Environmental inequality is a generational storm we can’t ignore.
Black, Brown, and Green Conference
First Session:
Thursday, April 10
5:30PM - 8:30PM
Hamilton, NJ
Black, Brown, & Green Conference
The Black, Brown, & Green centers the voices of Black and Brown communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis. Environmental inequality hits these communities hardest—where urban residents face air pollution 1.5 times higher than average and climate displacement risks are double. Yet, these essential voices are often left out of climate solutions.
Join us for a powerful gathering that brings together community leaders, activists, and scholars to drive equitable solutions and real policy change. Together, we’ll bridge the gap between community needs and climate action.
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Next Event:
April 10
Hamilton, NJ
Featured Keynote Speakers
Dr. Nicky Sheats
Dr. Nicky Sheats is a leading voice in environmental justice, serving as Senior Policy Fellow at Princeton University’s Center for Policy Research on Energy and the Environment and Director of the Center for the Urban Environment at Kean University. His work focuses on air pollution, climate change, cumulative impacts, and legal strategies to support environmental justice communities.
A founding member of numerous national coalitions—including the NJ Environmental Justice Alliance and the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council—Dr. Sheats has shaped policy at every level. He also co-authored the human health chapter of the 2014 National Climate Assessment.
Earlier in his career, he was a public interest attorney and public defender. He holds degrees from Princeton and Harvard, including a Ph.D. in Earth and Planetary Sciences, J.D., and M.P.P.
Reverand Danté R. Quick, Ph.D.
The Reverend Danté R. Quick, Ph.D. is the fourth senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens (FBCLG) in Somerset, NJ, where he began serving in May 2021. Prior to FBCLG, he led Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Vallejo, CA, for over a decade, guiding it through significant spiritual and numerical growth.
A Washington, D.C. native, Pastor Quick earned his B.A. in Political Science from Morehouse College and a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, where he was recognized for excellence in Christian Ethics and served as President of the Association of Black Seminarians. He later earned his Ph.D. in Philosophical and Systematic Theology with a focus in African American Studies from the Graduate Theological Union at UC Berkeley.
Pastor Quick has combined ministry and public service throughout his career, previously working with leaders like Mayor Marion Barry, Congressman John Lewis, and Governor Zell Miller. He has also taught theology and ethics at the American Baptist Seminary of the West and contributed to publications such as The Princeton Theological Review and The African-American Lectionary.
He is the proud parent of Alexander Danté and Kennedy Danielle.
Dr. Shannon Mason
Dr. Shannon Mason is a highly ethical influencer and organizational strategist whose work centers on aligning practices and values. A counseling psychologist by training, her career has focused on helping individuals and organizations navigate change and build capacity. She is passionate about community engagement for inclusive design and she has lived and worked in the Trenton Community for almost twenty years.
Jay Watson
After a conservation career spanning nearly 45 years, “Jay” recently stepped down from his role as Co-Executive Director at New Jersey Conservation Foundation to focus his time on the organization’s Urban Action agenda. As Senior Fellow for Conservation Justice he is organizing the statewide Green & Healthy Cities campaign and focusing on advancing green infrastructure projects in the City of Trenton.
Prior to joining the nonprofit land conservancy sector, Jay spent nearly 30 years in various roles in the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). Beginning his career as a Project Manager for the nationally recognized Green Acres Program, he worked his way up to ultimately become the Program’s Administrator, leading land acquisition and park development programs in the most densely developed state in the nation.
Jay was appointed Assistant Commissioner for Natural and Historic Resources where he oversaw the work of multiple Divisions and offices including – Parks and Forestry; Historic Preservation; Fish and Wildlife; the Green Acres Program; Shore Protection; Dam Safety and others. In 2006 Jay was appointed Deputy Commissioner of NJDEP, the title from which he retired from State government service in 2010.
Throughout his career he has advocated for the protection of those special natural lands, habitats and historic sites throughout New Jersey, while also consistently and fervently advocating for enhancing the environment and quality of life in our State’s urban areas and particularly in engaging communities of color to enjoy our natural lands and seek career paths in the field.
Jay lives in Lawrenceville, New Jersey and is a proud graduate of Mercer County College and Florida A&M University.
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