News
Announcing the Recipients of the 2025 Catalyst Award
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.
Gathering Inspiration from Women Environmental Leaders in the West
“If we’re not on the land, who is?” – Termaine Edmo, Blackfeet Nation Climate Change Coordinator “Lose loudly. Fight hard. Push Back. Build Alliances.” – Anne Hedges, Montana Environmental Information Center When women gather relationships are strengthened, joy is...
Showing Care in a Time of Crisis: Lessons from the Frontlines
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.
Visiting the Women Leading Urban Agriculture in Chicago
What could a non-extractive agriculture project look like? In June, Rachel’s Network visited Urban Growers Collective in Chicago to find out. Catalyst Program Director Shreya Durvasula shared observations and lessons learned from the trip to Green Era Campus and the South Chicago Farm.
Rachel’s Network Launches Legacy Award for Longtime Environmental Movement Leaders
Rachel’s Network celebrated its 25th anniversary by announcing a new program to support women leaders of color with long experience in and deep dedication to the environmental movement: the Legacy Award. The inaugural Legacy awardees will participate in a week-long retreat in Dakar, Senegal. There, they will meet social justice leaders, connect with each other, and have space for reflection, learning, and rest.
2024 Annual Report
There’s no getting around it: the years ahead will be arduous for both women and the environment. Everything our organization and members have worked for in the last 25 years is now at risk because of the new administration. But while some politicians, corporations, and organizations are distancing themselves from vital environmental work and diversity, equity, and inclusion, Rachel’s Network remains resolute.
Rachel’s Network Welcomes Five New Board Directors
Rachel’s Network, a nonprofit that elevates and supports women environmental leaders, today announced the addition of five new members to its board of directors: Annel Hernandez, Maria Kolby-Wolfe, Dr. Virginia Necochea, Autumn Saxton-Ross, PhD, and Dr. Nikki Traylor-Knowles. Following these appointments, the board will comprise 16 directors.
Rachel’s Network Statement on Federal DEI Rollbacks
As an organization committed to supporting the most marginalized leaders in the environmental movement, Rachel’s Network is appalled by recent moves to rollback DEI in the Trump administration. We stand with our grantee-partners and broader network in continuing to shine a light on injustice and ways to dismantle it. We will also continue to run the Catalyst Award, our annual program for women environmental leaders of color.
Rachel’s Network Supports Community Leaders at Wellness Retreat
Rachel’s Network hosted its first in-person event exclusively for Catalyst awardees and finalists at the Kripalu Center For Yoga & Health in Stockbridge, Massachusetts in November for a gathering focused on care and restoration for women environmental leaders of color.
Announcing the Recipients of the 2024 Catalyst Award
Rachel’s Network announced the awardees and finalists of its 2024 Catalyst Award. The award honors women leaders of color for their commitment to a healthy planet, and provides them with financial support, wraparound leadership services, and public recognition.