Gantt-Wright, Iantha
Iantha Gantt-Wright
For over 30 years, Iantha Gantt-Wright was a successful non-profit, government, and private sector leader on diversity and organizational development issues. She is remembered as a leader who sparked the inclusion and participation of people of color in the environmental movement. Gantt-Wright built a track record of success with organizations working to develop, institute, and sustain effective long-term diversity programs, inclusive strategic plans, and effective diversity, cultural competency, and leadership training. Gantt-Wright’s work also included facilitating productive and effective meetings and coaching for individuals and organizations. Aware that environmental leaders of color were rare, beginning in the 1980s, Gantt-Wright pushed for full inclusion and a seat at the table as the right of all communities. As a result, a robust community of Black and brown leaders exists today and contribute to the decisions to preserve our wild lands and manage them in ways that most benefit people and the environment.
“Reaching back as you climb, always bring [others] along with you. And being there for them as they go through the process…” Iantha Gantt-Wright, 2004.
Gantt-Wright, I., Ringo, J., Rosenbaum, W., & Mohai, P. (2003). African Americans and the environment. Environment, 45(6), 41. Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/african-americans-environmen…
Iantha Gantt-Wright was born on September 2, 1954. She was the fifth of eight children born to Irene Harris and Tom Price. After her father left the family, Harris raised Gantt-Wright and her seven sisters and brothers alone. With her mother unemployed and her father out of the picture, Gantt-Wright and her family struggled to stay afloat.
Gantt-Wright grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, in a community not far from the Chesapeake Bay in an area known as the Fifties. The Fifties was a fifty-foot hill filled with beautiful trees and a stream running through it. Later in Gantt-Wright’s life, she would use this area of her community to reconnect and center herself. Despite her family’s situation, Gantt-Wright received a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Development. In 2004, she earned her Master’s Degree in Administration at Trinity College in Washington, D.C.
In 1986, Gantt-Wright’s sister died, leaving her at a crossroads. Gantt-Wright took on the responsibility of raising her deceased sister’s two children and contemplated a career change. After much time working in the field of broadcasting, Gantt-Wright decided to search the local newspapers for a new job.
She found a job ad for an organization called the Clean Water Action. Clean Water Action focused on protecting children in the Baltimore and Chesapeake Bay areas and eradicating lead in Baltimore homes. Many factors led Gantt-Wright to take this job. For one, Gantt-Wright loved the Chesapeake Bay as it brought her back to her childhood, of which she has the fondest memories. Additionally, she wanted to help create a better world for her niece, nephew, and the African-American community in Baltimore. Gantt-Wright felt that this opportunity would change her life fundamentally, and joining Clean Water Action as a canvasser began her involvement with the environmental field.
As a canvasser, Gantt-Wright was a door-to-door political educator. She went around the Chesapeake Bay, informing people about efforts to protect the Chesapeake Bay as well as about lead poisoning and asbestos. She was so successful that she was promoted to trainer and field manager. From there, she was promoted to Canvass Director in Philadelphia. She was the Philadelphia Canvass Director for one year. She then moved to Texas to be the Canvass Supervisor, first in Houston and then in Austin. Gantt-Wright relished the idea of making a difference as an individual.
Gantt-Wright’s main goal was to promote diversity within the environmental field. She was involved in many diversity-related programs throughout her career. In 1995, Gantt-Wright joined the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) as the Director of Diversity Programs. As Director, she led NPCA to be a national leader of diversity in the national parks system. In 1999, she created and organized the first Mosaic in Motion Conference in partnership with the National Parks Service. The national conference brought together people of color from various backgrounds to discuss environmental issues.
Gantt-Wright also worked in the Junior Ranger Program, which targets 8- to 14-year-olds; the National Parks Communication Program, which provides access, services, and programs to national parks; and the Environmental Diversity Group, a monthly forum to create a sustained effort in the environmental community and a place where minorities can grow and engage with other people of color.
Although Gantt-Wright was very successful, she was not always this fortunate. Earlier in her career, Gantt-Wright never felt like she was part of some of the organizations she worked with. Although she enjoyed working in these organizations, Gantt-Wright felt something was missing. For example, she wanted to relate her work at Clean Water to her passion and aspiration to help people of color. Gantt-Wright wanted to use her past experiences to help her advance her future efforts.
Gantt-Wright’s commitment and passion for supporting minorities were always apparent. For this reason, she was especially troubled when people of color expressed the concern that they do not feel included in environmental decision-making. As a result, she devoted much of her career to increasing representation in decision-making processes.
In 1999, Gantt-Wright received an award from Robert Stanton, then Director of the National Park Service, at the first Mosaic conference, “America’s Parks-America’s People. A Mosaic in Motion: Breaking Barriers of Race and Diversity in Our National Parks.” The award was, undoubtedly, one of the biggest highlights of Gantt-Wright’s career. The award was for stellar deeds in advancing diversity. Later, Gantt-Wright received another award from Outward Bound Adventures Inc. in Los Angeles. Outward Bound is an environmental organization that seeks to educate young, at-risk teens about social and environmental issues.
