Coffee and Conversations: Environmental Justice

Join us at A Place at the Table on April 10th at 9am for what is promised to be a great conversation! We will be joined by Keshi Satterwhite and Lance Shinholser to lead the conversation.

As our region grows, ensuring that every resident has a healthy environment and a voice in climate planning is more important than ever. Whether it’s heat equity, flood preparedness, or sustainable transit, the "environment" isn’t just about nature- it’s about where we live, work, and play.

Why Join Us?

- Hear from Experts: Learn how the City of Raleigh is addressing local environmental challenges.
- Meet Planning Ahead: Discover how this local nonprofit is empowering communities across Durham, Raleigh, and Wake County to lead their own climate solutions.
- Share Your Voice: This is a "two-way" conversation. Tell us what environmental issues matter most to your family and your street.

Meet our speakers:

Keshi Satterwhite is the Founder and Executive Director of Planning Ahead, a Triangle-based nonprofit advancing environmental justice, climate preparedness, and community-led resilience across Durham, Raleigh, and surrounding Wake County communities. Her work focuses on ensuring residents, especially those in historically underserved neighborhoods, have access to the tools, knowledge, and partnerships needed to prepare for environmental and climate-related challenges such as extreme heat, flooding, and housing-related environmental health risks.
Keshi collaborates with local governments, community-based organizations, and residents to design practical, culturally responsive education programs and community workshops that connect environmental awareness to everyday lived experiences. Through initiatives like resilience workshops, community mapping activities, and preparedness toolkit development, she helps families, seniors, renters, and frontline communities better understand local environmental risks and navigate available city and regional resources.
With over a decade of experience in community engagement, environmental education, and program development, Keshi is passionate about creating welcoming spaces where residents feel empowered to share their experiences, influence solutions, and strengthen neighborhood climate resilience. She believes environmental justice work is most effective when communities are not just informed, but actively leading and shaping solutions that impact their lives.

Lance Shinholser currently serves as a Community Engagement Analyst in the City of Raleigh’s Community Engagement Department. Within the Community Partnerships Division, he oversees a range of events and programs, including Raleigh’s Engagement Network, Engagement on the Go, and the Engage Raleigh Expo. Previously, Lance served as the Employment Programs Manager for the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants’ North Carolina field office. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, with a minor in History. He holds a graduate certificate in Policy Analysis and is expected to earn his Master of Public Administration from NC State University in May 2026. If you get a moment, ask him about his dogs!

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