Eric Walker is the Climate and Clean Energy Strategist for Open Buffalo, a civic initiative to make major, long-term improvements in racial, economic and ecological justice in the City of Buffalo. His current work is focused on developing a community-driven climate resilience and health equity agenda within targeted vulnerable communities at the intersection of the social determinants of health and energy insecurity. Prior to this current role, he was Erie County’s inaugural Director of Energy Development and Management implementing conservation, efficiency and renewable energy projects among county-owned facilities while facilitating an interdepartmental team to develop strategic initiatives to strengthen Erie County’s sustainability leadership. Eric also brings over a decade worth of social justice policy advocacy, program design, implementation, and community engagement experience as the co-founder of People United for Sustainable Housing (PUSH) Buffalo, the inaugural racial equity fellow for the Center for Social Inclusion’s Energy Democracy Project, and a founding partner of the NY Energy Democracy Alliance.