Many Rachel’s Network members are fighting the data center construction boom across the country. At our last spring meeting in Detroit, Rachel’s Network heard from Catalyst Recipient Michelle Martinez about the impacts she’s seeing in Michigan and how communities can respond.
Rachel’s Network announced the awardees and finalists of its 2026 Catalyst Award. Now in its eighth year, the Catalyst Award honors women leaders of color for their commitment to a healthy planet, and provides them with financial and leadership support, and public recognition.
Rachel’s Network has received a generous gift to establish a flow fund circle. This fund will enable a group of ten flow funders to distribute $10,000 grants to organizations of their choosing. Flow funders will be comprised of a select group of Rachel’s Network Catalyst Award alumni who have deep roots in community.
We constantly strive to ensure that the Catalyst Award remains accessible, inclusive, and reflective of the values we want to see in the environmental movement. Here’s how our award review process has changed over the years.
Rachel’s Network announced the awardees and finalists of its 2025 Catalyst Award. Now in its seventh year, the Catalyst Award honors women leaders of color for their commitment to a healthy planet, and provides them with financial and leadership support, and public recognition.
This year’s Catalyst Award interviews made it clear that the devastating federal funding cuts are putting significant strain on the women in our community. While women of color leaders and their organizations are consistently underfunded even in “normal” times, our applicants are facing even greater stress this year, with bigger funding gaps, and more burnout. Catalyst Program Director Shreya Durvasula offers ways for funders to step up.
