As always, the April 13th annual Lone Star Chapter Awards Celebration in Austin is a festive occasion. However, this year the Houston Regional Group has special reasons to celebrate. Three of the recipients have performed their award-winning work in the Houston region.
Now for our local three winners:
Brandt Mannchen, currently the chair of the Houston Regional Group, received the HERMANN RUDENBERG AWARD, which is awarded to the individual or group who has worked diligently for the protection of Texas coastal resources.
While Brandt has certainly worked on a multitude of environmental issues, the Hermann Rudenberg award recognizes his recent effort to oppose construction of the “coastal spine” or “Ike Dike”. While backers claim the coastal spine is the best choice to protect the Galveston Bay and Houston Ship Channel petrochemical facilities, it would seriously disrupt the ecology of the Galveston Bay. The nomination form expressed Brandt’s contribution the best: “In leading this opposition Brandt has made sure to craft alternative proposals for nature-based ways of addressing storm surge and related problems on the Texas coast that are being further impacted by climate change. Brandt is the type of leader on coastal protection issues that Hermann Rudenberg was, and there is no better way of honoring Hermann's legacy than by granting his namesake award to his spiritual successor, Brandt Mannchen.”
Although he lives in Austin, Dr. Neil Carman’s air quality work consistently benefits the Houston region. He received the ORRIN BONNEY AWARD, which is the Chapter's highest award. It is given to the person who over a number of years (at least six) has exemplified the spirit and commitment of the Sierra Club by contributing their time and effort in one or several positions of authority for the Chapter.
As the Lone Star Chapter’s Air Quality specialist, Neil has served tirelessly for over 30 years at the Chapter for very little compensation. In 2018, he was involved in a variety of legal cases on behalf of the Sierra Club and many frontline communities, including significant victories against such heavy-hitters as Exxon-Mobil, Pasadena Refining, as well as preliminary work against the Valero Refinery in Beaumont. He is a leader nationally on air quality issues, and also has expertise on pesticides and other toxics that impact frontline communities and our environment.
Chrishelle Palay received the Lone Star Chapter’s ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AWARD. The award is given to the individual or organization that has done outstanding work toward identifying and addressing environmental problems that have a disproportionately adverse effect on communities of color and/or low-income communities.
Chrishelle is the Director of the Houston Organizing Movement for Equity (HOME), of which Sierra Club is a participating member. According to the nomination form, “HOME formed in the wake of Hurricane Harvey and has since been key in helping put on and organize the Tribunal on Hurricane Harvey and works with Sierra Club on housing issues in Houston and also environmental disasters and climate resiliency. It is a new and important coalition that has helped build a movement toward more equity in our work but also allowed Sierra Club to give some environmental perspectives in the effort to rebuild the Houston area.”
Congratulations and thanks to our three local award winners for their accomplishments and their service to a healthy and sustainable environment based on principles of equitable protection.