PCL SYMPOSIUM UPDATE: AWARD WINNERS CAPTURE THE ESSENCE OF 2008
We're pleased to announce our environmental heroes of 2008 - Senator Sheila Kuehl, Terry Watt, Green L.A., Elva Yañez, Working Assets, and Miguel Luna. These individuals and organizations have demonstrated extraordinary talent, capacity, and persistence in their fight to protect our environment and public health.
Join with us to celebrate their accomplishments and hard work by attending the annual awards banquet the evening of the day-longPCL-PCLF Symposiumon Saturday, February 7, 2009 at the Sheraton Grand in downtown Sacramento.
Tickets are availablefor $50 per person until December 31st or $65 per person in 2009. Two-for-one deals (Symposium and Banquet tickets) are available as well. For more information, contact Melanie Schlotterbeck at (714) 779-7561 or MSchlotterbeck@pcl.org.
Senator Sheila Kuehl
Legislator of the Year
Senator Kuehl has been one of California's strongest environmental champions in the State Legislature, authoring legislation on topics as diverse as water management, land use, coastal protection, and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). In 2008, Senator Kuehl authored SB 1165 which aimed to strengthen CEQA by ensuring greater transparency in the creation of draft Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs) and requiring EIRs older than five years to be re-assessed for accuracy before they could be used to approve a new project. Though the bill did not pass, her work and that of the coalition behind the bill helped demonstrate strong support for maintaining and enhancing California's bedrock environmental protections.
Terry Watt
Carla Bard Award for Individual Achievement
Over the last several years, Terry Watt has quietly accomplished what your standard environmental over-achiever hopes to do in a lifetime. In 2005, she negotiated $243.5 million in an Orange County transportation measure to comprehensively mitigate for habitat impacts due to freeway projects with impressive environmental non-profit support. In 2006, she helped secure protections for Martis Valley (Waddle Ranch), near Lake Tahoe, and create the Martis Fund - a non-profit funded through real estate and development transfer fees. In 2007, she worked with the County of Marin to craft one of the nation's most ambitious local plans to fight global warming. In 2008, Terry was one of PCL's representatives helping to preserve 240,000 acres of the magnificent Tejon Ranch. Her work is innovative, inspiring, and resourceful.
Green L.A.
David Gaines Award for Non-Profit Work
The Green L.A. Coalition is a new alliance of 100-plus environmental and environmental justice organizations, working to make Los Angeles a greener city. Housed under the Liberty Hill Foundation, the Coalition has established work groups focused on urban ecosystems, transportation, water, and climate change, among other areas. So far, they've been extremely successful in working with policy leaders, decision makers and non-profits and have developed an effective relationship with city staff and Mayor Villaraigosa. Because of Green L.A.'s work, the City of Los Angeles has adopted green purchasing programs and recycling programs. Green L.A. was also a force to be reckoned with as they advocated for SB 1165. Activists from all over L.A. descended on Sacramento to explain why the bill was necessary, sharing their stories about outdated EIRs and developer influence in the environmental review process.
Elva Yañez
Environmental Justice Advocate of the Year
Whether she is creating parks for people, running the Audubon Center in East L.A., or campaigning for environmental legislation, Elva Yañez is a steadfast environmental and environmental justice activist. Her extensive experience with coalition building, community organizing, and public policy has played a central role in her success. In 2008, she organized Los Angeles area leaders and residents to advocate on behalf of Senator Kuehl's bill to improve transparency in the environmental review process, leading local workshops and bringing teams of activists to lobby in Sacramento.
Working Assets
Environmental Business of the Year
Founded in 1985, Working Assets is one of the most powerful citizen-action groups in the nation. Though not your typical environmental business, this mobile phone, credit card, and long distance phone company has done a lot for the environment. Every time Working Assets customers use one of its services, donations are made to non-profit organizations that promote peace, equality, human rights, and the environment. With every phone bill, customers are updated on important issues and encouraged to become active. Working Asset members generate over 80,000 calls and letters to Congress, the White House, and corporate leaders regarding decisions of critical public concern and their members have raised over $60 million for progressive nonprofits.
Miguel Luna
Dorothy Green Water Advocate Award
Miguel Luna, the Executive Director of Urban Semillas, is receiving the inaugural Dorothy Green Award in honor of his efforts to protect Los Angeles area watersheds and coastal areas and to educate and inspire young leaders in the environmental and environmental justice movements. Miguel is a co-founder of "Agua University," a program that teaches Los Angeles high school students about California water issues as a way to learn about environmental stewardship and make a difference in their communities. Miguel carries on Dorothy's tradition of passionate advocacy for California's water resources and investment in developing strong community leaders, and we are very pleased to honor him with this new award.
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Phone (916) 444-8726 • Fax (916) 448-1789
1107 9th Street, Suite 360, Sacramento, CA 95814 • Phone (916) 444-8726 • Fax (916) 448-1789 •
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