Nevada Environmental Justice Coalition
The NEJC is a coalition of Nevada-based organizations united in the fight for intersectional climate action and environmental justice. for good
The NEJC is a coalition of Nevada-based organizations united in the fight for intersectional climate action and environmental justice.
Through grassroots organizing and policy advocacy, NEJC is working to prioritize justice in the fight to protect our state’s natural resources through a social and racial equity lens, to ensure a just transition away from extractive industries, and liberate frontline communities from environmental hardships.
What makes us different?
Mission
The Nevada Environmental Justice Coalition (NEJC) is a 501(c)(3) and (c)(4) network of organizations committed to ensuring that equity, justice, and sustainability are brought into governmental decision-making in the face of climate change. By joining together, Nevadans can work to ensure climate is addressed at every level in our state where climate mitigation and adaptations can be applied to meet our civilization’s greatest challenge.
Vision
The Nevada Environmental Justice Coalition’s policy agenda is set by Black, Indigenous, People of Color grassroots and power-building organizations that fight to improve the quality of life for the communities most vulnerable to the climate crisis. The Nevada Environmental Justice Coalition envisions a Nevada where all families can have access to a cleaner environment, including clean air, water, and soil. The NEJC aims to advance environmental equality throughout the state of Nevada.
Meet Our Staff
Jackie Spicer
COALITION COORDINATOR
Jackie Spicer (she/her) is a lifelong Nevadan and proud UNLV alumna. She and her two siblings were raised by a single mom, who is a career-long Clark County public school educator. In her free time, Jackie loves to hike and camp in Nevada’s beautiful public lands. It was her love for the outdoors that led her to get involved in environmental advocacy and campaigns to fight for a better world. Jackie has six years of experience as an organizer for electoral campaigns and labor unions, including working with the Bernie Sanders for President 2020 Campaign, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Native Voters Alliance of Nevada, and the Clark County Education Association (CCEA).
In 2023, Jackie led an extensive statewide listening project to understand climate change impacts on frontline communities in Nevada as NEJC’s Climate Equity Policy Fellow. This project produced the 2024 Nevada Climate Equity Status Report. In 2024, Jackie transitioned into the role of NEJC’s Coalition Coordinator. During the same year, Jackie was recruited to serve as a member of the Nevada Clean Energy Fund’s Solar for All Persistent Poverty Community Council, as well as an Advisory Group Member with the Henderson Strong Comprehensive Plan Update Advisory Group.
In 2025, Jackie was named a 2025 Community Champion for EPA Region 9 by the WEST Environmental Justice Center at the University of Arizona. This year, she also joined the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada’s Equitable Access to Mobility Action Plan Technical Advisory Group.
Hector Arreola
POLICY FELLOW
Hector Arreola was born and raised in Las Vegas and is a son of hard working Mexican immigrants. His grandparents, devoted farmers, instilled in him a deep respect for the land. Their wisdom sparked his passion for environmentalism and sustainability.
At UNLV, Hector served as a student government Senator and Ways and Means Committee member, securing record funding for student organizations. His advocacy extended to his senior project, where he produced a documentary series on Nevada’s environmental issues, including water, mining, and energy.
After college, he delved into electoral politics, working on campaigns to elect social justice-driven candidates. Later, he joined an environmental organization, championing awareness, legislation, and conservation victories.
Now, more committed than ever, Hector strives to make Nevada’s future sustainable and just. And if you ever see him in the wilderness, don’t worry—he’s just out for a hike.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Blanca Macias
Blanca Macias. Her journey from her origins in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and her upbringing in the rural areas of Utah and Nevada to her role as Deputy Director at Make the Road Nevada is a testament to her remarkable resilience.
Despite dropping out of high school at fifteen, she earned her diploma through adult education. With over a decade of experience as a manager in the private sector, Blanca thrived in roles involving Business Finance, Human Resources, and Compliance. In 2012, her path took a transformative turn as she wholeheartedly embraced volunteer work within nonprofit organizations, mainly focusing on supporting youth. Blanca’s unwavering commitment to her family, including her little girl, propels her determination to create a more promising world for her daughter. She proudly identifies as a queer Mestiza, advocating for communities prioritizing dignity, humanity, and freedom of choice.
Leveraging her extensive background in operations and fiscal management, combined with her deep engagement in the youth movement, Blanca’s dedication is rooted in first-hand insights from the community. As she pursues her finance studies at CSN and soon at UNLV, her unwavering objective is to shape a brighter future for her daughter while nurturing leadership within marginalized communities.
Taylor Patterson
Taylor Patterson is a member of the Bishop Paiute Tribe and the executive director of the Native Voters Alliance of Nevada (NVAN).
NVAN is a member of the Let Nevadans Vote coalition.
Erika Castro
Erika Castro was born in Tlalnepantla, Mexico and migrated to the US with her parents at the age of 3. She was raised in Las Vegas and from a very young age understood she was undocumented.
After graduating high school in 2007 she grew increasingly frustrated with her immigration status because of all the barriers it came with. In 2010, she found the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada through a high school friend and began volunteering to advocate for immigration reform for the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US. When DACA was announced in 2012, she felt the power of organizing wins and began taking bigger roles in organizing spaces ever since. Since then she’s worked on campaigns to help improve the quality of life for all immigrants who call Nevada home while continuing to fight for a pathway towards citizenship and the decriminalization of all communities.
She is now the organizing director with PLAN and continues to work on policy advocacy that puts people and the planet first. In 2021, Castro graduated from the University of Nevada Las Vegas with a Bachelor in Urban Studies allowing her to sharpen and expand her skill set in policy advocacy, coalition building and community organizing. All while gaining a greater understanding of the climate crisis and urban policy development
Meet Our Partners
NEVADA ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COALITION
How to join the
NEJC
To be eligible for general membership in the NEJC, an organization must have staff that is based and living in Nevada with a mission and vision aligned with those of the NEJC. All eligible organizations will be invited or can request to be interviewed by the NEJC Executive Director to establish if an alignment of mission and vision exists