Meet Anthena Gore 👋🏽
Anthena joined our team last month as the Urban Outreach Program Director for the Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program. She holds a wealth of expertise in environmental justice work, and in managing partnerships to advance social equity and inclusive climate action. Please join us in welcoming Anthena onboard!
Anthena Gore (she/her/hers) is a social impact strategist using systems-oriented design and agile management practices to address cultural and environmental complexity, with over a decade of experience in managing strategic projects and partnerships to advance social equity and inclusive climate action.
As Program Director - Urban Outreach, Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program at the Midwest Environmental Justice Network, Anthena is responsible for developing and implementing a community-centered outreach and technical assistance plan in EPA Region 5 to ensure that resources reach organizations that are accountable to a diversity of EJ communities and to support EJ organizations in successfully implementing projects.
Prior to joining MWEJN, Anthena led qualitative research and conceptual design at a social sector design studio and held various positions at Chicago-based nonprofits focused on equity, energy and economic development. During that time, Anthena served as a member of the Illinois Lead Service Line Replacement Advisory Committee; Buildings and Energy Lead for the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge; member of the Historical Reckoning Committee for the We Will Chicago Citywide Plan; and as a member of the Elevate Energy team contributing to the American Zero Carbon Action Plan (UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network).
Anthena has also delivered innovative strategy and impact work for the Environmental Justice programs in her locale for the past eight years. As lead strategist for Environmentalist of Color, she developed the baseline operational framework and inaugural formal advisory council. Anthena had the honor of serving on the Wisdom Council for the AYA Initiative, a participatory grantmanking project of the Prince Charitable Trust to fund Black-led and Black-serving nonprofits leading environment projects in the Chicagoland area. Most recently, Anthena completed research and conceptual design projects for the Chicago Frontline Funders Initiative focusing on the Bryant Williams Fellowship, a program aiming to cultivate the next generation of environmental justice leaders and augment the capacity of environmental and social justice organizations. Anthena has also served as a board member of Black Oaks Center in Pembroke, IL and as a member of the Environmental Justice Designation Committee for the Illinois Solar for All Program.
Anthena holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and economics, a post-professional certificate in Public Interest Design from Archeworks, and a certificate in Business Management and Administration from the Quinlan School of Business at Loyola University.
Anthena’s highest calling is raising her daughter, and being reinvigorated with joy by spending as much time as possible eating, laughing and traveling with family and friends.
““We know it’s critical to invest in frontline and grassroots organizations to create environmental justice for our communities across the Midwest. I’m so excited to have Anthena’s leadership to ensure that this program is accountable to our communities and builds the long-term capacity of grassroots organizations.””
The Midwest EJ Network, along with our partners, The Minneapolis Foundation, NDNCollective, and the RE-AMP Network, have been selected by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the Region 5 Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaker. This partnership will distribute $40 million over three years to community-based nonprofits and other eligible organizations in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, and 35 federally recognized tribal nations. You can learn more about the program by visiting our webpage and signing up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date on grant application announcements.