I’m Kourtney Revels, a native Houstonian who has spent the last eight years organizing for health, education, and justice in communities that have been systematically pushed to the margins. I do this work because I’ve seen firsthand how decisions made without community input shape people’s lives—and too often, their health.
I co-founded the North East Coalition for Advancement and Transformation to help build power in Houston’s northeast neighborhoods. Our work centers on strengthening community relationships, supporting grassroots leadership, and making sure families have the information and resources they need to advocate for themselves. I believe real change happens when the people most impacted are leading the conversation.
Environmental justice is at the core of everything I do. Across Houston and Southeast Texas, Black, Brown, and working-class communities are carrying the heaviest burden of pollution, toxic exposure, and health disparities. These are not accidents—they’re the result of policy choices and corporate priorities that put profit over people. I organize to challenge those systems and to fight for a future where clean air, clean water, and safe neighborhoods are non-negotiable.
My Work at Healthy Gulf
At Healthy Gulf, my work focuses on resisting the massive petrochemical buildout stretching from Houston to the Beaumont–Port Arthur region. This corridor has increasingly become a sacrifice zone, where communities are expected to shoulder more pollution, more risk, and more illness in the name of so-called “economic development.”
I will work alongside residents, organizers, and frontline leaders to push back against harmful expansion, elevate community voices, and demand accountability. At the heart of this work is a commitment to building a strong and engaged base of supporters who believe in common-sense policies—policies that protect future generations and ensure our communities don’t just survive, but truly thrive.
I recently had the opportunity to attend Beaumont’s MLK celebration, where it was powerful to see so many vibrant community organizations gathered in one space, alongside students and faculty from Lamar University. Moments like this are a reminder that Southeast Texas is full of people who care deeply about their neighbors, their health, and the future of their communities. The leadership is already here; our role is to support it and continue building together.
What’s to Come
Moving forward, we’ll be working closely with community members to coordinate educational events, facility tours, and planning sessions. These spaces are designed to ensure people have the tools, information, and support they need to effectively advocate for their communities—while also holding us, as organizers, accountable to community priorities.
This work only succeeds when it’s collective. I invite you to join us—by showing up, spreading the word, or helping sustain this work through a donation. Together, we can protect our communities, hold polluters accountable, and build a healthier, more just future.
Together, we will win.