Dina Abdulhadi

Originally from Georgia, Dina Abdulhadi (she/they) now lives and works in New York, New York, on Lenapehoking (Canarsie Lenape) lands.

Dina joined River Network in 2024. As Communications Manager, Dina leads storytelling and communications work for projects funded under EPA’s Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program.

Dina at the Museum of Illusions in New York City.

Dina earned her Bachelors in Ecology from the University of Georgia. Prior to joining River Network, Dina worked in communications for the EPA, policy think tanks, arts organizations, and environmental non-profits. Outside of work, Dina is either dancing, writing, cooking, or spending time in nature.

Why is equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) important in your work?

The stories we tell, to ourselves and other people, can open or limit our ability to imagine a more just future. Building narratives that are guided by racial and economic justice is crucial for the environmental movement to be seen as part of a larger movement towards justice. In my work, I hope to support communities in telling their own stories and making connections to the work and stories of other communities in the process.

What was your earliest memory around water?

It was fishing with my father as a small kid when I lived in rural Georgia. He didn’t have a lot of free time for hobbies, but fishing was one of them. Spending time with him out on the water was contemplative, and helped me understand from a young age the tangible ways that the earth sustains us.

How do you recharge outside of work?

Spending time in nature. Living in New York City, I don’t get to do it as often as I’d like. But I do live near the ocean, and any time I go, its vastness and ancientness always helps me put things in perspective.