ABOUT THE EXPERT:

Melissa Miles (she/her) is an Environmental and Climate Justice advocate who began her career in the field as a grassroots activist and community organizer while living in an Environmental Justice community in Newark, New Jersey. She holds an MA in Anthropology from The New School but maintains that her knowledge of EJ is rooted in her lived experience and her commitment to making sure that people at the frontlines are the protagonists in the struggle for their future. Melissa is a member of the Environmental Justice Advisory Council (EJAC) to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection where she serves as Co-Chair of the Air Committee. She also serves on the steering committee for the Coalition for Healthy Ports, a regional collaboration of groups and individuals concerned with diesel emissions from the freight industry. Nationally, she is on the Advisory Board of the Moving Forward Network and is part of the leadership team of the Climate Justice Alliance Black Caucus. Her international affiliations include the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives. Recent recognition includes the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award, the 2021 Founders Award from the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters, and the Advocacy and Organizers Award from the Housing & Community Development Network of New Jersey for her role as a part of the coalition of advocates instrumental in the passing of New Jersey’s landmark Environmental Justice Law in 2020. Melissa’s vision is to support environmental and climate justice for communities that are rooted in place, where people can live, work, learn, and play in health and harmony. She currently serves as the Executive Director of New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance, a statewide organization dedicated to serving New Jersey’s low-income and Of Color communities overburdened by the impacts of pollution and climate change.

CONTACT:

Contact Melissa Miles at Experts@diversegreen.org.