Representation Matters

This past Fall, Debbie Mans, partner, TWENTYTWENTY public affairs, Clea Carchia, Executive Director of Rahway River Watershed Association, organized and co-hosted a virtual panel titled, “Representation Matters: Black and Brown Voices in New Jersey’s Environmental Community.”  The discussion focused on the organizational culture and under-representation of people of color in New Jersey’s environmental nonprofits and government agencies.  The event attracted over 200 registrants and was featured as part of the annual NY-NJ Harbor & Estuary Program annual conference.

Keynote remarks were provided by NJ Department of Environmental Protection Deputy Commissioner Olivia Glenn, who spoke about her experiences of both working at environmental organizations and visiting New Jersey’s parks and open spaces with her family.  Panelists included Naeema Campbell, Program Officer for the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Neha Savant, an ecologist, and Kandyce Perry, Director of Stormwater for New Jersey Future.  The event was supported by numerous environmental organizations in the New Jersey-New York region and sparked a lively and thoughtful discussion about how all organizations can examine their own culture and actions when it comes to recognizing the shared work that must happen to supporting persons of color in the environmental community. 

To watch the full panel, visit our YouTube channel.  For a list of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Resources please visit this open source document.