Rick Girling is a San Francisco-based freelance journalist. Rick is the Board Vice-Chair of the California Public Banking Alliance and also serves as the Communications Director and a lead organizer for the statewide coalition. He is a member of the San Francisco Public Bank Coalition. After a rewarding career teaching economics and world history for 30 years at Galileo and Lowell High Schools in San Francisco, Rick decided to pursue his other interests. In addition to advocating for public banking, he is working with Fossil Free CA to push the teachers’ retirement system, CalSTRS, to divest from fossil fuels. Rick is a strong supporter of safe streets for cyclists and pedestrians. He also campaigns for social and environmental justice by volunteering in his community and participating in the political process.