DuPage NAACP presents: Our Planet: Love it because you can’t leave it!

Mike Childress, President, DuPage NAACP

By Connie Schmidt

Partnerships and caring about the causes that are important to others is what grows a movement. In January, the River Prairie Group of Sierra Club joined the DuPage County NAACP for their first Environmental and Social Justice Summit at Cantigny Park in Wheaton, Illinois.  “Our Planet:  Love it because you can’t leave it!” was a great success.  Ken Mejia-Beal of NAACP DuPage, Andrew Van Gorp of Sustain DuPage, along with Terry Quain of Citizens’ Climate Lobby helped to coordinate and facilitate the event. There were four time slots of guest speakers on the following topics:

•  “Why Climate Change Matters to You” by Master Sergeant Gregory Norris and Ken Mejia-Beal of the IL and DuPage NAACP
•  “The Fight to Close Sterigenics” with Margie Connell, State Senator John Curran, DuPage County Commissioners Greg Hart and Julie Renehan
•  “Fair, Fast and Feasible: The Case for Carbon Dividends” by Terry Quain and David Holmquist of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby
• “Bringing a Healthy Future to IL Residents with CEJA” Connie Schmidt, Chair of Sierra Club IL Chapter.

In addition, groups such as the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Fermi Lab, River Prairie Group of the Sierra Club, The Resiliency Institute, Commonwealth Edison, and others represented a myriad of tables. Each had information and stories to share to help raise awareness of the importance of Environmental Justice and the health and welfare of all creatures on the planet.

The president of the DuPage NAACP, Michael Childress, skillfully presided over the event, introducing each speaker.  When interviewed after the event, he raised the following point:  “I really appreciate the support of the Sierra Club, as it is a powerful organization.  

Environmental justice is a big concern for the NAACP, and exposing injustice is very much needed.”  Jeff Gahris, Chair of the local Sierra Club, was also pleased with the opportunity to network the many groups together with this forum.