The iconic Charles River, central to Boston's suburbs and urban landscape, faces significant environmental challenges, including the impacts of climate change. The problems such as flooding hit hardest in downstream areas that are often disadvantaged communities.

Dira Johanif, with her roots in the diverse environments of Malaysia—from bustling cities to the lush rainforests of Borneo—brings a unique perspective to her role as a Senior Climate Resilience Associate at the Charles River Watershed Association in Massachusetts. Her international experiences have shaped her approach to water stewardship and environmental justice in the U.S.

Dira's work centers on implementing nature-based solutions and spearheading collaborative initiatives like the Charles River Climate Compact, which demonstrates the essential role of regional cooperation in building climate resilience. To communicate the river’s issues to diverse audiences across the Boston region, Dira leverages storytelling and community engagement.

waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. This episode is part of the Color Of Water series, a collaboration between waterloop and the Water Hub that features interviews with diverse experts from communities across the country.