Changemakers recognized for leadership in sustainability

People

Mar 2

Written By Staff

Top: Anna Crooks. Bottom left to right: Sergio Cira-Reyes, David Fraker

Michigan Sustainable Business Forum and the Charles R. Evenson Foundation have selected three local professionals as the 2025 C.R. Evenson Foundation Fellows. The honorees are Anna Crooks, owner of Earthly Refillery; David Fraker, arborist and biologist with the Oak Wilt Coalition; and Sergio Cira-Reyes, Climate Justice Catalyst with Urban Core Collective.

“Through their leadership in zero-waste business innovation, ecosystem protection, and climate justice organizing, these changemakers exemplify the foundation’s mission to create meaningful, lasting impact across West Michigan and beyond,” said Daniel Schoonmaker, Executive Director of Michigan Sustainable Business Forum. “The trustees choose fellows each year who deserve greater recognition and additional resources for their work.”

The Forum has facilitated the fellowship since it launched in 2021. The foundation’s trustees select each class through an anonymous nomination process. Fellows are not aware they are being considered for the award, which includes a cash prize and recognition. They are recognized each year at the Forum’s annual Triple Bottom Line Bash awards event in Grand Rapids.

As the owner of Earthly Refillery, Crooks is transforming the way Grand Rapids residents think about consumption and waste. Located in Eastown and Studio Park, Earthly Refillery is the city’s first full-service refill shop, created to combat the proliferation of single-use containers. It offers more than 150 bulk food items and over 100 personal and household products, all priced by the ounce to reduce waste and increase accessibility. Customers are encouraged to bring their own clean containers, reinforcing a culture of reuse and sustainability.

Fraker has dedicated his career to preserving biodiversity and protecting Michigan’s forests from the impacts of climate change and invasive species. A graduate of Hope College with extensive field experience, David focuses on early-stage prevention of ecological threats, particularly invasive fungi that threaten forest health. One of his primary areas of expertise is oak wilt disease. He serves on the Oak Wilt Qualification Development Team, helping educate arborists and land managers statewide. He also teaches the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Arborist Certification preparation course, extending his impact through professional education. He is also an active participant in the Citizens’ Climate Lobby Grand Rapids chapter.

As Climate Justice Catalyst with Urban Core Collective, Cira-Reyes works to elevate BIPOC leadership and equity in environmental decision-making. A Mexican immigrant who grew up in Los Angeles before settling in Grand Rapids, Sergio’s experience as an immigrant led him to organize with Movimiento Cosecha, the Latino Community Coalition, and the West Michigan Latino Network. He later founded a local chapter of Latino Outdoors, creating pathways for Latino communities to engage with nature and climate advocacy. In his current role, Sergio partners with municipalities, grassroots organizations, and institutions to challenge systems and policies that have historically excluded BIPOC voices.

Since its founding in 1970, the Charles R. Evenson Foundation has been dedicated to advancing sustainability, equity, and collaboration. Inspired by the legacy of Charles R. Evenson, a Grand Rapids–based pioneer whose work centered on improving quality of life through collective action, the foundation created the fellowship to honor individuals who lead transformative change through science-based, community-driven solutions.

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