What exactly do the terms “environmental justice” and “equity” mean? Why are conservation organizations slowly beginning to center these concepts in their work? What do they have to do with water and the environment?

Amanda Fuller, director of the National Wildlife Federation's Texas Coast and Water Program, starts off our our exploration of water equity in Texas and the Gulf Coast with a conversation with Faye Matthews, Legal Policy Advisor and Senior Partnership Manager at the Federation's Mississippi River Delta Restoration Program.

Faye talks to Amanda about what justice and equity means in the conservation context, the critical need for environmental organizations to advance equity initiatives, and her own personal journey as a Black woman working in a national conservation organization.

As Legal Policy Advisor with NWF, Faye provides day-to-day advice, including on issues affecting coastal protection and restoration initiatives. As Senior Partnership Manager, Faye works with various stakeholders in the commercial fishing industry to address challenges in the face of our rapidly changing environment.

Faye came to the National Wildlife Federation from Capitol Hill where she worked on the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources as Legislative Counsel for Senator Maria Cantwell from Washington State and former Senator Mary Landrieu from Louisiana. She also worked Of Counsel at Waltzer, Wiygul and Garside Law Firm in Gretna, LA specializing in environmental law.

Faye is a New Orleans native and holds a Juris Doctorate from Southern University Law Center and a B.S. in Psychology from the University of New Orleans.