Jeff has been on the Pick Up America crew since he dreamt up the crazy idea back in '06, and he's grateful for all the team members, volunteers, donors, sponsors, and hosts that have helped them move across the country. Before Pick Up America, Jeff spent 2009 workin' and ramblin' the American West. He produced multimedia content for High Country News and the Inyo National Forest. In 2008, Jeff had to prove to his parents he could be on the road for an extended amount of time, so he and a friend trekked and hitchhiked down the rural coast of Taiwan to make an audio documentary called A Walk on My Ethnic Lines.

In DC, he's worked part-time for National Geographic and NBC4. He serves on the Student Conservation Association's Alumni Council. Now he's trekking slowly across this here country, picking up trash, fundraising for the team, and producing videos. This year, Jeff is taking on more of the financial management work amongst the team. Hopefully, his zero waste ethics will work in financial management too.

Davey Rogner is a nature lover and musician from Silver Spring, MD. He received his degree in Environmental Science and Policy from the university of Maryland in the spring of 2009 and while in school he helped establish a legacy of student led sustainability initiatives on the campus. As Pick Up America's Community Action Coordinator, Davey is responsible for recruiting new travelers and volunteers, organizing large events, and making lasting community connections for zero-waste and resource stewardship. In the the future Davey dreams of writing a book about his time on Pick Up America and using it as a way to catalyze youth-led sustainability projects that build for community resilience, resource stewardship, and economies of compassion. In his time off from the road, Davey enjoys hiking, playing/composing music on his guitar and djembe, yoga, collecting beautiful crystals, and flowing, healthy water.

Lily grew up in the suburbs of Kansas City. She studied at McGill University, graduating in the top ten percent of her class in 2008 with a Bachelor of Commerce in Organizational Psychology and Marketing. While in school, she competed with the McGill Debating Union and served on its executive as the Chair of Publicity and the Vice President. She also volunteered with a non-profit in Montreal called Santropol Roulant, a youth initiative aiming for zero waste while delivering sustainable meals-on-wheels on bikes, growing food in its rooftop garden, and vermicomposting.

After college, Lily moved to Cincinnati to work on the Obama campaign. Being a political organizer clarified for Lily that her life’s work will directly relate to creating a more just world. She aims to reconnect individuals to their communities, reminding everyone that we are all a part of the same whole.

As the Image and Awareness Coordinator for Pick Up America, Lily is responsible for telling the Pick Up America story in photos, videos, and blogs, as well as managing the website, promoting events, and spreading the word about Pick Up America.

Kelly Donoghue (KJ) is the type to look at a problem and find an efficient and effective way to solve it. He grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland and joined the pick up artists on June 15th 2011. As the Forward Motion Coordinator, KJ manages the itinerary, keeps our vehicles moving, and oversees day-to-day crew responsibilities.

Rachel is a silly adventurer and deep thinker who believes deeply in the connection of all beings. She grew up Portland, Maine and then D.C., so she has seen the various ways people live in both communities. Life in Maine instilled the need for outdoors in her, and she loves camping, biking, fresh air, and the sun. She is committed to people-powered movement and reducing the impact of our human lives on our earth, and really feels the need to bring a love of earth's gifts, including fellow human beings, into urban populations.

Rachel is passionate about healthy, delicious food that has been ethically grown and believes in the power of foods we eat as well as other plants and herbs to cure most ailments, and to create simplicity and purpose in our live. She is now traveling with Pick Up America while taking time off from studies at Wesleyan University. She loves learning and practices languages; writing, playing, and listening to music; and growing and cooking good food. 

"We never grow tired of each other, the mountain and I" - Li Po

Bekah is from New York and is an environmental engineering freshman student at Northern Virginia Community College. She's enrolled in online courses this semester to travel as a student and gain hands-on experience with Pick Up America. Her interest in a zero-waste lifestyle is faith based and is concentrated on permaculture, veganism and sustainability. On the team, she's part of the Outreach and Education Committees.

Jane Matt is an intern from Philadelphia, PA. She studied Liberal Arts at the Community College of Philadelphia. Jane values creativity and community. Her contributions to Pick Up America include outreach and presentations as part of the Education and Art Committees.

Cameron Jackson is a 20 year old environmental activist and artist from Starkville, Mississippi. His fascination with the environment was sparked at an early age with adventures through his grandparents' pine forest in eastern Mississippi. After watching over 70 acres of untouched forest behind his parents house be leveled to building a student housing complex, Cameron made the commitment to help protect the environment from the destructive practices of consumer society. He studied Environmental Science at Southeast Missouri State and before joining Pick Up America worked with various protest groups within Missouri. In his free time he travels as an avid concert goer and works for his family's art business. He loves to paint and experiment with different medium, as well as being very active towards progressing social issues.