2025 Annual Summit - North Carolina Environmental Justice Network

Award Nominations for the 2025 NCEJN Summit
The deadline to submit awards is October 1.
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For which awards would you like to submit nominations? Award descriptions are available at: https://ncejn.org/ncejn-summit-awards/. Select all that apply.*

The Naeema Muhammad EJ Youth Vanguard AwardThe Steve Wing International Environmental Justice Academic AwardThe Elsie Herring Community Resilience Award

The Naeema Muhammad EJ Youth Vanguard Award

Overview: We believe in our young people and their desire to make our communities cleaner, safer, and productive. Environmental justice (EJ) means that people of all races, cultures, and incomes should be able to live in a safe and healthy environment. It also means that everyone should be treated fairly and equally. The Naeema Muhammad Youth Vanguard Award is designed to give the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network (NCEJN) the opportunity to recognize young people from our communities who already are environmental champions and who show great promise as future leaders in the EJ movement. We may select two youth – one from each of the following age categories: 1) elementary school age and 2) middle/high school age.

Past Recipients Include: Jamesha Cannon-Phillips – RENA (2017), Dakota Moore – REACH (2018), Jalind Lampa – NOTRA (2022), Ashley Daniels (2023), and Mary Black – City of Raleigh City Council Member (2024)

Qualifications of Nominees:
- Demonstrated interest in working on an environmental injustice issue in their community (they may be working on multiple issues as well)
- Commitment to promoting safe and healthy environments for their community
- Engagement in activities that raise awareness about EJ among their peers and in their community – this would include activities at their school, academic work on EJ issues, participation in competitions, workshops, or school programs that highlight EJ
- The potential to be future leaders in the EJ movement
Nominee name*

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Nominee email*
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Please describe the nominee's qualifications for the Naeema Muhammad EJ Youth Vanguard Award.*
The Steve Wing International Environmental Justice Academic Award

Overview: In 2007 Gary R. Grant proposed this award to annually recognize an academic who has made notable contributions to achieving environmental justice, especially through activism. While scholarship is not unimportant for a nomination, the clear emphasis is on a person’s advocacy work that reflects the goals of the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network (NCEJN). The award is named after the late Dr. Steve Wing, a founding planning board member of the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network, and a long-time scholar and activist in the environmental justice arena in North Carolina. The person receiving this honor reflects through their work Steve’s commitment to community, justice, and equality, while taking a stand in academia.

Past Recipients Include: Dr. Sacoby Wilson (2008), Dr. Christopher Heaney (2009), Dr. Mansoureh Tajik (2010), Dr. Valerie Johnson (2012), Att. Savi Horne (2013), Professor Irving Joyner (2014), Dr. Sarah Hatcher (2015), Att. Elizabeth Haddix ( 2016), Dr. Courtney Woods (2017), Dr. Sarah Rhodes (2018), Dr. Ryan Emmanuel (2019), Dr. Libby McClure (2023), and Jovita Lee – Democracy Green (2024).

Qualifications of Nominees:
- An academic who has notably and consistently used their academic discipline toward advancing environmental justice, especially through activism in the United States and/or abroad
- Recognized for their activist contributions and their occupational and academic achievements
- Consistently used their scholarship and activism to achieve environmental justice
Nominee name*

First NameLast Name
Nominee phone number*
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Nominee email*
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Please describe the nominee's qualifications for the Steve Wing International Environmental Justice Academic Award.*
The Elsie Herring Community Resilience Award

Overview: The Community Resilience Award is designed to give the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network (NCEJN) the opportunity to spotlight community groups and individuals who have made a difference in environmental struggles.

Past Recipients Include: David Caldwell (2014), Belinda Joyner (2015), Macy Hinson (2016), Devon Hall – REACH (2016), Ellis Tatum (2017), Bobby Jones (2018), Stokes County NAACP, Appalachian Voices and the Lilies Project (2019), Rev. Bryon Shoffner and Anita Foust (2023), Leticia Zavala – El Futuro Es Nuestro (2024).

Qualifications of Nominees:
- A community individual or community group currently working on an environmental injustice issue
- Showing commitment for a safe and healthy environment for the community
- Unselfishly giving to create a more just society
- Working for political and social reform
- Constantly using activism and organizing in the community to achieve environmental justice
Nominee name*

First NameLast Name
Nominee phone number*
Please enter a valid phone number.
Nominee email*
example@example.com
Please describe the nominee's qualifications for the Elsie Herring Community Resilience Award.*
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Award Nominations for the 2025 NCEJN Summit