Chicago local Naomi Davis is a visionary and grassroots activist whose drive for urban environmental justice underpins her work, advocacy, and climate action. She is the founder and CEO of Blacks in Green (BIG), uplifting Black neighborhoods through environmental revitalization. BIG fights economic, social, and health collapse in Black neighborhoods through socio–environmental revitalization projects. Harnessing creativity and the green revolution as a path out of poverty, BIG programs cover job training, educational programs, and community gardens. Given that communities of color are disproportionately affected by industrial pollution, these projects prioritize building power through localized environmental justice. BIG is gaining traction, with grants to expand programs to create healthier, cleaner, and safer neighborhoods across the Midwest. Davis’s approach continues to build equitable and sustainable cityscapes through grassroots organizing and green revival.
