IN THIS EPISODE
Historically, communities of color have been at risk from the effects of climate change because of discriminatory practices like redlining, residential segregation, and systemic disinvestment, which have left them less able to withstand the impacts of climate change. In recent years, a number of Black women have taken a leading role in addressing climate change, particularly within Black and Brown communities. Jacqueline Patterson is among these women. In a conversation with host Gabrielle David, Patterson discusses the significance of recognizing how the current crisis affects individuals from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, and the urgent need to address these disparities.

“It is the legacy of our ancestors’ past that we have not only this relationship with the land and with the environment, but also with each other in terms of community. It is that community spirit of cooperation and the village, as they say, that is the way that we as a society need to be in order to not only weather the storms that are before us but to hopefully prevent the storms that we have in store if we don’t turn ourselves around.”

—Jacqueline Patterson, “Jacqueline Patterson: Honoring Legacy in the Environmental Movement,”
by Yessenia Funes, Atmos, February 13, 2023

BIO
Jacqueline Patterson is the founder and Executive Director of the Chisholm Legacy Project: A Resource Hub for Black Frontline Climate Justice Leadership. The project’s goal is to support Black communities at the forefront of climate justice by providing the resources needed to bring their visions to life. Before establishing the Chisholm Legacy Project in 2021, Patterson focused her career on implementing intersectional strategies for systemic change. Her commitment to social justice led her to roles such as coordinator and co-founder of Women of Color United, Senior Women’s Rights Policy Analyst for ActionAid, Assistant Vice-President of HIV/AIDS Programs for IMA World Health, Outreach Project Associate for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Research Coordinator for Johns Hopkins University, and U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Jamaica. Patterson also served as the Senior Director of the NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program from 2009 to 2021. She holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Maryland and a master’s degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University. Patterson is involved in various advisory boards, has authored numerous articles, reports, and toolkits, and was honored with the 26th Heinz Awards for the Environment in 2021.

SEE EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

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