Chanté Coleman is the Deputy Director of California ChangeLawyers, where she furthers the organization’s bold vision of a fully inclusive democracy. She leads the implementation of the 2024–2026 Strategic Directions, and through advocacy, movement lawyering, and the empowerment of the next generation of legal changemakers, she drives lasting, positive change for all Californians.
Chanté brings a decade of experience in environmental justice, systems change, and coalition-building to her new role in the legal sector. Previously, she served as Senior Vice President of Equity and Justice at the National Wildlife Federation, where she spearheaded institutional culture change and embedded equity across one of the country’s largest conservation organizations. She also led the Choose Clean Water Coalition, building a 230-member network into a regional force for equitable policy and watershed protection.
A nationally recognized voice on justice-centered leadership, Chanté is a member of the Green Leadership Trust, a 2017 Environmental Leadership Program Fellow, and a 2020 Better Selves Fellow. She was named a “Rising Star” by Green 2.0, a 2024 Social Impact Woman to Watch by Nonprofit HR, and is a 2020 and 2023 finalist for the Rachel’s Network Catalyst Award.
She holds degrees from Princeton University and California Western School of Law, and lives in San Diego, where she centers joy, rest, and wellness as acts of resistance and resilience.
