Awards Announcement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 13, 2023

Contact:
Hannah Litchfield
hannah@newvoicesrj.org
(215) 315-3190‬

(Philadelphia, PA) New Voices for Reproductive Justice (New Voices) presents its second annual Black Women, Green Future Awards on January 19, 2023, at 7 p.m. EST, streamed live through New Voices’ Facebook page. The Black Women, Green Future 2nd Annual Awards celebration will highlight the achievements of five Black women Environmental Justice leaders including Mónica Ortiz Rossi, Rev. Dr. Dianne Glave, Tonni Oberly, Christa Barfield, and Joceyln Travis. 

This year’s awardees exemplify the power and impact of Black women working in Environmental and Climate Justice. Mónica Ortiz Rossi is a researcher, health advocate, and the co-founder of KALM Living. Awardee Rev. Dr. Dianne Glave is a Professor of History at Morehouse College, an author and theologian, and an Environmental Justice advocate. She is the co-editor of To Love the Wind and the Rain: African Americans and Environmental History. Tonni Oberly, of Oaks & Spouts, LLC, is a farmer, academic, and the co-owner of a farm that utilizes regenerative agricultural practices. Christa Barfield of FarmerJawn, is a Philadelphia-based neighborhood farmer who cultivates accessible and healthy food for marginalized communities, and awardee Jocelyn Travis is Organizing Manager for the Sierra Club. She is responsible for leading a team of extraordinary environmentalists. 

The Awards will feature an address from Keynote Speaker LaTricea Adams, the President of Black Millennials 4 Flint and the youngest African American Woman appointed to the inaugural White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council. The celebration will also feature spoken word poetry from three dynamic Black poets, including Sabriaya Shipley, RyAnn Bryant, and Steph Ox. 

Launched in 2021, the Black Women, Green Future Awards is an annual celebration that honors the leadership of Black women who are making incredible Environmental and Climate Justice impacts. Past honorees include activists, CEOs, and elected officials. 

“Historically, the environmentalist movement has excluded Black people -- those most impacted by our multiple and worsening environmental crises,” says Kelly Davis, New Voices’ Executive Director, “Fueled by capitalism and white supremacy, the impacts of our climate crisis fall disproportionately on the shoulders of marginalized communities. The Awards is an opportunity to showcase the brilliance and impact of Black women environmental leaders and foster the connections to bolster the Environmental and Climate Justice movements." 

The Awards come as many Black, Brown, and low-income neighborhoods continue to see increased and disproportionate illness and premature death due to environmental factors. Environmental Justice is Reproductive Justice – Black people are unable to care for our families and our communities in healthy environments when land and green space are being stripped, air is toxic, and potable water is contaminated. This is why it is critical to amplify the voices of and celebrate the dedication of Black environmentalists – Black women remain the beating heart of the Environmental and Climate Justice movements.

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New Voices for Reproductive Justice is a multi-state organization based in Pennsylvania and Ohio dedicated to the health and well-being of Black women, femmes, girls and gender-expansive folx. Founded in Pittsburgh in 2004, New Voices serves Black women, femmes, girls and folx through leadership development, community organizing, policy advocacy and culture change. Our priority issues include Black maternal health, abortion access and environmental justice. New Voices advocates at the national, state and local level for Reproductive Justice - the Human Right of all people to control our bodies, sexuality, gender, work, reproduction and ability to form our families. Our long-term social impact goal is that Black women, femmes, girls and folx live long, healthy and joyful lives.