Who is NaTisha Washington

Hello, my name is NaTisha Washington and I'm currently the Campaign Director for the Black Appalachian Coalition which is a recional organization focused on uplifiting the voices and unhealthy impcats of Black Appalcahin communities (BLAC). Previous to this work I was the Communications Manager at the Breathe Project/Collaborative where I worked alongside 60+ Air and petrochemical advocacy organizations that advocate for and educate communities on air quality and petrochemical throughout the region.

Being a Wilkinsburg / Pittsburgh native, I have always had the goal of improving the environment of disinvested communities like my hometown of Wilkinsburg. My long-term skills in organizing, researching, and teaching has been beneficial to the impact I am trying to make for communities like mine to be healthier and safer places to leave. After graduating from Wilkinsburg High school, I went to study Landscape Contracting Design at the Pennsylvania State University where I received my bachelors in Horticulture. Through the Penn State Extension I went on to become a certified Master Gardener, and worked many clerical jobs to improve my data, research, communication and engagement skills.

My community non-profit work started in the Hilltop community at the former Pittsburgh Work and blossomed in her long-standing position at Operation Better Block (OBB) as their Green Initiative Coordinator. At OBB majority of my work included Junior Green Corp and the community to improve green spaces among other environmental issues in Homewood. The Junior Green Corp, which is a job-readiness program for teens 14 to 18 focused on urban farming, vacant lot restoration, and job readiness under my leadership and continues to flourish to this day.

Post-OBB, I worked with 412 Justice as their Environmental Justice Organizer for the SWPA region. During my time there I was involved and partnered with many local environmental organizations to help implement, facilitate, and support community advocacy for policy change and decision-maker accountability. Through trauma-informed organizing I worked communities to get access to affordable utilities, reducing air pollution, improving water quality, access healthy food, and many other community-focused concerns. Currently sits on the board of Upstream, Communitopia, Community Forge, and Feed the Hood.