WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Wildlife Federation, America’s largest conservation organization with 51 state and territorial affiliates and more than six million members, announced today that Chanté Coleman will serve as the organization’s first Director of Equity and Inclusion.

Coleman will lead the National Wildlife Federation’s efforts to become a more diverse and inclusive organization and to meet its commitments to its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice principles.

“Building an inclusive conservation movement that represents the full diversity of America is essential to overcoming the great challenges of our time,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “Though we have much work to do, the National Wildlife Federation is fully committed to living our diversity, equity, inclusion and justice values. We could not be more proud to announce that Chanté Coleman will serve as the Federation’s first Director of Equity and Inclusion and lead our ongoing efforts to become a stronger, more inclusive organization. Her skills and expertise — and unparalleled ability to build bridges and create strong, trusting relationships — make Chanté the perfect leader to take our Federation’s DEIJ efforts to the next level.”

“The National Wildlife Federation has made important progress in embracing its commitments to becoming a more diverse, equitable, inclusive and just organization — but we still have work to do,” Coleman said. “I’m looking forward to bringing my leadership and expertise to the National Wildlife Federation in this new role to help us elevate equity and inclusion across national and regional offices, as well as state and territorial affiliates.”

Coleman currently leads the Choose Clean Water Coalition, where she has helped the Coalition evolve to have an intentional focus on diversity, equity, inclusion and justice. She has also served as a co-lead of our Federation’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Steering Committee for the past few years. In addition to training and facilitating at conferences across the country, Coleman is a member of the Green Leadership Trust and was named as a “rising star” by Green 2.0.

Coleman will begin her new role in June, working out of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Center in Annapolis, MD and in partnership with all of the Federation’s regional centers and state/territorial affiliates.