Who is the Environmental Justice Community Connector Initiative
Our Environmental Justice Community Connector Initiative (EJ CCI) is a group of respected community leaders from across our state who are familiar with the issues and concerns of the communities that they represent. EJ CCI members are important voices for traditionally marginalized and underserved communities of color and low wealth communities that are disproportionately impacted by pollution in North Carolina. Each member has experience working on the ground with grassroots community and environmental justice organizations. The group is diverse in terms of age, race, and geography.
What does the Environmental Justice Community Connector Initiative do
Members of the EJ CCI provide advice and recommendations to NC Conservation Network on a range of issues and strategies. They help guide our engagement with decision-makers at the local and state levels; help us reach, empower, and mobilize impacted community members; and strengthen our public communications efforts.
NC Conservation Network convenes this group on a regular basis to discuss matters of importance including public education, capacity building, advocacy, and outreach efforts. Feedback gathered during discussions with the members is used to advocate with our partners to build equity into all policy proposals and campaigns.
Examples of issue work
To date, the EJ CCI has considered issues related to clean energy, transportation, waste disposal, water quality, air quality, and more.
NC Conservation Network is expanding our efforts with the EJ CCI so that more issues include genuine representation of the communities and voices that have not traditionally been included at the table when environmental policy is developed.
Find out more
To find out more about the EJ CCI, please contact Sherri White-Williamson, Environmental Justice Policy Director, at sherri [at] ncconservationnetwork.org.
You may also print and share our information in PDF form: EJ CCI factsheet.
Meet the Environmental Justice Community Connector Initiative
William Barber, III (Durham, NC)
William is the Strategic Partnerships Manager at The Climate Reality Project and co-chair for the NC Poor People’s Campaign Ecological Devastation committee. William serves as a member of the DEQ Secretary’s EJEAB.
Rev. William (Bill) Kearney (Warrenton, NC)
Rev. William (Bill) Kearney is a partner in several community-engaged research partnerships and engages and consults with universities, organizations, and partnerships across the country. His consulting company, Bill Kearney & Company, LLC, sponsors and facilitates the Warren County Environmental Action Team and the Warren County African American History Collective.
Nakisa Glover (Charlotte, NC)
Nakisa is founder of Sol Nation. Her commitment to the community means that she works to raise awareness about environmental threats as well as key environmental justice issues. She has built a track record as a community organizer.
Dale Hall (Greensboro, NC)
Deacon Dale Hall proudly serves as the President of Cottage Grove Neighborhood association where collaboration with local, state and federal agencies work together as “change agents”. He is Advisory Leader and consultant for Aligning Systems for Health and racial equity. He serves as a member of the Bingham Park Environmental Justice team.
Devon Hall, Sr. (Warsaw, NC)
Devon is the co-founder and program manager of Rural Empowerment Association for Community Help, and co-producer of the documentary “Swine Country.” A native of Duplin County, Devon is exposed to the impacts of swine and poultry operations.
Marilynn Marsh-Robinson (Knightdale, NC)
Marilynn is the Manager of Partnerships & Outreach in EDF’s Energy program in Raleigh. In this role, she collaborates with electric cooperatives, transit agencies, local governments and faith-based partners. Marilynn serves as a member of the EJEAB.
Dr. Rania Masri(Raleigh, NC)
Dr. Rania Masri is NCEJN’s Co-Director of Organizing and Policy. Rania Masri been an activist and organizer since 1993, and a professor and researcher since 2005. She has taught interdisciplinary environmental sciences, environmental justice, and communications at the University of Balamand, American University of Beirut, and the Lebanese American University
Suzannah Park (Asheville, NC)
Suzannah has been a member of the core team of Community Roots since the fall of 2017 and as the program director has been a driving force for the citizen-led initiative to get their Climate Bill of Rights on the ballot and passed into law.
