As the Climate Justice Director at CEJA, Nile brings two decades of working on racial, social, climate, and economic justice policy in the non-profit, public, and philanthropic sectors. Born and raised in Flint, Michigan, his involvement spans a diverse spectrum of endeavors, encompassing environmental justice, community development, housing, and climate solution initiatives in the United States, Caribbean, and Africa.
He previously worked for a seven-year period as the Northern California Director at Communities for a Better Environment and three years as a senior campaigner at Rainforest Action Network. During these tenures, he supported local, regional, state, and international climate, environmental justice, human rights, transportation, clean energy, fossil fuel reduction, and environmental justice policy and campaigns.
He served on several committees including the Bay Area Rapid Transit Title VI/Environmental Justice Committee, Oakland Climate Action Coalition, Environmental Protection Agency, National Climate Justice Alliance, Fund for Inclusive California, Oakland Climate Action Committee, Marin Clean Energy Alliance, Richmond Environmental Justice Coalition, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, California Adaptation Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, and Eco-Adapt National Climate Adaptation Programs.
He recently worked at the Neighborhood Funders Group, spearheading the Democratizing Development Program organizing funders and seeding collaborative funds including the multi-million dollar Fund for an Inclusive California and the national Amplify Fund. These funds continue to direct investments towards Black, indigenous, immigrant, and low-income communities projects and influencing public policy.
He holds a BA from the University of Michigan in Environmental Sustainability and African American Studies and MA in Anthropology and Social Change with a focus on Gender, Ecology, and Postcolonial Studies. Beyond his professional commitments, he is the father to his lovely daughter and two teenage boys, writer, health and wellness enthusiast, life coach, and entrepreneur.