All of Gantt-Wright’s awards marked great moments in Gantt-Wright’s career. Perhaps her most significant achievement was helping three young men she worked with daily. These three young men were incredibly passionate about the work of the NPCA, and she helped make their aspirations a reality. Gantt-Wright jumps at any opportunity to present people of color with resources they, under most circumstances, would not have access to. As Gantt-Wright sees it, “Reaching back as you climb, always bring [others] along with you. And being there for them as they go through the process…” is the most crucial aspect of success.
Gantt-Wright worked for the NPCA until 2003. In 2004, she joined the National Multicultural Institute as a Trainer-Consultant. She continued working for the National MultiCultural Institute until 2011. From 2007 to 2010, Gannt-Wright was a coach and consultant in the Newfield Network.
Gantt-Wright started her own company called The Kenian Group in 2001. The Kenian Group provided consulting on diversity issues to environmental groups. The Kenian Group assisted in building, maintaining, and sustaining members and workforces within environmental organizations that reflect the people of this country.
Gantt-Wright passed away on February 15, 2020, after a long illness.
Through all of Gantt-Wright’s ups and downs, the driving force that kept her working in the environmental profession was her many mentors and her belief that she was making a difference in her community. With Clean Water and NPCA, Gantt-Wright felt she served as a “doorbuster,” creating access for people who otherwise wouldn’t have access to environmental work. Gantt-Wright’s first mentor was Robert, an African-American man at Clean Water Action. Despite all the harassment Robert received from the police and people in the neighborhoods while he canvassed, he was very dedicated to his work. Gantt-Wright was also mentored by Jeff Connors, Marguerite Young, a supervisor at Clean Water, and Tom St. Hilar, Gantt-Wright’s first boss at NPCA.
Ira Hutchinson, from NPCA and the Executive Director of a group for African-Americans known as the Round Table Association, greatly influenced Gantt-Wright’s career. When Gantt-Wright started working at NPCA, Hutchinson was the first person she met. He guided her through while she met the organization and people.
Gantt-Wright also looked up to Robert Stanton. He was the first African-American to become Director of the National Parks Service. Stanton was a person who had always been there for Gantt-Wright. He was always very supportive, and it was important to him that his organization be engaged in diversity issues. Stanton helped with funding projects, and overall, he helped with Gantt-Wright’s success at NPCA.
Reginald (Flip) Hagood of the Student Conservation Association was also instrumental in Gantt-Wright’s career. His constant support, direction, and insight into the world of environmental organizations were significant assets to Gantt-Wright. Eventually, their dynamic relationship led to their partnership at the Junior Rangers Program.
John Kadlar was also an inspiration to Gantt-Wright. Although Kadlar passed away during his time as the Director for Clean Water Action, he shared Gantt-Wright’s love for the Chesapeake Bay, providing her with lots of support and knowledge. His commitment and compassion for Chesapeake Bay was what inspired Gantt-Wright. Kadlar fought for the Chesapeake Bay until the end of his life.
Gantt-Wright had numerous influential mentors throughout her career, and she liked to give minorities entering the environmental field the same insights and care she received. Gantt-Wright devoted much of her time to working with interns entering the NPCA. Gantt-Wright provided them with access, experience, and history. She taught them about national environmental issues, industries, and fieldwork. Gantt-Wright was there for others. She wanted to be a person with whom others can share ideas or come to for comfort and support. Gantt-Wright has been a pivotal member of the environmental movement, particularly in diversifying the environmental field. Through her many accomplishments and even some setbacks, Gantt-Wright always found time to help others search for their niche in the environmental field.
Gantt-Wright’s advice for those new to the environmental field was, “Just do it! Find mentors. Trust your own desire and enjoy what you do. When you get into this field, be sure to take advantage of opportunities. Take time to spend time in those places that allow you to reflect on why you’re doing what you do. Visit national parks, state parks, and streams. It’s a recreational universe; protect and enjoy it!” (2005).
Gantt-Wright, Iantha. n.d. Home [https://www.linkedin.com/in/iantha-gantt-wright-788a282/?trk=people-gues….
LinkedIn. Retrieved May 25, 2023, from https://www.linkedin.com/in/iantha-gantt-wright-788a282/?trk=people-gues….
International Multicultural Institute. n.d. Iantha Gantt-Wright. Retrieved June 22, 2023 from https://imciglobal.org/about/consultants/ianthaganttwright/.
Taylor, Dorceta (Ed.). 2005. The Paths We Thread: Profiles of the Careers of Minority Environmental Professionals. Minority Environmental Leadership Development Initiative, University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment.