FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Dolores Parker
Email: dolores@WomenForaHealthyEnvironment.org
Phone: 941-735-2547
Women For A Healthy Environment (WHE) Host Speakers Series Featuring White House Environmental Justice Leader
Program Will Honor Mon Valley Environmental Justice Volunteer Activists
Pittsburgh, PA (April 25, 2024) – WHE announces its annual fundraising speaker series featuring a leading voice in environmental justice, Dr. Jalonne White-Newsome, the Federal Chief Environmental Justice Officer for the White House Council on Environmental Quality. The event will be held on Wednesday, May 1st, 2024, at the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh from 6:00 – 8:30 pm.
The program will include a special recognition of local Community Champions for their incredible environmental justice efforts in the Mon Valley advocating for clean air and clean water for all.
This year’s speaker series focuses on the critical issue of environmental justice, particularly in the context of climate change. Dr. White-Newsome, a prominent leader in the Biden-Harris Administration’s environmental justice agenda, will discuss the disproportionate impact of environmental pollution, including the effects of climate change, on low-income communities and communities of color. She will also explore Justice40 Initiative projects in the Greater Pittsburgh region which can be leveraged to address these inequities and promote climate resilience in vulnerable communities. The Justice40 Initiative is the Federal Government’s goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain Federal climate, clean energy, affordable and sustainable housing, and other investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. “We are thrilled to welcome Dr. White-Newsome to Pittsburgh,” said Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis, WHE executive director. “Her insights and leadership are invaluable as we strive for a future where all communities have access to clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment. And in that spirit, we’re excited to recognize our local Community Champions for their unwavering dedication to environmental justice in the Mon Valley.” Proceeds from the event will support WHE’s ongoing work to promote environmental health in southwestern Pennsylvania and Philadelphia. This includes its work creating healthy environments in homes, schools and early learning centers. Advocating for healthy communities and ensuring where children live and learn are free from lead, radon and other environmental hazards is at the core of WHE’s work. Tickets for the event are $35 and are available for purchase at https://tinyurl.com/yc4rd9t8.
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About WHE: WHE is a non-profit organization that empowers underserved communities to build resilience, promote equity, and safeguard children from environmental health hazards. We collaborate with families, schools, and early learning centers to create healthy environments where children can flourish. Guided by science, we advocate for policies and programs that foster equitable lives free from environmental harms.
