DEP
PRESENTS WOMEN'S ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP AWARDS
(04/23) TRENTON - In celebration
of Women's History Month, Department of Environmental Protection
(DEP) Commissioner Bradley Campbell today honored four New
Jersey women who have played significant leadership roles
in environmental protection and historic preservation. The
first annual DEP Women's Environmental Leadership Awards
Ceremony took place at the Alice Paul Institute in Mount
Laurel, which once served as the home of suffragist Alice
Paul.
"While the recipients of the DEP Women's
Environmental Leadership Awards have blazed significantly
different career paths, they are united by a common goal,"
said Commissioner Campbell, "Each of these women has
consistently demonstrated her commitment to the preservation
of New Jersey's natural and historic resources. I commend
these leaders for their courageous efforts to make New Jersey
a cleaner and healthier place to live."
The Women's Environmental Leadership Award
recipients were selected on the basis of the documented
environmental benefits, innovation, and impact of their
work to the environment. DEP considered environmental leaders
in four categories: Advocacy Leadership, Community Leadership,
Government Leadership and Historical Preservation Leadership.
Below is a list of those selected to receive
the DEP Women's Environmental Leadership Awards.
- Senator Barbara Buono received the Government Leadership
award in recognition of her sponsorship of legislation
supporting environmental and historic preservation. Senator
Buono serves as chair of the Wagering, Tourism and Historical
Preservation Committee and is a founding member of the
NJ Smart Growth Caucus. She has sponsored environmentally
significant legislation including a 2002 law requiring
schools to implement pest management plans and limit pesticide
use.
- Dena
Mottola was given the Advocacy Leadership award. As Executive
Director of the New Jersey Public Interest Research Group,
Mottola was a driving force behind the New Jersey Clean
Cars Law, which will reduce the level of toxins in the
air by imposing stricter car emissions standards and promoting
the use of alternatively fueled vehicles. She has also
served as a staunch advocate of Governor James E. McGreevey's
proposals to protect the Highlands region and to strengthen
New Jersey's water quality protections through Category
One designations and enhanced stormwater regulations.
-
The Community Leadership award was presented to Valorie
Caffee in recognition of her work as Director of Organizing
at the Work Environment Council, an organization that
supports safe, secure jobs and a healthy, sustainable
environment. She also serves as chairperson of the DEP's
Environmental Justice Advisory Council. In this role,
Caffee seeks to address and correct environmental inequality
in low-income and minority neighborhoods.
- Constance
Greiff received the Historical Preservation Leadership
award in honor of her work to preserve New Jersey's historic
landmarks. Greiff is the founder of Heritage Studies,
the first female-owned preservation firm in the state,
as well as Preservation New Jersey, the state's only statewide,
private and membership-supported historic preservation
organization. Greiff has contributed to the preservation
of some of New Jersey's most important historic resources
as a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's
Board of Advisors and the New Jersey State Review Board
for Historic Sites.
|