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About Mustafa
Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali is a Thought-Leader, Strategist, Policymaker and Activist committed to the fight for environmental justice and economic equity.
Mustafa Santiago Ali is internationally renowned as a Keynote Speaker, Trainer, Leader, Community Liaison and Facilitator specializing in Social Justice issues focused on revitalizing our most vulnerable communities.
Throughout his 26-year career, Mustafa Santiago Ali has conducted over 1,000 presentations worldwide, including speeches, guest lecturers and trainings.
Read more He has also worked with over 500 domestic and international communities to secure environmental, health and economic justice. Mustafa Santiago Ali has been a Guest Lecturer at Harvard University, Yale University, George Washington University, Georgetown University, Spelman College, Albany Law School and Howard University School of Law. Mustafa is a former instructor at West Virginia University and Stanford University. Mustafa Santiago Ali has been featured on TV, including MSNBC, CNN, VICE, and Democracy NOW. Dr. Ali has been featured in over 250 news publications, including GQ, New Republic, Ebony, Bustle, The Guardian, The Root, Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post. Mustafa Santiago Ali currently co-host a live radio show and podcast, Think 100% “The Coolest Show on Climate Change,”with Antonique Smith & Rev. Lennox Yearwood. Hide
Throughout his career, Mustafa Santiago Ali has worked to elevate environmental justice issues to strengthen environmental justice policies, programs and initiatives.
Mustafa Santiago Ali worked at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for 24-years. At the EPA, Mustafa S. Ali served as the Assistant Associate Administrator for Environmental Justice and Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice and Community Revitalization.
Mustafa Santiago Ali elevated environmental justice issues and worked across federal agencies to strengthen environmental justice policies, programs and initiatives. At the EPA, Mustafa led the Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice (EJIWG), which was comprised of 17 federal agencies and White House offices focused on implementing holistic strategies to address the issues facing vulnerable communities.
Read more Mustafa Santiago Ali worked for EPA Administrators beginning with William Riley and ending with Scott Pruitt. He joined the EPA as a student and became a founding member of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ). Dr. Ali also served as the Director of Communications in the EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ), where he led the Communications and Stakeholder Involvement (CSI) team. In 2012, Mustafa launched the EPA’s Environmental Justice in Action Blog, which reached over 100,000 followers. This blog highlighted innovative actions to address environmental justice, sustainability and climate change issues. In 2010, Dr. Ali also served as the Environmental Justice Lead for the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. In 2004, he was selected as the EPA’s National Enforcement Training Institutes “Trainer of the Year” for his efforts in training over 4,000 across the country in “The Fundamentals of Environmental Justice.” Hide
In March 2017, Mustafa Santiago Ali resigned from the EPA to join the Hip Hop Caucus (HHC) as the Senior Vice President of Climate, Environmental Justice & Community Revitalization where he led the strategic direction, expansion and operation of their portfolio on climate, environmental justice, economic equality and civic engagement.
Mustafa Santiago Ali was a Brookings Institution Congressional Fellow in the Office of Congressman John Conyers from 2007 through 2008. His portfolio as a Legislative Assistant focused on Foreign Policy in Africa and South America, Homeland Security, Health Care, Veterans Affairs and Environmental Justice.
Read more Mustafa Santiago Ali graduated from West Virginia University. He has an Honorary Doctorate degree from Green Mountain College and an Honorary Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree from Vermont Law School. Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali is a Board Member for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Union of Concerned Scientist, TREE, National Children’s Campaign, Environmental Film Festival and Climate Hawks Vote. Hide
Our Vision
Mustafa Santiago Ali’s vision is to uplift our most vulnerable communities by creating authentic collaborative partnerships committed to moving from “Surviving to Thriving.”
Our Goals
Vulnerable Communities
Our goals are to improve the environmental quality, economic empowerment, health and political power of vulnerable communities.
Collaborative Partnerships
Develop authentic collaborative partnerships with community organizations, businesses, industries, youth & government leaders.
Healthy and Safe Places
Our goals are to create clean, healthy and safe places to live, work, play and pray for all residents within vulnerable communities.