Experience

Climate & Environmental Justice Advocate

Abhaer is a dynamic climate justice advocate and self-starter with over six years leading strategic communications, grassroots mobilization, and equitable policy advocacy across nonprofit, academic, diplomatic, and business sectors.

Writer

Abhaer has produced widely cited research materials that advance intersectional, justice-centered approaches that elevate frontline communities and drive systemic change.

These include two articles in the Yale Environment Review and the books The Black Agenda: Bold Solutions for a Broken System and The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet.

Environmental Campaign & Event Coordinator

With over six years of experience, Abhaer has organized large-scale advocacy campaigns, programs, and events that have engaged over 2,000 community members and have influenced climate policy at national and international levels.

Work

  • Yale Center for Environmental Justice

    Environmental Joy Congress Media Coordinator

    (September 2025 - November 2025)

    • Developed and managed a comprehensive media plan that coordinated multiple workstreams across three media teams for a major environmental congress, bringing over 100 grassroots organizations, students, and policymakers in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

    • Managed a cross-functional team of eight to produce over 15 hours of filmed content, conduct over 20 interviews, and create social media campaigns that elevated the Congress’s mission to advance and generate well-being and joy in the environmental and climate justice movement.

    Yale Program on Climate Change Communication (YPCCC)

    Research Assistant, Partnerships Team

    (September 2024 - May 2025)

    • Conducted and drafted research analysis for the Partnerships team’s first environmental justice and green groups listening sessions to better equip and support environmental partners with stronger climate communication tools.

    • Spearheaded monthly intro webinars for partners who are new to YPCCC’s research and tools.

    Yale Center for Environmental Justice

    Regional Partner Engagement Fellow

    (September 2023 - July 2024)

    • Designed a strategy and proposal for a toolkit that will inform future environmental justice organizers about strategies, tips, and critical legal information for organizing in Bridgeport, CT.

    • Created a case study that explores legal actions environmental justice communities in Bridgeport, CT can take to address the lack of public participation in the permitting process for eco-technology developments in the area.

  • Summer Fellow

    (June 2024 - August 2024)

    • Organized and implemented an outreach strategy to conduct calls with over 100 members in the Global Afrodescendant Climate Justice Collaborative (GADCJC) to further the collaborative’s goal of gathering people of African Descent worldwide in a collective voice to advance climate justice.

    • Coordinated monthly GADCJC meetings to facilitate collaboration, generative discussions, and strategy development.

  • Environmental Employee Engagement Associate

    (January 2020 - July 2023)

    • Launched and organized several internal programs and events to inspire and educate about 2,000 employees across North America on climate activism and environmental justice.

    • Led the formation of a cross-sector coalition of environmental nonprofits, social justice groups, local businesses, and Patagonia employees to advance Just Transition campaigns in Ventura, CA.

    Environmental Programs Coordinator

    (June 2019 - December 2019)

    • Organized Patagonia’s annual Tools for Grassroots Activist Conference, which connects and brings grantees across North America to build community, capacity, and develop new tools and skills for their organizations. 

    • Spearheaded grantee research that assessed the needs of Patagonia’s grantees and developed a framework for how they can best utilize the Patagonia Action Works program, a tool used to connect customers’ skills with grantees’ needs.

    Environmental Marketing Coordinator

    (October 2018 - April 2019)

    • Worked with the various departments to develop a more interactive and effective supply chain transparency platform.

    • Developed a learning template with the Social Environmental Responsibility team, to explain the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard as it applies to Patagonia.

  • African Union Advisor

    (January 2018 - May 2018)

    • Attended the High-Level Political Forum 2017 to assess the current challenges and improvements that African countries face following the release of Agenda 2030. 

    • Drafted official memos and reports on the African Group, ECOSOC, and Sustainable Development meetings.

  • Analysis Intern (Nairobi, Kenya)

    (Summer 2015)

    • Assessed progress and threats to sustainable energy development through the Small Grants Program. 

    • Designed a policy brief concerning solar panel efficacy in the Kajiado region in rural Kenya.

    • Yale School of the Environment Environmental Justice Student Interest Group (EJAY SIG) Co-lead

      (August 2024 - May 2025)

    • Yale School of the Environment ROOTS Student Interest Group (SIG) Co-lead

      (August 2024 - May 2025)

    • Yale School of the Environment Forestry Club Member

      (March 2024 - January 2025)

    • Yale Environmental Review Writer

      (January 2024 - August 2024)

    • Patagonia Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Grants Council Member

      (Summer 2019 - 2022)

    • Patagonia Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) Coordinating Committee Organizer

      (2020 - 2022)

    • World Economic Forum's Global Youth Hub Member for #GenerationRestoration

      (January 2021 - January 2022)

    • Intersectional Environmentalist Board Member

      (Summer 2020 - 2021)