By: Shelby Coulton, Communications Intern, CDRW
May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month- a time to uplift voices in the AANHPI communities. In celebration of the month, CDRW is highlighting AANHPI environmental leaders and environmental organizations. Join us in celebrating and acknowledging the impact the AANHPI communities have on the environmental movement this month and every month!
AANHPI Environmental Leaders
Dr. Charles Lee
Image courtesy of University of Michigan’s School of Environment and Sustainability.
Dr. Charles Lee is an author, environmental justice advocate, and is the current Senior Policy Advisor for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Justice. In 1987, the groundbreaking report titled “Toxic Wastes and Race in the United States” was published, which Dr. Lee was the principal author. The report addressed the relationships between race, socioeconomics, and environmental degradation. It was one of the first to show a statistical significance between racial composition of communities and the locations of environmental hazards- sparking a turning point for environmental justice efforts in the United States.
Sonia Shah
Image courtesy of here.
Sonia Shah is an award-winning Indian-American journalist and author whose work has been published by PBS NewsHour, The Nation, and Mother Jones. She writes about a multitude of issues including science, politics, human rights. She is also feverous author. Her latest book, “The Next Great Migration: The Beauty and Terror of Life on the Move” explores human migration and why its critical for preserving biodiversity and the health of the planet.
Varshini Prakash
Image courtesy of Sierra Club.
Varshini Prakash an environmental writer and speaker. While studying at the University of Massachusetts, Varshini pushed the school to stop investing in the fossil fuel industry by leading a successful two week long campaign by students, faculty and alumni. She is also the co-founder and Executive Director of Sunrise Movement, a grassroots organization that brings together young people to help stop climate change and encourage political action. Varshini and the Sunrise Movement are helping lead eco-friendly political efforts such as the Green New Deal. In 2020, Varshini was named as an advisor for President Biden’s climate task force.
Kapulei Flores
Image courtesy of here.
Kapulei Flores is a Native Hawaiian photographer and climate activist. She uses her photography to preserve Native Hawaiian culture and as a channel for environmental activism. Kapulei’s work includes documenting and helping to fight in the Mauna Kea movement- a movement to disrupt the construction of a telescope on the sacred mountain of Mauna Kea and to protect the environment from the backlash of the project.
Ali A. Zaidi
Image courtesy of Wikipedia.
Ali A. Zaidi is a Pakistani-American lawyer and the current Deputy White House National Climate Advisor. Prior to his role under President Biden’s administration, Ali was New York’s Deputy Secretary for energy and the environment. Ali is also a co-founder of Lawyers for Sustainable Economy which connects sustainability-focused non-profits and start-ups with pro bono legal services.
Melissa Lin Perrella
Image courtesy of the NRDC.
Melissa Lin Perrella is an environmental justice lawyer and the Chief Equity and Justice Officer for the National Resources Defense Council. Prior to joining the NRDC, as an environmental justice lawyer, Lin Perrella stood up for communities affected by air pollution. In her role with the NRDC, she leads their Environment, Equity and Justice Center where she helps advocate for universal clean water and air to help create healthier communities, and addresses the connection between racial and socioeconomic inequalities and environmental injustices.
AANHPI Environmental Organizations
Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN)
Established in 1993, APEN is an environmental non-profit that focuses on environmental, social, and economic justice. Based in Oakland, California the organization has deep roots within the AANHPI communities of past and present. Their work focuses heavily on being a leader in the area and supporting Asian immigrant communities. Learn about their mission here.
Chicago Asian Americans for Environmental Justice
Chicago Asian Americans for Environment Justice is an environmental justice grassroots organization that works within both the city and the Greater Chicago areas. Their mission is to engage with and educate local Asian communities on environmental issues that may be impacting their neighborhoods, such as soil contamination and land use issues. Learn more about their work here.
350 Pacific
The Pacific arm of 350.org, 350 Pacific is a grassroots and youth-led organization focused on fighting climate change. They work with organizers in 18 Pacific Island nations and diaspora communities in Australian, New Zealand, and the United States. They work to bring awareness to climate change issues affecting the island nations and indigenous communities by elevating their voices, and serve as educators for local communities and their youth. Learn more about their impact here.
Mālama Maunalua
Founded in 2006, Mālama Maunalua is dedicated to restoring and preserving Maunalua Bay on the southeast shores of Honolulu, Hawaii. Urbanization and changes in land use began threatening the health of the bay in the 1900s, which has led to problems of pollution, invasive algae, beach loss, and native species decline. Mālama Maunalua works to alleviate and bring awareness to these issues through public education and outreach, and habitat restoration and research projects. Learn more about them here.
AANHPI Heritage Month Resources
Learn more about the origins of AANHPI Heritage Month and discover how you can help celebrate and uplift the AANHPI communities by visiting the Federal Asian Pacific American Council’s AANHPI Heritage Month resources.
The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed has put together a AANHPI messaging toolkit to celebrate and uplift the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities and their contributions to environmental movements on social media.