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.

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