Andrea Cristina Mercado, Daughter of Immigrants, Makes History as the First Latina to Lead The Equity Fund and Transform Climate Philanthropy

Communities of color in the United States are more likely to be exposed to polluted air. This statistic illustrates the disproportionate impact of climate change on these communities. For many, the fight for environmental justice is not symbolic. It is a matter of survival. Climate change affects different communities in varied ways, and its most severe consequences are felt by those already at the margins.

Who is Andrea Cristina Mercado

Andrea Cristina Mercado is working to change that. As the first Latina to lead The Equity Fund, she is making history by placing racial, gender, economic, and climate justice at the forefront of philanthropic efforts. With over two decades of experience in community organizing, Andrea brings a unique perspective and urgency to the issues she tackles.

Born to immigrant parents from Peru and Argentina and raised in South Florida, Andrea’s leadership is shaped by her own experiences and the challenges faced by the communities she serves. She understands the deep-rooted struggles these communities face and prioritizes those most impacted by climate injustice in her work.

BELatina spoke with Andrea about the intersection of climate justice, civic engagement, and equity. What emerged from our conversation was clear: Latinas are no longer passive participants in this fight. They are leading it.

Interview Highlights

The interview was slightly edited for clarity and brevity.

What does Earth Day mean to you?

Earth Day isn’t just one day to take action. It’s a reminder that for communities like mine, the fight for environmental justice never pauses. Growing up in South Florida, I witnessed firsthand how hurricanes, rising sea levels, and extreme heat weren’t just occasional events, they were part of our daily reality. Our communities, especially working class communities and immigrants, often bear the brunt of these environmental challenges.​ 

For me, Earth Day is a call to long-term commitment. It’s about recognizing that protecting our madre tierra requires ongoing effort, community engagement, and systemic change. It’s a day to honor the resilience of our communities and to recommit ourselves to building a more just and sustainable future for all.

Climate justice has long been sidelined in national conversations. Why do you believe Latinas must be part of this fight?

Latinas are already leading the fight for climate equity, organizing at the grassroots, caring for our families, and building resilience in our communities. It’s time we’re brought to the center of the conversation, not left on the sidelines. Our communities are on the frontlines of the climate crisis: working outdoors, there are over 2 million outdoor workers in Florida alone, living in under-resourced neighborhoods, and raising children where clean air and safe water aren’t guaranteed. If we’re not at the table, the solutions will never reflect our realities. 

What do you see when you look at who controls the money behind climate solutions? 

It’s still too often the same people making decisions: disconnected from our communities, focused on short-term returns. But that’s changing. At the Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund, we’re working to shift not just how much money goes to climate equity, but who decides where it goes. Communities on the frontlines should be at the center of strategy—not treated as an afterthought.

You’ve gone from grassroots organizing to leading a major fund. What has changed in how you move through those rooms?

My belief in grassroots organizing and that everyday people need to be engaged in building solutions, is still central to who I am. I speak with the same urgency and conviction I had as an organizer, but now, I’m in rooms where critical decisions are being made, and I’m bringing our communities with me. 

What’s changed is the access. What hasn’t changed is my purpose: I’m making sure that I am opening doors for others, too.

Why do you think climate issues hit immigrant communities and families of color first and hardest?

Because the systems we live under were never built with us in mind. Immigrant families, Black communities and other communities of color often live in flood zones, near highways, or in neighborhoods without access to clean water, not by choice, but because of structural racism and economic inequality. 

We’re hit first, and we’re expected to recover with little to no support. That’s why we need systemic solutions that prioritize those most impacted, not as an afterthought, but from the start. Indigenous communities, with deep values of honoring the earth, and being in right-relationship to the land, have solutions to offer, the question is will we invest in them and learn from them?

How does your identity as a South Florida Latina raised by immigrants shape how you lead The Equity Fund?

I lead with heart, with urgency, and with deep community roots. I was raised by immigrants who taught me the value of hard work, resilience, and comunidad. I know what it feels like to be excluded from decisions that shape your life, and I carry that with me every day. 

That’s why I fight to shift power, and why I believe philanthropy must be a tool for justice. It should be about equity, dignity, and making sure our communities have the power and the resources to shape their own futures.

You’ve helped register hundreds of thousands of voters and still organize. Where do civic action and climate justice intersect?

Climate equity requires people power. It means organizing, voting, and holding leaders accountable – not just during election season, but every day. We need to build a broad, diverse, and powerful base of popular support to elect environmental champions and secure clean energy policy wins. Urgently advancing a just transition to a new economy that is not based on fossil fuel extraction, will require a broad base of support. We need to find ways to bring all of our communities into that vision and work.  

It also means expanding democracy so that the communities most impacted by climate change have the political power to shape the solutions.

What does real investment in climate justice look like when the people most affected are often the last to be asked?

Real investment in climate equity begins with shifting decision-making power. It means funding organizations for the long haul, not just project by project. It means trusting local leadership, supporting Indigenous and community-based knowledge, and redefining what expertise looks like. We are proud to partner with over a hundred community organizations across the country that are advancing solutions to the climate emergency, and building innovative models that can transform our economy toward a future where we all thrive.

What do you tell young Latinas who want to lead climate efforts but rarely see themselves in these roles?

We belong in this fight. Our communities have always been at the forefront of responding to environmental degradation, and our leadership is essential in crafting long term solutions. Even if you’re the only one in the room, remember that you’re carrying generations of strength, resilience, and brilliance with you. Find your people, embrace your purpose, and don’t hesitate to lead.​ 

Andrea Cristina Mercado is not here to adapt to broken systems. She is here to reimagine them. She is building a future where climate justice is community justice. Where philanthropy listens. Where Latinas lead. And where the power to protect the planet begins with those who call it home.