our team
Adam Buchholz, Director 
Vanessa Ehrenpreis, Research Fellow
Adam Buchholz, Director
Adam Buchholz first conceptualized MEJ in the Fall of 2019 after learning about CalEnviroScreen and wondering why other states don’t also have such a tool. He kicked off the project as a Masters of Public Policy student at UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy (GSPP) and now works closely with the team on data processing and mapping, collaboration with partners, policy advocacy, and fundraising. His experience in spatial data analysis, environmental justice advocacy, and community outreach directly support this work. Adam studied climate policy and quantitative analysis at GSPP and has advocated for frontline communities with the Berkeley Environmental Law Clinic and GRID Alternatives – a nonprofit dedicated to bringing solar to all. Adam also works on equitable energy policy in California.
Vanessa Ehrenpreis
Vanessa Ehrenpreis is a Research Fellow at MEJ, where she works on gathering community input to ensure MEJ’s maps are effective. Vanessa has a deep-seated interest in community-led development and brings expertise in environmental policy and qualitative analysis to the team. At Berkeley, she is a Master of Public Policy Candidate at the Goldman School, where she focuses on energy policy.
