WHO IS NATISHA WASHINGTON?
NaTisha Washington is a proud Wilkinsburg native and lifelong advocate for her community. With deep roots in the area and a family legacy of educators and community leaders, NaTisha’s passion for helping and empowering disinvested communities has shaped her career and mission. She has been actively engaged in her hometown from an early age, including serving as a Junior Council Member in high school, a role that sparked her lifelong commitment to public service.
![20190304_132422[1199].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d3055_786fad721bcd4330b90fe150b5e82ab4~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_354,y_0,w_2499,h_1960/fill/w_357,h_280,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/20190304_132422%5B1199%5D.jpg)
After graduating from Wilkinsburg High School, NaTisha earned her Bachelor of Science in Horticulture from Penn State University and became a certified Master Gardener through the Penn State Extension program. Her career began with designing green spaces and leading educational initiatives in Pittsburgh neighborhoods like Beltzhoover and Homewood. At Operation Better Block, she collaborated with residents to address environmental concerns and led the Junior Green Corp, a job readiness program for teens focused on horticulture and vacant lot restoration.
Today, NaTisha serves as the Communications Manager for the Breathe Project, where she partners with over 60 advocacy groups to educate and mobilize communities across Southwestern Pennsylvania on air quality and petrochemical issues, particularly in the Mon Valley. She also serves as an Environmental Justice Organizer for 412 Justice, where she engages directly with residents to address critical community needs like air and water quality, housing, and access to healthy food. Through education, advocacy, and collective action, NaTisha empowers neighborhoods to organize for lasting change and builds grassroots coalitions to advance environmental and social justice.
In addition to her advocacy work, NaTisha is deeply involved in community leadership. She currently serves on the boards of Upstream, Communitopia, and Feed the Hood, working to advance environmental and social justice initiatives. In 2024, she was elected to Wilkinsburg Borough Council as a representative for her home Ward 3. She's an active member on the Blight & Infrastructure Committee, Special Events Committee Shade Tree Committee, and is the council representative for the Wilkinsburg Land Bank. Her leadership is focused on addressing blight, improving infrastructure, engaging residents in the borough processes, and creating pathways for equitable investment in her community.
NaTisha also owns Washington’s Green Solutions LLC, a consulting firm helping nonprofits and businesses adopt sustainable practices, and co-leads a DEI consulting business that supports organizations in building more inclusive workplaces. Recognized nationally, she received the 2024 Community Sentinel Award for her decade of environmental justice and stewardship.
_
Whether she’s leading local initiatives, empowering youth, or advocating for policy change, NaTisha’s work is deeply rooted in her love for Wilkinsburg and her commitment to creating safer, healthier, and more vibrant communities.
_
Get to know NaTisha better by exploring her work, attending an event, or signing up for updates. Together, we can create a brighter future for Wilkinsburg and beyond!