Connie Leeper is a native North Carolinian who grew up in the former textile mill village of Kannapolis. Her early experiences in a paternalistic, anti-union company town helped to shape her life commitment to addressing community issues of injustice, dominance, and control. As an activist, cultural worker, community organizer and justice champion for the past 50 years, Connie has first-hand experience and knowledge of how certain people and places have been discounted in value and relevance to make change happen.
Connie joined the environmental and climate justice movements because it will take an intergenerational, multi-racial effort led by Black and Brown people to change the narrative and lead the cultural shifts to build a broader justice movement for communities most impacted by devastating climate impacts.
Connie is a founding member and co-director of the NC Climate Justice Collective which works with frontline communities to explore climate solutions impacting food, water, health, housing.
