Desiree Williams-Rajee
Education
Desiree received her Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Pittsburgh in Africana Studies, and Linguistics. She received her Master of International Development degree from the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs from University of Pittsburgh and an MBA in Sustainable Business from Presidio Graduate School (formerly Bainbridge Graduate Institute). She most recently received her MA in Depth Psychology with a concentration in Community Liberation Indigenous Ecopsychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute, where she is currently pursuing her PhD in Psychology.
As a Professional
For over 25 years, she has worked with a variety of organizations including community development, refugee and international development, environmental, policy, organizations, schools, and government agencies as well as various grassroots initiatives to reverse the impacts of structural and institutional racism. Her former role as the Equity Program Manager for the City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability was the first position of its kind in the nation, where her work was dedicated to the alignment of social equity in public administration and environmental policy.
These myriad of experiences have given Desiree a unique ability to effectively translate perspectives between people, sectors, fields, languages, and institutions. Her facilitative leadership style has been described as soulful and intuitive with the ability to see and make sense of multiple truths - the essence of complexity. Her tailored approach grounded in the practical experiences of what it takes to unfold lasting transformation within people, places, and in organizations.
Accomplishments
In 2016, Desiree was honored by the Obama White House for her work with the community to apply an equity lens to the City of Portland/Multnomah County Climate Action Plan, and in 2017 was recognized by the University of Minnesota Institute on the Environment for innovation in the environmental field. In 2020, she was recognized as Grist Fixer, and as a nominee for the UCLA Pritzker Environmental Genius Award for her continued work in setting a new, more just, trajectory for climate work in government.
She currently serves as Board Chair for Verde, a Portland-based nonprofit focused on building environmental wealth within communities of color; Board Chair and Founder of the Beaverton Black People's Union. She was a founding Board Member of the Center for Diversity and the Environment. Additional current board appointments include the Consortium for International Management and Policy Development (CIMPAD).
