News
Q&A with Member Mary Bookwalter on Removing Dams in Indiana
Member Mary Bookwalter is funding a number of dam removals in her home state of Indiana both as an individual and through the Indiana Forest Alliance as a donor and volunteer. Most recently, she helped decommission the Collamer Dam on the Eel River. Mary spoke with us about how she got involved in these projects and what’s next.
Rachel’s Network Partners with Coalition Fighting Petrochemical Development in the Ohio River Valley
The American Chemistry Council has identified $36 billion in potential petrochemical and plastic manufacturing investments in the Ohio River Valley and corporations have already begun building ethane cracker plants, pipelines, storage facilities, and other dirty infrastructure. Rachel’s Network is partnering with the People Over Petro Coalition to fight back.
On the Front Lines of Conservation with the Denver Zoo
The outreach and programming that zoos provide is critical in the face of declining endangered species, environmental regulation rollbacks, habitat destruction, and climate change. Olga Donahue who serves on the Board of Governors of the Denver Zoo explains what they do to protect wildlife and habitats around the world.
Rachel’s Network Provides Grant to Tompkins Conservation for Rewilding in Southern Chile
In 2019, Tompkins Conservation donated one million acres to Chile to help establish 10 million acres of new national parks in the country. Rachel’s Network traveled to Chile earlier this year to meet Tompkins Conservation staff, including president and co-founder Kristine Tompkins, and visit two of the new parks – Pumalín and Patagonia. The trip left an impression on members who subsequently provided a grant to Tompkins to support their continued conservation work.
Greening Youth Foundation CEO and Founder Angelou Ezeilo Joins Rachel’s Network as Advisor
Greening Youth Foundation (GYF) CEO and Founder Angelou Ezeilo, a leading expert on diversity, equity and inclusion in the conservation field, has joined Rachel’s Network as an advisor. Angelou is working to change the face of conservation in the United States and help young people of color find meaningful outdoor careers.
Climate Champion Annel Hernandez Wins Inaugural Rachel’s Network Catalyst Award.
Rachel’s Network announced that it has awarded climate champion Annel Hernandez with its inaugural Catalyst Award. As associate director of the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance and member of the NY Renews coalition, Annel was one of the key players in the passage of New York’s new climate law passed in July 2019, the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
Tribal Attorney Tara Houska Wins Inaugural Rachel’s Network Catalyst Award
Rachel’s Network announced that it has awarded tribal attorney Tara Houska with its inaugural Catalyst Award. Tara (Couchiching First Nation Anishinaabe) is former campaigns director of Honor the Earth, former advisor on Native American affairs to Bernie Sanders, and founder of Giniw collective, a grassroots, frontlines effort led by indigenous women to protect Anishinaabe territory from the destruction of Enbridge’s Line 3 tar sands project.
Environmental Justice Advocate Juliana Pino Wins Inaugural Rachel’s Network Catalyst Award
Rachel’s Network announced that it has awarded environmental justice advocate Juliana Pino with its inaugural Catalyst Award. Juliana is policy director at the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO), a community-based frontline group that organizes for environmental justice and self-determination of immigrant, low-income, and working-class families. She was lead negotiator for low-income programs in the 2016 Illinois Future Energy Jobs Act, the most transformative piece of energy system legislation in the state’s history.
Environmental Policy Leader Brionté McCorkle Wins Inaugural Rachel’s Network Catalyst Award
Rachel’s Network announced that it has awarded environmental policy leader Brionté McCorkle with its inaugural Catalyst Award. Brionté is the director of Georgia Conservation Voters (GCV) where she works to elect pro-environment candidates and hold elected officials accountable. In 2014, Brionté led the Georgia Sierra Club’s successful effort to expand Atlanta’s transit system.
Water Rights Advocate Maria Herrera Wins Inaugural Rachel’s Network Catalyst Award
Rachel’s Network announced that it has awarded safe drinking water advocate Maria Herrera with its inaugural Catalyst Award. Maria has devoted her career to addressing drinking water challenges in disadvantaged and rural farmworker communities. As the manager of community engagement and planning at Self-Help Enterprises, she and her team pioneered the Rural Communities Water Managers Leadership Institute, a program that helps communities in the San Joaquin Valley engage with and influence regional water planning and sustainability programs.