Milwaukee community leaders were on display Monday evening, February 21, when 11 members of the Black community were honored for their contributions to cultivating a better community.
The organization Nearby Nature Milwaukee The third annual African American Environmental Pioneer Awards.
Some honorees met at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society/Museum while others joined online. The excitement radiated from the museum to the people watching from their phones and laptops as the ceremony began.
Perhaps the excitement came from watching a YouTube video of Wintley Phipps singing Sing Every Word With Your VoiceYou can also see the slideshow that includes powerful images of Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Obamas and Black soldiers, as well as the accompanying slideshow.
Mandela Barnes of Wisconsin, lieutenant governor, described what followed as an hour-and-a-half of environmental leadership.
People did not think about the space for Black people living in these places for so long. However, we are redefining narratives. We are impacted more by climate change issues than other communities. And now, the existential threats facing us are all interrelated, Barnes said.
Each award recipient (five pioneers and six rising stars) received a certificate along with a hand-carved walking sticks.
Rick Banks, a Milwaukee native, was the co-founder MKE BlackThe award was accepted virtually by the recipient with humility. The nonprofit promotes Black-owned businesses and Black culture. Milwaukee Water Commons’s first board member was Banks.
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It is an honor to share this award alongside people who I feel have done so much more in the realm of environmental justice. However, I am proud to do the work I do. Banks stated that we should be advocating for Black people in Milwaukee as well as Black people around the world for the environmental justice they deserve.
Fellow honoree Antoine Carter directs partnership, including in the Amani neighborhood and Metcalf neighborhood. Imagine MKE. Through his work, he coordinated the creation and maintenance of more than 40 murals in neighborhoods.
Carter’s first job was in the Milwaukee area, helping to plant community gardens. Carter was able to nearly triple their numbers at that time.
Carter once told WUWM his mom, who was the leader of her neighborhood’s garden, was instrumental to his efforts in environmental justice work. He claimed that she took her son to the nonprofit called “Nonprofit for Environmental Justice” Groundwork Milwaukee.
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I want to express my gratitude to all the neighborhood groups that allowed me to lead them in the transformation of vacant spaces. Carter stated that he wanted to thank the young people who helped me transform these spaces, which were often forgotten, into places that are treasured and loved by all residents and neighbors.
Lamont Smith, the Milwaukee program manager, was also among the award recipients. This is a new position at the Nature ConservancyRafael Smith, who was honored for his climate equity work. Citizen Action.
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The Rev. Michelle Townsend De Lpez,Cross Lutheran Church pastor also received an Award. De Lpez stated, “It is important for faith institutions to receive recognition and a person who heads them because they are to be good stewards not only inside the church, but also with respect for our environment and being co-creators.”
Nearby Nature Milwaukee’s Steven Hunter, who presented the honors, recognized half a dozen rising environmental stars, among them Milton L. Beyers III, a native of Milwaukee.
Hunter explained that Milton was able to hire eight young people to explore nature in a trauma-informed manner, allowing them to engage at their own level.
Danitra JonesAnother rising environmental star is Sheryl Sandberg. She is a community organizer. Northwest Side Community Development Corporation. Jones said that she does the work because it is necessary. Her work includes organizing pop-up farmers’ markets and coordinating community clean ups in order to increase access to fresh produce for families living on Milwaukee’s northside.
I am grateful to get up every morning to serve those who are like me. It’s so wonderful to see someone smile when you have listened and taken time to listen. Jones said.
Yvonne McCaskill was the proudest person. McCaskill was a tireless advocate for the Milwaukee Century City Triangle Neighborhood and helped plan the awards ceremony.
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Because I consider myself one of the elders, it allows me to say what I want. She said that it was wrong to assume that young people aren’t doing great things for the community.
McCaskill stated these great achievements should be celebrated more than once a calendar year during Black History Month.
Gradually, the crowd of over 100 people left to the jubilant drumming and chanting of Jahms Finnlayson.
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