WASHINGTON, DC - On Monday, July 20th, the White House acknowledged Patrick Carolan, of Stratford, Conn., as a "Champion of Change" for his efforts in protecting our environment and communities from the effects of climate change.
The Champion of Change event featured remarks by E.P.A. Administrator Gina McCarthy and Senior Advisor to the President Brian Deese, as they recognized Mr. Carolan and eleven other Americans who have demonstrated clear leadership across the U.S. and around the world through their grassroots efforts to green their communities and educate others on the moral and social justice implications of climate change.
The Champions of Change plan was created as an opportunity for the White House to feature individuals doing extraordinary things to empower and inspire members of their communities.
"We are excited to recognize extraordinary people of faith, from across the country, who are acting on climate to protect our planet from harmful climate change impacts," said E.P.A. Administrator Gina McCarthy. "Many of our faith leaders understand that it is our moral obligation to help preserve a healthy planet for generations to come, and are heeding President Obama's call for community-led climate efforts."
Patrick Carolan has been the Executive Director of the Franciscan Action Network (FAN) for 5 years. He has made climate change a core issue at FAN, and has built relationships with other faith and secular organizations in that role. Patrick co-founded the Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM), a coalition of Catholic leaders and organizations from across the globe that have come together to raise awareness about the urgency of climate action in light of Catholic social and environmental teachings. Prior to coming to FAN, Patrick was involved in faith rooted social justice organizing. During the 1980's and early 1990's he served as a state employee union official, serving 2 terms as president. He and his wife Stella have been foster parents and have adopted 2 children in addition to having 2 children.
The other honorees are:
Sunita Viswanath, Coalition of Progressive Hindus, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Cassandra Carmichael, National Religious Partnership for the Environment, Annapolis, Md.
Rachel Lamb, Steering Committee for Young Evangelicals for Climate Action, Silver Spring, Md.
Reverend Lennox Yearwood Jr., Hip Hop Caucus, People's Climate Music, Hyattsville, Md.
Steven Beumer, Saint John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Maitland, Fla.
Reverend Gerald Durley, Clark Atlanta University, Health Promotion Resource Center of the Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Ga.
Huda Alkaff, the Islamic Environmental Group of Wisconsin (Wisconsin Green Muslims), West Bend, Wis.
Sister Joan Brown, New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light, Albuquerque, N.M.
Reverend Kim Morrow, Executive Director of Nebraska Interfaith Power & Light, Lincoln, Neb.
Rabbi Marc Soloway, President, Haver (Boulder's Rabbinic Fellowship); Chair of Rabbinic Advisory Board for Hazon; Congregation Bonai Shalom Boulder, Colo.
Nana Firman, Green Mosque Initiative for Islamic Society of North America, Riverside, California
More information about the White House Champions of Change program: www.whitehouse.gov/champions
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