Meet the Team
Working for tomorrow today
Sophie Raes
Co-Founder, Co-Director
Driven by her passion for justice, Sophie is a vital member of the team. With Ella, she put the Zero Waste Cafeteria Project into action in the fall of 2017. She has worked to reduce waste in cafeteria's across Indiana, sharing the message of zero waste to her school and others. Sophie's detirmination to make the earth a better place for generations to come as well as her love for the environment is what makes her contribution to the team so special. The Zero-Waste Cafeteria Project and The Zero Initiative would not be where they are without the tremendous work of Sophie Raes.
Ella Comerford-Barnett
Co-Founder, Co-Director
A youth environmentalist, Ella is passionate about the biggest crisis facing the world today: the climate crisis. With Earth Charter Indiana she, in fifth grade, presented testimony to the Public Works Committee of her City-County Council in favor of Earth Charter Indiana's Climate Recovery Resolution. In 2018, Ella was part of a local government task force called Thrive Indianapolis.  During the fall of 2017, she officially put the Zero Waste Cafeteria Project into action with Sophie and was nominated by her math teacher, Rebecca Pfaffenberger, for the Power of Children Awards. She was one of six national winners and was recognized in 2018. The summer before she was recognized, Ella and her family want to D.C. with Moms Clean Air Force to speak to their legislators' offices along with other families from around the nation.