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.
Climate activist and Rachel’s Network Catalyst Awardee Heather McTeer Toney insists that those most affected by climate change are best suited to lead the movement. In her forthcoming book “Before the Streetlights Come On,” and in this excerpt from the book, she talks about how environmental action and racial justice must be deeply intertwined to build a better future.
Native organizers in Minnesota are leading on-the-ground resistance to urge President Biden to revoke permits and halt construction, provide legal support to water protectors, and communicate the threat posed by Line 3. Rachel’s Network provided a grant through the Equation Campaign to support the coalition.
The American Chemistry Council has identified $36 billion in potential petrochemical and plastic manufacturing investments in the Ohio River Valley and corporations have already begun building ethane cracker plants, pipelines, storage facilities, and other dirty infrastructure. Rachel’s Network is partnering with the People Over Petro Coalition to fight back.
Rachel’s Network announced that it has awarded climate champion Annel Hernandez with its inaugural Catalyst Award. As associate director of the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance and member of the NY Renews coalition, Annel was one of the key players in the passage of New York’s new climate law passed in July 2019, the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
