Jonathan Nelson, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Jonathan is a Senior Advisor for Technical Assistance and Community Engagement to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water Assistant Administrator Radhika Fox. The Office of Water works to ensure that drinking water is safe, wastewater is safely returned to the environment, and surface waters are properly managed and protected. Prior to joining EPA, Jonathan served as the Policy Director for the Community Water Center. He is a nationally recognized expert on strategies to secure access to safe and affordable drinking water for underserved communities, building resilient drinking water institutions, and growing trust and partnership with frontline community water leaders.
David Wheaton, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
David Wheaton currently serves as an economic justice policy fellow at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. David previously served as advocacy director at Texas Housers, based in their Austin office. In that position, David supported grassroots leaders across Texas and developed and advanced policies and practices that promote the purpose of the Fair Housing Act. David played a major role in litigation involving federal disaster mitigation funds, where the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Affairs found that the State of Texas discriminated against people of color in their appropriation of federal funds. David was also heavily involved at the Texas State legislature, fighting for more affordable housing and tenants’ rights. Before joining Texas Housers, he was a staff attorney and legal fellow at the Capital Appeals Project/Promise of Justice Initiative, where he helped handle appeals for incarcerated people on death row in Louisiana. Originally from Atlanta, David has a B.A. in Economics from Guilford College and a law degree from Elon University School of Law.
Richard Diaz, BlueGreen Alliance
Richard Diaz is the Midwest Regional Field Organizer of BlueGreen Alliance. Richard works to engage partners and allies within the Midwest to demonstrate support for advancing an economic recovery focused on manufacturing and infrastructure investments. Being from Milwaukee, WI, Diaz strives to fight for racial and economic justice for black, brown, and working class people everywhere. Within his 10-years as a community organizer, Diaz has been able to help create a Milwaukee neighborhood association, co-found the Coalition on Lead Emergency, increase member participation and achieve worker oriented contracts for members of the Amalgamated Transit Union local 998, and help thousands of voter’s register and get out to vote.
