Jacqueline Patterson

Jacqueline Patterson is a prominent leader at the intersection of climate justice, social equity, and systemic change. As the Founder and Executive Director of the Chisholm Legacy Project, she has established a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to supporting Black frontline communities in their fight against climate injustice.

Previously, Patterson served as the Senior Director of the NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program for over a decade. In this role, she played a pivotal part in founding and implementing a robust portfolio that addressed the environmental challenges faced by hundreds of communities on the frontline of environmental injustice. Her leadership extended to designing and implementing programs supporting political education and organizing work at both state and local levels within the NAACP.

Since 2007, Patterson has been a dedicated advocate for intersectional approaches to systems change. Her extensive career includes 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's commitment to addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by marginalized communities is evident in her prolific writing. She has authored numerous articles, reports, and toolkits, addressing topics such as climate change, civil rights, gendered impacts of disasters, and the need for a just transition.

Patterson 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. She serves on the Advisory Boards for Center for Earth Ethics and the Hive Fund for Gender and Climate Justice, on the Governance Assemblies for Mosaic Momentum, Environmental Justice Movement Fellowship, and the Equitable Building Electrification Fund, as well as on the Boards of Directors for the Institute of the Black World, the Bill Anderson Fund, the American Society of Adaptation Professionals, the Movement Strategy Center, the Just Solutions Collective, and the National Black Workers Center Project.

In recognition of her outstanding contributions, Patterson was honored with the Earth Award during the 2024 TIME Women of the Year ceremony. The award acknowledges her tireless efforts in advancing climate justice and her groundbreaking work in addressing the interconnected challenges faced by at-risk communities.