White House CEQ

Senior Advisor for Climate and Community Resilience, Office of Environmental Justice, CEQ 

As the Senior Advisor for Climate and Community Resilience at the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), my role and my major goals included advising and assisting CEQ in its work to coordinate the federal government’s efforts to improve, preserve, and protect America’s public health and environment, in areas relevant to my expertise.

1) I provided input on interagency policy processes through an environmental justice lens on matters involving flood resilience, coastal resilience, climate adaptation, and broader disaster management. I also led and engaged on efforts related to environmental justice science and technology.

2) I led CEQ’s consultation with the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) as part of the Environmental Justice Subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council (Environmental Justice Subcommittee) established by Executive Order (EO) 14096 on Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All.

o   The Environmental Justice Subcommittee was established to address the need for a coordinated federal strategy to identify and address gaps in science, data, and research related to environmental justice.

3) I assisted with the advancement of priority activities mandated for CEQ in EO 14008 on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, including:

o   The Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST);

o   The Environmental Justice Scorecard (Scorecard); and

o   The Justice40 Initiative

▪       The Justice40 Initiative set a goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities. I helped lead CEQ’s efforts on demonstrating benefits of the Justice40 Initiative.

4) I supported CEQ in its role as chair and convener of the White House Environmental Justice Interagency Council (IAC) and served as a subject matter expert for White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council (WHEJAC) workgroups that developed recommendations to CEQ and the IAC in areas relevant to climate, resilience, and natural disasters.