WEJ advances gender equity and environmental
justice in U.S. policy through research,
advocacy & public education.-
We are a non-profit think tank dedicated to addressing the intersection of environmental justice and women’s issues in U.S. policy
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WEJ aims to close the research and policy gap through rigorous gender-focused research, targeted policy advocacy, and nationwide public education on the importance of gender and climate justice.
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Research shows that climate change has unique and dire impacts for women in America, yet climate policy in Congress fails to even mention women in 91% of proposed bills.
Climate change and environmental pollution put women at risk of pregnancy complications, violence, heat illness, hormonal imbalance, increased cancer rates, and reduced life expectancy.Women of color are up to 5x more affected
The Women’s Environmental Justice Policy Center envisions an America where climate and environmental policies are grounded in equity, informed by robust gender-responsive research, and fully protect the rights, health, and well-being of women and marginalized communities in the face of a changing climate.
Be part of building a new kind of policy.
To protect women across America, climate and environmental policies must consider women’s needs. Incorporating environmental justice and women’s issues into policy will lead to greater political success and equitable outcomes for women in a changing climate.
As a non-profit start-up, WEJ relies on early supporters to power independent research and bring an overdue gender lens to environmental decision-making. Your tax-deductible gift funds research and programming to uplift women’s needs in environmental policy.
The Women's Environmental Justice Policy Center is a sponsored Project of Mockingbird Incubator, a nonprofit fiscal sponsorship organization located in the state of California. Contributions on behalf of The Women's Environmental Justice Policy Center must be made payable to Mockingbird Incubator and are tax-deductible to the extend permitted by law.
Meet the Founders
Abril Hunter
Co-Founder, Co-Executive Director
Abril Hunter is an environmental policy professional dedicated to advancing environmental justice and equity through legislative action. She currently serves as Chief of Staff to the Vice Chair of the Maryland General Assembly’s Education, Energy, and Environment Committee and holds a Master of Public Policy from Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy. A graduate of Florida State University, Abril earned her B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy with minors in Urban and Regional Planning and Social Welfare, graduating summa cum laude. Her commitment to addressing environmental racism began in middle school after learning about the Flint water crisis, inspiring a career focused on dismantling systemic inequities and reducing legacy pollution in vulnerable communities. The first Black recipient of the Truman, Hollings, and Udall Scholarships, Abril continues to use public policy as a tool for achieving equitable access to clean air, water, and healthy environments for underserved populations.
Kadison Cole
Co-Founder, Co-Executive Director
Kadison Cole Willis is an environmental policy researcher and practitioner specializing in the intersections of environmental justice, gender equity, and climate governance. She holds a Master’s of Science in Environmental Governance from the University of Oxford, where her research focused on the inclusion of women’s needs in congressional climate policy and the impact of a diverse legislative body on inclusive policy outcomes. Currently, Kadison is working with researchers across the world to develop a gender-sensitive toolkit to be used during hurricanes in rural Mexico, co-created by and for local women. Previously, Kadison has worked for the Biden Administration's Office of Environmental Justice, the National Women’s Political Caucus, and Texas House Representative Vikki Goodwin on environmental policy and gender equity.