Wawa Gatheru

Last updated
Wanjiku Gatheru
Other namesWawa
Education
OccupationClimate justice activist
OrganizationBlack Girl Environmentalist
Website blackgirlenvironmentalist.org

Wanjiku "Wawa" Gatheru is an American climate justice activist. She is a beneficiary of the Rhodes Scholarship. [1]

Contents

Early life

Gatheru was born to Kenyan immigrants and raised in the rural area of Pomfret, Connecticut, [1] [2] She became interested in climate activism at 15 and took classes in environmental science. [3] [4]

Gatheru attended the University of Connecticut. She received the Harry S. Truman, Rhodes, and Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation 's scholarship in 2019. [5] She graduated magna cum laude in 2020 with a BA in Environmental studies and a minor in Urban and Community Studies. [6] She earned her Master's from the University of Oxford in nature, society and environmental governance. [7]

Activism

Gatheru sought to advocate for Black women and non-binary people through writing and public speaking. [8] [9]

In 2022, she hosted the black eco-feminist summit, which was featured in the British Vogue . [10] She was the board chair at the Environmental Media Association [11]

Achievements

Gatheru was recognized as a Young Futurist by The Root in 2020, a Grist 50 FIXER, and Glamour College Woman of the Year. [12] In 2021, she was Victoria's Secret PINK Purpose Project Winner. [13]

In January 2023, she appeared on the cover of Vogue alongside Billie Eilish. [14] I She was also named Climate Creator to Watch by Pique Action and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, [15] became a member of the first-ever National Environmental Youth Advisory Council at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, [16] and won a Trailblazer Award at Verdical Group's annual Net Zero Conference. [17]

In 2024, Gatheru was named in Forbes 30 Under 30 List under Social Impact. [18]

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References

  1. 1 2 Reitz, Stephanie (2019-11-24). "Student Leader Wanjiku (Wawa) Gatheru Named UConn's First Rhodes Scholar". UConn Today. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  2. ↑ "Wanjiku "Wawa" Gatheru". GBH. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  3. ↑ "A Conversation with Black Girl Environmentalist Founder Wawa Gatheru". Earth Island Journal. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  4. ↑ "How this 22-year-old is creating an anti-racist climate movement: 'We're trying to create a new future'". Yahoo Life. 2021-04-21. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  5. ↑ Hirsh, Sophie (2021-11-23). "Why Community Is Key in Climate Justice Activism, According to Wawa Gatheru (Exclusive)". Green Matters. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  6. ↑ "Wawa Gatheru: Keynote speaker for 2022 MLKjr Day festivities". The Davis Center. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  7. ↑ "Heard on Campus: Climate activist Wanjiku Gatheru at Penn State Behrend". Pennsylvania State University . 2023-03-30. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  8. ↑ Gatheru, Wawa (2024-04-22). "Activist Wawa Gatheru on Championing Black Women as Climate Leaders This Earth Day—And Beyond". Vogue. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  9. ↑ Rich, Heileman (2023-02-10). "Gatheru to speak about environmental justice: Around The Town". cleveland. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  10. ↑ Attlee, Joycelyn Longdon (2022-10-03). "Inside The UK's First Black Ecofeminist Summit". British Vogue. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  11. ↑ "Climate activist Wawa Gatheru: Fight for an age of "unprecedented care" | Bryant News". news.bryant.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  12. ↑ "Wanjiku "Wawa" Gatheru - Environmental Justice Advocate & Writer". PCMA Convening Leaders. 2021-12-29. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  13. ↑ "Making Climate Work More Intentional and Creative: A Conversation with Wawa Gatheru". Environmental Media Association. 2022-02-28. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  14. ↑ "Billie Eilish on Climate Activism and Radical Hope". Vogue. 2023-01-04. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  15. ↑ Lundstrom, Kathryn (2023-01-31). "These 17 Creators Are Leading the Conversation on Climate". www.adweek.com. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  16. ↑ US EPA, OA (2023-11-16). "EPA Administrator Regan Announces Members of First-Ever National Environmental Youth Advisory Council". www.epa.gov. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  17. ↑ hello@verdicalgroup.com (2023-09-08). "Meet 2023 Trailblazer Awards Gala Keynote, Wawa Gatheru!". Net Zero Conference. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  18. ↑ "Wawa Gatheru". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
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