Climate Education in Oakland, CA, and a Green For All Fellow. He is a co-founder of United Roots, Oakland’s Green Youth Arts and Media Center, where he serves as the Health and Sustainability Coordinator.