2022 African American Environmental Pioneer Awards

In recognition of Black History Month, the African American Environmental Pioneer Awards is in its third year recognizing those in Milwaukee's African American community working for a better environment. Due to COVID-19, this will be an online event for most spectators, starting at 6:30 pm, Monday, February 21st.  Honorees and To attend the event, participants must register in advance at this link.

This year’s event will again be streamed live, with music and slideshow at 6:15 pm. At 6:30 pm, Event Chair Yvonne McCaskill will make opening remarks. Drummer Jahmés Finlayson will perform the “Call to Ceremony” to begin the program which will be Emceed by Nearby Nature Program Director Steven Hunter. The program will be broadcast online from the Wisconsin Black History Society Museum. Speakers and awardees will have the option to attend in person.

Awards are being presented to eleven individuals. The honorees are:

Pioneer Awards

Rick Banks                           Co-Founder, MKE Black
Antoine Carter                  Imagine MKE
Lamont Smith                    The Nature Conservancy
Rafael Smith                       Climate Equity Director, Citizen Action
Reverend Michelle Townsend De Lopez Pastor, Cross Lutheran Church

Rising Star Awards

Milton L. Byers III             Wild Indigo Coordinator - Milwaukee, Audubon Great Lakes
Jalen Greenlee                  Founder of FLORA
Detaya Johnson                 Urban Agriculturist, Educator
Danitra Jones                    Northwest Side CDC
Nateya Taylor                    Founder, Naesthetycs LLC, Urban Studies MS Student
Danielle Washington      HN-Development, UWM - Public Health grad 

The group has adopted Ashanti Adinkra symbol “Asase Ye Duru” meaning “The Earth has Weight”, symbolizing the providence and divinity of Mother Earth.

This event is free and open to the public. Participants must must register in advance at this link.

(Program graphics created by graphic artist Nigeria Riggins)
Graphical Invitation:African American Environmental Pioneer Awards Graphic

At the inaugural event in 2020, the celebration was just weeks before the Covid-19 lockdown and was held at the Wisconsin Black History Society/Museum.  It featured a call to ceremony by drummers from Ko-Thi African Dance Company.  Brenda Coley of Milwaukee Water Commons was the featured speaker and addressed the need for society to be more inclusive in what is known as “the commons”, public spaces and resources that belong to all of us.  Spoken word artist Kevon Cortez Jones and a hip-hop music video celebrating clean water by students at True Skool provided more cultural entertainment.  11 community environmental pioneers were recognized for their work. 

A news story on the inaugural 2020 event can be found at this link:
https://www.sierraclub.org/wisconsin/great-waters/blog/2020/02/black-history-month-event-honors-pioneers

In 2021, the event was forced to go virtual but was no less moving and inspirational.  13 awardees spoke of their diverse work, from community gardening, to fighting the lead crisis and climate change.  The 2020 featured speaker was pioneering Harlem poet Dahveed Nelson, a member of the Last Poets, credited for work that led to the emergence of hip-hop.

A news story on the second annual 2021 event can be read at this link:
https://nearbynaturemke.org/2021-african-american-environmental-pioneer-awards/

Event Committee and organizing sponsors
Terry Evans, Urban Ecology Center – Washington Park 
Cassandra Flagg, Green & Healthy Communities LLC
Steven Hunter, Nearby Nature Milwaukee
Yvonne McCaskill, Triangle Neighborhood Association 
David Thomas, Nearby Nature Milwaukee / Sierra Club Great Waters Group


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