Today we’d like to introduce you to Zelalem Adefris.
Hi Zelalem, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in suburban Minnesota, where I was one of few Black children in my hometown. Back then, I had to practice using my voice to stand up for myself and others when faced with racism and xenophobia. Over the years, these experiences fostered in me a passion for social justice. I always knew I wanted to address racial injustice because of my personal experience with racism throughout my life. I knew that I wanted to do it with as many people as possible, and that I wanted to address what I find most insidious- that one’s environment can be weaponized to limit economic opportunity and health.
I attended Brown University to study community health, working at and volunteering for community organizations while studying. I then moved to Atlanta to complete a Masters in Public Health in Global Environmental Health at Emory University.
I moved from Atlanta to Miami upon graduation in 2016, becoming Catalyst Miami’s first Climate Resilience Program Manager in 2016. Although I am not a Miami native, I immediately fell in love with Miami. I quickly found myself embedded in this community that is brimming with leaders, residents from all walks of life who are quick to work together to improve our home.
It wasn’t until I participated in Catalyst Miami’s programs that I realized the full power we each hold as advocates, and how that power multiplies the more we work together to achieve positive change. It was here that I found my purpose: to be in joyful movement, catalyzing the culture-shifts that are necessary for us to thrive.
I had the honor of becoming Catalyst Miami’s CEO in April 2023, leading the organization’s commitment to achieving climate and economic justice- ensuring a Miami where everyday people can live well for generations to come.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Doing social change work in Florida is not without its challenges. We are up against a lot of difficult circumstances– a housing crisis, rampant unaffordability, stagnant wages, the climate crisis, and politics that don’t often center the well-being of the average working Floridian. When I’m in national spaces, I often get asked how I can stand to work in Florida. However, since I moved here 10 years ago, I have had the incredible opportunity to work with a network of people building disaster response centers in their neighborhoods, grandmothers who revived vacant the land in their neighborhood, and citizens organizing community services in the streets. Florida has always been a place of community leadership. It is a place where we have always built what we needed because no one is coming. I have the incredible honor and pleasure of being a part of that legacy.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Catalyst Miami is a nonprofit that works alongside local communities to address immediate needs and build a better future together. Our mission is to build power with frontline communities throughout Miami-Dade County to collectively advance justice and achieve shared prosperity. We believe those most impacted by economic and environmental injustice should lead the solutions. That’s why we work to expand participation in the economy and democracy so that systems like housing, budgeting, and climate planning are shaped by and accountable to the people they’re meant to benefit.
Our programs create pathways to both individual and community well-being, deepen civic participation, and strengthen our environments and communities through people-led solutions. From direct services and cooperative ownership, to grassroots leadership development, policy advocacy and community organizing, we utilize a range of strategies to drive systemic change and advance economic and climate justice. Our ultimate vision is a more just society where everyone can lead healthy, prosperous and self-determined lives.
Since our founding in 1996, Catalyst Miami has empowered tens of thousands to become financially secure and civically engaged. In 2024, Catalyst Miami’s programs benefitted 16,532 Miami-Dade County residents. We collectively championed $63.4M in funding for climate justice, equitable transit, housing justice, libraries, and cultural arts, as advocated by 1,139 community members involved in our organizing efforts. Our Prosperity Campaign services delivered over $1 million in direct financial benefits to clients, including: $726k approved food assistance for 544 clients, $216k tax refunds for 183 clients; an estimated $50k energy bill savings for 110 households receiving free attic insulation via our Green Corridor partnership; $42k debt reduction for 5 households; and $29k increased savings for 18 households. We helped 481 clients enroll in affordable health coverage like Medicaid. We supported 200 small businesses and cooperatives through our broader Community Economic Development work.
Since their inception, we have graduated 750+ grassroots leaders from our LIGHT (Leaders in Grassroots Health Transformation), CLEAR (Community Leadership on the Environment, Advocacy and Resilience), and HEAL (Housing, Equity, Advocacy and Leadership) programs. Many of our graduates go on to launch nonprofits, step into policy advocacy, or take roles in local government. As part of our effort to foster civic engagement, we also lead Miami Our Way, a community-driven working group that brings together program alumni, direct-service clients, and community leaders to co-create our policy agenda. Since its launch in 2023, MOW has activated over 100 members to work on issues of health, climate, housing, and economic justice.
We work primarily with “frontline communities”–those most impacted by climate change, disinvestment, and exclusion from wealth-building and civic life. Our core constituency is typically Black and Hispanic working-class women. In 2024, 97% of our clients were considered low-income (according to Miami-Dade County’s Area Median Income). 59% identified as Hispanic, 32% as Black, 73% as women, 42% as primarily Spanish-speakers, and 14% as primarily Haitian Creole-speakers. For nearly three decades, Catalyst Miami has remained steadfast in our mission: building capacity, fostering leadership, and creating systemic change so everyday Miamians—regardless of income or background—can thrive for generations to come.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Get involved in improving your community however you can! Join an existing organization about something you care about. Volunteer, work, and, if you are in school, take advantage of work-study programs. It’s an excellent way to start to build your resume, gain work experience, and to understand where you can best contribute your unique talents to bettering our community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.catalystmiami.org
- Instagram: @catalystmiami
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/catalystmiami/posts/?feedView=all
Image Credits
Roxy Azuaje took the second photo and the last photo
