The legacy of Black environmentalists championing protections for our communities continues today right here in Massachusetts. 
 
  • Rev. Mariama White-Hammond is the Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space for the City of Boston and the founding pastor of New Roots AME Church in Dorchester. Rev. White-Hammond utilizes an intersectional lens to connect ecology, immigration, climate change, energy policy, and economic justice to build equitable and just communities in Boston and beyond. Rev. White-Hammond’s commitment to ensuring all residents have access to clean air, clean water, and sustainable neighborhoods is commendable. White-Hammond has already made strides in working to mitigate extreme heat, expand access to healthy, culturally appropriate foods through community gardens, and create green jobs for the next generation of leaders. Under her guidance, we look forward to seeing Boston steered to a healthier, sustainable future for all.

  • Sen. Lydia Edwards is a climate leader with big, bold ideas for creating a greener world. As a Boston City Councilor, Lydia Edwards made waves; from fighting for environmental justice for all residents, to securing renewed protection for our vital wetlands, to pressing investment in green energy solutions, and stepping up to preserve and expand open space, Lydia Edwards has made considerable progress to building a better future for Boston. Her successes are big: she voted to support climate resilience investments in Boston’s park systems, protecting both nature and neighborhoods, and supported a Wetlands Protection Ordinance to preserve critical environmental areas. She has also fought to expand water transportation, prevent highway expansion and mitigate the impacts of airport pollution. Now, as a State Senator for the 3rd Suffolk District, we are excited to have a powerful ally in preparing our state for climate change.

  • Kalila Barnett is a Senior Program Officer for Climate Resilience with the Barr Foundation. In that role, she guides and supports numerous organizations in the Boston area (including CRWA) to ensure their work is impactful, strategic, and centers equity. She feels passionate about the need to create space to talk about climate change in practical ways that can build the political will necessary for transformational change. “Communities of color and lower-income communities are most negatively impacted by the fossil fuel economy and are bearing the worst burdens of the climate crisis. In order to have a strong and powerful climate movement, their needs have to be centered. ” Previous to Barr, Kalila served as Executive Director at Alternatives for Community and Environment (ACE), an environmental justice organization, where she worked to frame environmental issues in terms of human impact, the built environment, and climate justice, and before that, was a Senior Organizer at Community Labor United.

  • Rev. Vernon K. Walker is the Senior Program Manager at Communities Responding to Extreme Weather (CREW) and a member of our Board of Advisors. With a wealth of experience from theological study, community engagement, and social work, Rev. Vernon Walker is transforming the meaning of equitable climate preparedness engagement with CREW. In building climate resilience hubs for local, hands-on education, creating networks of mutual aid and resource sharing to serve communities, and partnering with organizations and municipalities to adapt to climate change, under Rev. Walker’s leadership CREW is building long-term community resilience and advancing constructive solutions for our warming world.