JT Neal joined SACE in 2024 as a consultant. Born & raised in Nashville, he is a longtime resident of Tennessee, and the Tennessee Valley, graduating from Vanderbilt University in 2016 with a degree in Political Science & Philosophy. Before working with SACE, he spent his time working in politics, working alongside various campaigns around the state of Tennessee and the greater Nashville area.

His focus on organizing for a decarbonized future stems from the formative experience of seeing the feature film FernGully: The Last Rainforest as a child. The personification of climate harm made it clear to him that the reality of climate change was something that could, and should, be combated, and was worth doing so for all of the people being harmed that one could not see. This drove him to many things, including his involvement with the Sunrise Movement. With his experience with Sunrise Movement, he brings to SACE the fresh perspective of young people and students in the arena of equity and justice in solving the climate crisis.

JT is deeply interested in the power of words and story, with a great deal of interest in the power of science fiction in shaping our relationship with the wider world around us. As a long time fanatic for all things Star Trek, he sees the value of striving for a more verdant and clean world as paramount in order to see it come to fruition. His work with SACE is focused on forging a decarbonized future for the South as it continues to move into the next century.