Jackie Baham

My name is Jacqueline Baham, but most folks call me Jackie. I’m a lifelong resident of New Orleans East and currently serve as Secretary and I Coordinator most programs for New Orleans East Green Infrastructure Collective (NOEGIC). I have my bachelors degree in psychology and my highest values are community, care, legacy, and justice — especially environmental and intergenerational justice.
Clean energy is deeply aligned with my personal and professional passions. As someone who organizes around green infrastructure and climate adaptation in a frontline community, I see clean energy as essential to the survival and thriving of our people. It’s not just about power — it’s about self-determination, health, jobs, and healing.
I see myself playing a connector’s role in the clean energy movement — bringing neighbors, organizations, youth, and elders into the conversation so that this transition reflects our voices, our needs, and our wisdom. Whether it’s through community storytelling, education, or organizing, I help ensure that clean energy is not something done to our community, but with and by us.
An equitable future in the Southeast feels like shade on every block, solar panels on rooftops, stormwater parks where parking lots used to be, community gardens on vacant lots, and kids learning about climate and energy justice in school. It smells like fresh rain and native plants after a summer storm, and it sounds like laughter at a neighborhood gathering where no one has to worry about power outages, flooding, or food insecurities. .
A hobby that brings me joy is organizing and hosting educational events — from neighborhood tree plantings to storytelling circles — that create space for connection, reflection, and restoration. I also love journaling and tending to my plants, both of which keep me grounded in this work.