Indiana community leader Denise Blackburn Abdul-Rahman has been honored with the Hoosier Environmental Council’s 2015 “Environmentalist of the Year” award.
Abdul-Rahman is a leader on behalf of environmental climate justice (ECJ). She serves as the ECJ Chair and Executive Board Member for the NAACP, Indiana State Conference and Executive Board for Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana. She also serves as EarthJustice Clean Air Ambassador, a member of Climate Justice Alliance, Grassroots Global Justice Alliance Delegate, People’s Climate Movement, RE-AMP, Concerned Clergy of Indianapolis, Sierra Club, and Midwest Energy News Selection Advisory, among others. She was instrumental in leading the “Just Energy: Reducing Pollution and Creating Jobs” campaign that helped to stop HB 1320 and actively engaged in Indianapolis Power and Light’s decision to stop burning coal beginning in the spring of 2016. Abdul-Rahman’s tireless advocacy has deepened environmental outreach to low income communities and communities of color.
Abdul-Rahman was given the award Saturday in Indianapolis at the Hoosier Environmental Council’s 8th annual “Greening the Statehouse” forum, which is Indiana’s largest annual gathering of environmental-minded citizens.
“The goal of my advocacy is to cultivate deeper environmental outreach to low-income and communities of color and build healthier and sustainable communities, we collaborate with grassroots and environmental leaders in order to accomplish this goal” said Abdul-Rahman. “Roof-top solar, environmental climate justice curriculum for the classroom, green jobs and businesses all can pull a person up from his or her “bootstraps” thereby contributing to one’s quality of life and the reduction of crime.”
“Throughout the time that I’ve known her, Denise has been unwavering in her advocacy,” said Jesse Kharbanda, Executive Director of the Hoosier Environmental Council. She has shown an incredible will to learn, to engage newcomers in the environmental & climate movements, and to speak up. Her legislative testimony on a controversial anti-solar bill exemplified Denise at her finest – knowledgeable, fast-on-her-feet, fearless, and gracious. We are thankful for Denise’s deep sense of commitment and compassion.”
In addition to the awards ceremony, Greening the Statehouse was marked by a presentation and panel discussion about finding solutions to such challenges as climate change, coal ash pollution, factory farming, and urban sprawl. Greening the Statehouse, held at the University of Indianapolis, was capstoned by a keynote address from Lisa Evans, renowned national coal ash expert and public interest attorney.
