Earthjustice Appoints Abre’ Conner and Rashad Morris to Board of Trustees

August 22, 2024

Earthjustice Appoints Abre' Conner and Rashad Morris to Board of Trustees

Both leaders bring decades of invaluable insight to Earthjustice's Board

Contacts

Bala Sivaraman, Earthjustice

San Francisco, CA-

Earthjustice is thrilled to announce the newest additions to the organization's Board of Trustees: Abre' Conner, Director of the Center for Environmental and Climate Justice at the NAACP, and Rashad Morris, principal and founder of the advisory firm Impact Donor Strategies.

In addition to her role at the NAACP, Conner is currently faculty in the Environmental Policy and Management Program at the University of California, Davis. She previously served as the Directing Attorney of Health at the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley where she led the litigation, direct legal services work, and advocacy regarding health equity and the social determinants of health that impact historically excluded communities across the Silicon Valley. Prior to joining the Law Foundation, Conner was a staff attorney with the ACLU Foundation of Northern California, where she advocated for the civil rights and liberties of Central Valley and Northern California residents, including an emphasis on issues that impact people of color in rural communities such as environmental justice.

"In the midst of a climate emergency, we need strong advocates to take on the toughest legal and policy fights to bring about a sustainable future that leaves no community behind," says Conner. "I have worked closely with the amazing Earthjustice staff for years - this is an organization that truly lives its values. I'm looking forward to ensuring that they have the support they need to get the work done."

"We are extremely honored to welcome Abre' to the Earthjustice Board," notes Earthjustice President Abigail Dillen. "Abre' is a stellar leader, who commands enormous earned respect within the legal community and the progressive movement. As Earthjustice works to advance justice in policy and practice, we are so grateful that Abre is willing to bring her invaluable insight and influence to our Board."

Rashad Morris brings with him two-decades of experience in politics, policy development, advocacy, and nonprofit governance. As principal and founder of Impact Donor Strategies, Morris provides support to philanthropic foundations, individual major donors, nonprofits, and government agencies on organizational effectiveness, program design, strategy, and grantmaking.

"I am pleased to join Earthjustice as a Trustee at a time when the term 'justice' means more than a judicial victory," says Morris. "When we speak about justice today, we also mean restoring the people and repairing the places that have been historically under resourced and despoiled. I believe that Earthjustice will continue to step into its role, not only to be good lawyers for the planet, but also for the most underserved communities on it."

"Over many years of deep work to resource and strengthen the environmental field, Rashad has honed a superlative perspective on what works and what is most needed," reflects Dillen. "I am beyond grateful that Earthjustice will benefit from the power of his strategic insight and his actionable vision for advancing justice effectively in real life."

About Earthjustice

Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people's health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.