Sharon Lavigne, an environmental activist, will be awarded the University of Notre Dames 2022 Laetare MedalThe oldest and most prestigious honor bestowed on American Catholics by Notre Dames 177th University Commencement Ceremonyon Sunday, May 15
Rise St. James, a faith-based grassroots organization that fights for environmental justice in St. James Parish (La.) is Lavigne’s founder and director. She is a retired teacher in special education and has lived in St. James Parish her entire life. She has witnessed the region change from idyllic farmland to a troubled community, surrounded by the petrochemical industry, and plagued with industrial pollution.
Sharon Lavigne has acted tirelessly to support the health of her community, and to end environmental degradation that so oftendisproportionately impacts communities of color. Rev. John I. Jenkins C.S.C.Notre Dame awarded her the Laetare Medaille to acknowledge her leadership and courage in being a champion of the environment, a voice on behalf of the marginalized, as well as a faithful servant of our Creator.
St. James Parish, located between Baton Rouge, New Orleans, is in the middle of Cancer Alley, an 85-mile stretch along the Mississippi River with more than 150 petrochemical and refineries. Thirty-two are located in St. James Parish and are concentrated in areas with a majority of residents who are Black or have a lower income.
Despite the fact that the cancer rates in the region are already 700 times higher than the rest of the United States’, corporations continue to invest in building and expanding facilities.
The Louisiana Constitution and the Civil Rights Act are supposed to protect Black communities against this kind of environmental racism. Lavigne claimed that they have not done so in Cancer Alley. Our agencies rubber stamp every permit that crosses their desks.
Lavigne didn’t intend to be an activist but she was inspired to start Rise St. James when a plastics company got the greenlight to build a second plant in St. James Parish, two miles from her home. At the time, many in her community believed that fighting against the proposedmultibillion-dollar manufacturing facility was a lost cause.
Why would they move the plant? Lavigne explained that they knew people would not speak up. They were right. The people were not going to speak up. God touched me and said to me to fight, and that’s exactly what I did.
Rise St. James members and Lavigne successfully fought against Wanhua Chemical’s proposal to build a plant. They organized marches, spoke out at parish council meetings and town hall meetings, partnered with other environmental justice groups, and produced signs, ads, and reports about the harmful effects of the industry’s pollutants on health and the environment. Wanhua pulled its land use application in September 2019.
The group is currently working with Formosa Plastics to stop the construction of a $9.4B chemical plant.
Lavigne is aware of the economic realities and recalls the first plants being hailed as an economic boon to the area. However, she believes that her community shouldn’t have to sacrifice their lives for their livelihood.
Everyone was happy when the first plant arrived in the late 1960s. She said that everyone thought it was a nice addition to their little town. Then more plants started to appear. But we didn’t know these plants would poison our bodies.
What good is a job if it spreads cancer all over St. James Parish
Lavigne was awarded in 2021 the Goldman Environmental Prize and is now on the Forbes 50 over 50 list. She spoke at the Congressional Convening on Environmental Justice in Washington, D.C. in 2019 and welcomed Michael Regan, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, to St. James Parish last Year.
Lavigne, who has been a member of St. James Catholic Church her whole life, said that her faith has buoyed and guided her through her journey. She also stated that her advocacy work has brought God closer to her.
Lavigne said that I know he brought me here for a purpose, and I want to follow his lead. I want to do the job he has asked me to. I cannot explain how he put me in such a fight. I have gotten closer to him. I’m so happy to be closer to him, because now we can do anything.
The Laetare Medal (pronounced lay-TAH’ray) is named after its recipient. It is announced each year during Laetare Sunday on the Church calendar. Laetare is Latin for rejoice and is the first word in an antiphon at the Mass on Sunday. This ritually anticipates the celebrations of Easter. The Latin inscription Magna este veritas and praevalebit can be found on the medal.
The Laetare Medal, which was established at Notre Dame in 1883 as an American counterpart to the Golden Rose, was conceived by the Laetare Medal. This papal honor predates the 11th Century. The medal is awarded to a Catholic whose genius has enriched humanity’s heritage, enriched the arts and sciences, and ennobled the faith.
The Laetare medal has been awarded to Civil War Gen. William Rosecrans and John McCormack, Operatic Tenor John McCormack, President John F Kennedy, Catholic Worker founder Dorothy Day and Walker Percy.
