Deeohn Ferris
President, the Institute for Sustainable Communities, United States
Deeohn Ferris is the President of the Institute for Sustainable Communities whose global mission is unleashing the power of communities and local leaders to build a better future shaped and shared by all. She is an environmental lawyer, racial and social justice practitioner, and systems change thought leader. Her career is rooted in the tenets of racial, economic and environmental justice. She began her career at US EPA and became the first Director of Special Litigation in the enforcement office. As CEO of the Sustainable Community Development Group, she promoted equity, health, land use, and community resiliency best practices. Prior to ISC, Deeohn was the VP for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the National Audubon Society, where she prompted organizational changes to broaden opportunities for people of color, women, youth, people with different abilities and of different cultures.