The Rebuild Maryland Coalition

A diverse group of stakeholders working to pass just and equitable climate legislation in Maryland

Meet Our Team

Wandra Ashley Williams

Wandra
Ashley-Williams

Regional Director
Maryland Climate XChange

  Wandra@Climate-XChange.org

  410-914-8011

Wandra Ashley-Williams is an accomplished senior management executive, community activist, and elected official with notable experience in diversified industries as well as public service. She holds key positions in the leadership of several community and civil rights organizations. Wandra serves on the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) National Board of Directors; the Maryland Legislative Agenda for Women (MLAW) Board of Directors; and the Maryland Easy Enrollment Health Insurance Program (MEEHP) Advisory Workgroup. She is Vice President of the Maryland State Conference of NAACP and serves on the NAACP National Board Environmental and Climate Justice Program Committee. A native of Alexandria, Louisiana, Wandra spent most of her adult like in Somerset, New Jersey where she was elected to the Franklin Township Council as Deputy Mayor (President of the Council). While in New Jersey she held several management positions with major corporations, including Merrill Lynch Corporate Real Estate Finance (Rent Controller) and Turner Construction Company (National Accounts Manager). Upon relocating to Maryland, Wandra accepted an appointment as Special Assistant to the Director of the District of Columbia Department of Correction. She also served as Executive Director of the St John Baptist Church Mentoring Program (Columbia, MD). As her community involvement has expanded, so has her recognition as a community activist. She served on the Clean Energy Jobs Initiative Board of Directors where she advocated for the passage of the Maryland Clean Energy Jobs Act that will transform the way electricity is used in the state by increases the renewable electricity standard to 50% by 2030. She has been an active member of the Maryland Health Care for All! Coalitions, which advocates for the passage of legislation that will ensure all Marylanders have access to quality and affordable health care and prescription drugs. For her many contributions, Wandra has received numerous community awards, honors and citations, including the Courageous Leadership Award presented at the 2019 Annual MLK Awards Banquet; the 2017 Dr. William Montague Cobb State Advocacy Award for special achievement in Social Justice, Health Justice, Health Education/Promotion, Fundraising and Research. She has also been honored with the New Jersey and Maryland State Conference NAACP President’s Award; Johnson & Johnson Community Service Award; and the American Heart Association Affiliate Volunteer of the Year. Wandra continues her mission to positively impact society and address the needs of those who are often marginalized.
Da'Juan Gay

Da’Juan Gay

Maryland Organizer
Climate XChange

  DaJuan@Climate-XChange.org

  410-271-9681

After graduating from Annapolis in 2015 Gay attended Slippery Rock University in Butler County, Pennsylvania. He first majored in Secondary Education: Social Studies and History with the intention of one day becoming an educator. During his second semester, he transferred to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore where he majored in Criminal Justice. While enrolled, he was still involved in State and Local politics. Interning three sessions in the Maryland General Assembly, assisting on campaigns, serving as the Anne Arundel County Chapter President of the NAACP Youth & College Division, and actively participating in community events.

In 2019, The Audubon Naturalist Society in Chevy Chase, Md named Gay one of its inaugural Youth Environmental Champions in recognition of his efforts to help low-income communities to have access to the Chesapeake Bay, and for stressing the importance of expanding environmental education to predominantly minority communities.

That same year, DaJuan and campaign volunteers coordinated a successful write-in effort to win the vacant city council seat. He became only the second write-in candidate to win a city election and at 22, the youngest councilman elected in the city’s history. In 2022, he was re-elected to a full term as Alderman of the Sixth Ward.

He is committed to the goal of helping our most vulnerable citizens.

Our Principles

Putting People First

Putting people first – progressive use of revenues for people and communities.

Protection of low- and moderate-income households

Investment in disadvantaged communities

Allocation of rebates in a timely manner as prescribed

Equality Issues Front & Center

Equality issues must be front and center of the discussion and the decision-making process.

Make a differential attention to right the wrong to those who live in predominantly African American communities.

Create meaningful relationships and dialog with this community.

Address the health disparities of people in frontline communities suffering the most from the effects of climate change.

Achieve Greenhouse Gas Reduction Mandates

Achieve, in combination with other policies, the state’s Greenhouse Gas reduction mandates.

