OUR STORY
The EcoWomanist Institute (EWI) is the creation of co-founders and co-visionaries, Valerie Hill Rawls and Veronica Kyle. Through their mutual dedication to, and advocacy for, the environment and gender and racial equality in the eco-narratives, they acted out a powerful example of one of Valerie’s favorite expressions: “When you see something that needs to be done, do it. Don’t wait around asking for permission.”
The vision of the EcoWomanist Institute is to shift the environmental justice, ecospirituality, and ethics narratives regarding women of African descent, and to affirm their role as healers of this planet.
Three Pillars Strong
In the spirit of doing what needs to be done, Valerie and Veronica founded the EcoWomanist Institute on three pillars.
EWI actively supports Black women who are today's and tomorrow's leaders of the sustainability and environmental justice movements.
EWI cultivates the whole person--because self-nurturing and well-being are an integral part of care and growth.
EWI amplifies and elevates voices on the environmental issues that matter to the community. Everyone can do something.
Everyone can do something. EWI amplifies and elevates voices on the environmental issues that matter to the community.
Advocacy
With an eye to the future, EWI actively seeks Black women-led organizations at the front of the fight for sustainability and environmental justice.
Leadership
EWI is a whole-person organization. While we emphasize uplifting today's and tomorrow's leaders in the eco narratives, we know that nurturing self and well-being is an integral part of care.
SoulCare SelfCare
The mission of the EcoWomanist Institute is to increase the inclusion, ecological awareness, and environmental leadership of African American women within the ecospirituality and ecojustice narratives.
EcoWomanist Institute values the voices and positive contributions of all of humanity, with special appreciation for women of African descent. EWI upholds peace and advocates for racial, gender, economic, and climate justice.
EWI CO-VISIONARIES & CO-FOUNDERS
Valerie Hill Rawls
Executive Director
EWI Southeast Region
Valerie Hill Rawls, MAPT, has led and supported sustainability initiatives in the southeast US in the areas of clean energy public policy, environmental justice, social impact bonds, and public health. She has coordinated Clean and Prosperous America’s Georgia Partners Coalition for Youth Voter Outreach and is active in ongoing GOTV efforts.
Veronica Kyle
Executive Director
EWI Midwest Region
Veronica is a sought-after speaker and workshop facilitator on environmental issues, gender-related issues, green economic opportunities, and more. She also works with houses of worship across Illinois to link African American churches to the work of Faith in Place. She holds a B.A. in Religion and Women Studies and a M.A. degree in Gender and Development Studies.
Our Team
Communications Director
Georgia Interfaith Power & Light (GIPL)
Whitney Brown
Whitney Brown has worked in the non-profit sector for 14 years, four of those years at GIPL, with a background in marketing/communications and fundraising. When not at work, she enjoys hiking around Georgia, and she has a passion for the arts. Whitney earned a Masters of Divinity from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology (2019) and a B.A. in Music History & Psychology from Agnes Scott College (2007). She also serves on the Atlanta Ecumenical Urban Farm Network board of directors.
Cicely is a Creative Strategist and Social Entrepreneur adept at providing thought leadership and consulting on strategy, design thinking, racial equity, environmental justice, food sovereignty, and community wealth building. She spearheaded the transition of the mayor's Office of Sustainability to Office of Resilience. She served as a community builder, facilitator, and program manager for 8.5 years at the Atlanta Community Food Bank, where she led the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. In 2013 she transitioned to Food Systems Innovation Manager working to improve fresh and healthy food access in Atlanta's inner-city neighborhoods via GA Food Oasis-Atlanta initiative. She holds a B.S.B.A degree with a concentration in Finance and New & Small Business Management and has a Master of Public Policy degree with a concentration in Non-Profit Management
Hope is the Program Coordinator for EWI's Mamas and Me in Nature, and is the proud mother of her daughter Hannah. Hannah's love of everything about outside, all seasons, different forms of precipitation, and even insects, leads Hope to strive toward helping her daughter live and thrive through a spiritual connection to the natural world.
Hope Kyle
Mamas and Me in Nature Program Coordinator
Cicely Garrett
Fellows Member & ELM Creator
Whitney Brown is the Communications Director for Georgia Interfaith Power & Light (GIPL). She has worked in the non-profit sector for 14 years, four of those years at GIPL, with a background in marketing/communications and fundraising. When not at work, she enjoys hiking around Georgia, and she has a passion for the arts. Whitney holds a Master of Divinity degree from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology (2019) and a B.A. in Music History & Psychology from Agnes Scott College (2007). She also serves on the Atlanta Ecumenical Urban Farm Network board of directors.
Whitney Brown is the Communications Director for Georgia Interfaith Power & Light (GIPL). She has worked in the non-profit sector for 14 years, four of those years at GIPL, with a background in marketing/communications and fundraising. When not at work, she enjoys hiking around Georgia, and she has a passion for the arts. Whitney holds a Master of Divinity degree from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology (2019) and a B.A. in Music History & Psychology from Agnes Scott College (2007). She also serves on the Atlanta Ecumenical Urban Farm Network board of directors.
Cicely is a Creative Strategist & Social Entrepreneur adept at providing thought leadership & consulting on strategy, design thinking, racial equity, environmental justice, food sovereignty, and community wealth building. She spearheaded the transition of the Mayor's Office of Sustainability to Office of Resilience. She served as a community builder, facilitator, and program manager for 8.5 years at the Atlanta Community Food Bank, where she led the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. In 2013 she transitioned to Food Systems Innovation Manager working to improve fresh & healthy food access in Atlanta's inner-city neighborhoods via GA Food Oasis-Atlanta initiative. She holds a B.S.B.A degree with a concentration in Finance and New & Small Business Management and has a Master of Public Policy degree with a concentration in Non-Profit Management.
WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
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The EWI Difference
Distinct from traditional feminist ideologies, the ecowomanist lens examines both how and why environmental issues disproportionately impact Black women, people of color, and other marginalized groups.
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