Zelalem Adefris

Social and climate justice advocate
Zelalem Adefris's work in public health addresses racial health and wealth disparities, policy development and climate resilience in low-wealth communities of color.

Why you should listen

Zelalem Adefris is the vice president of policy and advocacy at Catalyst Miami, an organization focused on identifying and solving issues adversely affecting low-wealth communities throughout Miami-Dade County, Florida. Having joined the organization in 2016, Adefris oversees Catalyst Miami's policy and engagement department and previously directed the organization's climate resilience programs and advocacy work. Her previous work experiences include environmental justice organizing at the Environmental Justice League of Rhode Island and conducting emergency preparedness research at the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Adrefis holds an MPH in global environmental health from Emory University and a bachelor's degree in community health from Brown University. She serves as a steering committee member of the Miami Climate Alliance and a philanthropic trustee of The Solutions Project as well as a board member of the Miami-Dade College Earth Ethics Institute and Miami-Dade County Community Action Agency.

Zelalem Adefris’ TED talk

More news and ideas from Zelalem Adefris

Countdown

Breakthroughs: Notes from Session 4 of the Countdown Global Launch

October 10, 2020

Countdown is a global initiative to accelerate solutions to the climate crisis. Watch the talks, interviews and performances from the Countdown Global Launch at ted.com/countdown. The world around us is mainly made of two things: nature and the materials that we extract from it. To fight climate change, we need to protect and regenerate nature […]

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