Sufficient fee rate

Economy-wide

Equitably distributed funds

Compatible with Federal initiatives

Youth Rally

Economic and public good – extends carbon pricing economy wide, which is an effective, efficient, and fair way to reduce emissions and strengthen the economy.

Economic and public good

Protect business and institutional competitiveness

Provide non-traditional business opportunities

Substantial carbon revenue should be invested to make low- and moderate-income and other vulnerable communities more resilient and better able to adapt to the impacts of climate change

Clean Jobs

Substantial carbon revenue should be allocated to create quality jobs and promote equitable economic growth and opportunity.

Investments that reduce GHG emissions must meet essential public needs and create jobs

Create a strategic framework for an equitable transition to a green economy

Help empower veterans (former military service members) to use their skills and expertise in the new climate economy

Access to climate friendly public transportation

Electric Vehicles

Substantial investment in electric vehicles.

Transportation will require a major investment in electric vehicles to provide educational and health benefits.

Our Partners

1199 SEIU
 
Climate Law & Policy
 
Climate Justice Wing
 
Chesapeake Earth Holders
 
Elders Climate Action
 
Islamic Society of Frederick
 
Anne Arundel County
 
NAACP
 
Plastic Free QAC
 
Strong Future Maryland
 
Maryland Campaign for Environmental Human Rights
 
Trash Free Maryland
Audobon Naturalist Society
 
Chesapeake Climate Action Network
 
The Climate Reality Project
 
The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland
 
Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions
 
Maryland Legistlative Coalition
 
Mom's Organic Market
Our Revolution Howard County Maryland
 
WISE
 
Solar Mowing
 
Montgomery County Women's Democratic Club
 
UULMD
 
Salisburg MD
 
WHEE
Biodiversity for a Livable Climate
 
Cacapon Institute
 
Climate XChange
 
CASA
 
League of Women Voters
 
NAACP
 
Maryland Nonprofits
 
Charles County NAACP
 
Policy Foundation of Maryland
 
St. Mary's River Watershed Association
 
Maryland C.U.R.E
 
Spacious Works
 
Transition | Howard County
 
Montgomery County Alliance
 
Local 500 SEIU
 
Waterkeepers Chesapeake
Citizens Climate Lobby
 
Cedar Lane
 
Climate Parents of Prince Georges
 
Indivisible HoCo MD
NAACP
 
NIRS
 
Progressive Maryland
 
Maryland Voices
 
Sunrise Baltimore
 

1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East – Maryland/DC Division

Audubon Naturalist Society

Biodiversity For Living Climate

Cacapon Institute

We Are CASA

Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church ( EJ Ministry)

Chesapeake Climate Action Network & CCAN Action Fund

Chesapeake Earth Holders

Citizens Climate Lobby, Annapolis Chapter

Citizens’ Climate LobbyCitizens’ Climate Lobby Chestertown Chapter

Climate Action Now

Climate Justice Wing

Climate Law & Policy Project

Climate Parents of Prince George’s

Climate Reality Montgomery County

Climate XChange

ECJ Committee Chair, Mary State Conference and Prince George’s County NAACP

Elders Climate Action DMV chapter

Episcopal Diocese of MD

Indivisible Howard County

Islamic Society of Frederick

League of Women Voters of Maryland

Maryland Campaign for Environmental Human Rights

Maryland Cure

Maryland Legislative Coalition

Maryland Nonprofits

MOM’s Organic Market

Mont Co Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions

Montgomery Countryside Alliance

Montgomery County Women’s Democratic Club

NAACP Anne Arundel County Branch

NAACP Charles County

NAACP Queen Anne’s County Branch 7024

NAACP Youth & College Division

Nuclear Information and Resource Service

Our Revolution Howard County

Plastic Free QAC

Policy Foundation of Maryland

Progressive Maryland

Sagacious Works

SEIU Local 500

St. Mary’s River Watershed Association

Strong Future Maryland

Sunrise Baltimore Hub

Sunrise Howard County

Transition Howard County

Trash Free Maryland

Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of Maryland

Voices (Maryland)

Waterkeepers Chesapeake

Wheelbarrow Productions

WISE (Women Indivisible Strong Effective)

Families of Smithville Road, Inc.

Montgomery County Young Democrats

NAACP, Frederick County Branch

Solar Mowing

UMD and Black Students in Public Policy

Support the Climate Crisis and Environmental Justice Act and become a member of the Rebuild Maryland Coalition!