Stephanie Zen Cooper
Director of Programs and Operations
Stephanie is a Massachusetts native with a passion for service to others. Like many she grew up in a family that was engaged in community service addressing issues through education and mobilization to make their voices heard. As a child, fully understanding that community engagement requires a village to address issues for solution to create a better quality of living for all.
The everyday challenges of environmental justice, poor educational system, food insecurities, and high unemployment were all issues that touched some aspects of neighbors known as her community. With both parents leading by example, she would always be involved in service to others for the betterment of community address issues through engagement and education.
While in college Stephanie pursued a degree in psychology with an interest in criminal justice. After graduating with a BA in psychology she took a job working in the field of environmental justice for one year until she could figure out her path. The job that was supposed to be for one year lasted a total of three years until she accepted a position in a law enforcement agency. Following her aunt into the field of law enforcement she believed that a difference could be made. Always believing that her background in psychology went hand in hand with criminal justice, she decided to return to school to pursue a master’s degree. Attempting to understand the mindset of those in the system, and believing in being of service, she remained for eighteen years.
Realizing that the lens of criminal justice was changing every day, and for family reasons Stephanie decided to make a pivot back into environmental justice when the opportunity availed itself. Accepting the position at the Harambee House, Inc./ Citizens for Environmental Justice as the Director of the Fannie Lou Hammer Democracy Center, Stephanie was fully aware that the landscape of environmental justice had changed. Stephanie seeks to engage, educate and mobilize black and brown people living in marginalized communities with knowledge through training and tools to address issues on better solutions. Back where she started many years ago Stephanie believes that we are in a critical time to be the change on environmental justice and climate change issues with community and partnership having a seat at the table working together. With continued commitment to understanding and resolve knowing there are many issues effecting communities on the local and global level, there is light ahead of us all for the good.