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 Media Center > Experts Available for Interview
Experts Available for Interview
CHEJ senior staff, issue experts, scientist, and organizers have been interviewed by major TV, print, and radio outlets around the world. CHEJ staff can speak to the health and environmental hazards facing communities impacted by industrial pollution (toxic dumps, landfills, chemical plants, incinerators, dioxin hazards, etc.), dangerous chemicals found in consumer products in our homes, schools, and communities, the precautionary principle, PVC plastic, pesticides, cleaning products, and the grassroots environmental health movement for a safe and toxic-free future.
Please call Moira Bulloch at 703-237-2249x19 to make arrangements for an interview with one of CHEJ’s experts.
Lois Marie Gibbs, Executive Director: Lois founded CHEJ in 1981, after founding the Love Canal Homeowners’ Association in 1978. Her vision has guided our efforts to provide critical organizing and technical assistance to communities engaged in their own environmental struggles around the country. Lois has been recognized extensively for her critical role in the grassroots environmental justice movement. Lois has appeared on many television and radio shows including 60 Minutes, 20/20, Oprah Winfrey, Good Morning America, The Morning Show and the Today Show. CBS produced a 2 hour prime-time movie about Lois’s life entitled “Lois Gibbs: The Love Canal Story” starring Marsha Mason. Lois sits on numerous Boards and Advisory Committees. She received an honorary Doctorate from SUNY at Cortland, New York in 1992, the 1990 Goldman Environmental Prize, the 1998 Heinz Award, the 1999 John Gardner Leadership Award from Independent Sector and the 2004 March of Dimes Maternal and Infant Health award. She received a second honorary doctorate from Haverford College in May 2006. Read full bio.
Stephen Lester, Science Director: Stephen directs CHEJ’s Technical Assistance Program, which provides scientific and technical assistance to communities concerned about environmental health issues. He got his start in working with communities when he was hired in 1978 by the New York State Department of Health to be the technical advisor to the residents of Love Canal in Niagara Falls, NY. His primary work at the Center involves translating technical jargon into everyday language and helping people understand the role of science and technical information in local community struggles. He also directs CHEJ’s research efforts, which have produced over 100 guidebooks and fact packs. Stephen has been on numerous scientific advisory committees including the National Research Council of the National Academies (formerly the National Academies of Science), the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment and the Paperworkers and Allied Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union (formerly the Oil, Chemical & Atomic Workers). Stephen has participated in peer review committees of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences for their Basic Superfund Research and Environmental Justice programs. Stephen has a Master’s degree in Toxicology from the Harvard University School of Public Health and a Master’s degree in Environmental Health from the New York University Institute of Environmental Medicine.
Anne Rabe, BE SAFE Coordinator: Anne is the campaign coordinator of the BE SAFE network of over 300 local, state and national groups promoting precautionary action to prevent pollution and eliminate environmental health threats. Anne has over twenty years of experience working on environmental issues. For eighteen years, she was Executive Director of Citizens’ Environmental Coalition (CED), a statewide, grassroots environmental advocacy organization in New York State working with communities harmed by toxic pollution. There she organized campaigns on such issues as the State Superfund toxic dump cleanup program, Toxic Reduction regulations and Kodak’s dioxin pollution. She helped create the NYS Labor & Environment Network, a coalition of over 40 labor and environmental groups working on corporate accountability, and Don’t Waste New York, a statewide radioactive waste advocacy organization. Prior to joining CEC, she was Director of the New York Environmental Institute, a statewide environmental organization; Senior Legislative Assistant to Assemblymember Richard Gottfried working on environmental legislative reforms; and organized a community/labor campaign on Albany’s NL Industries facility and radioactive waste dump. She has received nine regional, state and national awards for her work. She has a BA Degree with a joint major in Political Science & Journalism from the State University of New York at Albany.
Mike Schade, PVC Campaign Coordinator: Mike coordinates CHEJ’s PVC Consumer Campaign, focused on preventing harm by shifting decision makers from producing, using and disposing of PVC consumer products and packaging and substituting it with safe materials. Mike joined CHEJ’s staff in 2005, and was previously the Western New York Director of the Citizens’ Environmental Coalition, a NY statewide environmental health organization. During his four years there, he coordinated numerous community, marketplace, and policy campaigns resulting in substantial victories for environmental health and justice in Western New York and across the state. He coordinated CEC’s Toxic-Free Legacy, Bucket Brigade Community Organizing, and Kodak Corporate Accountability campaigns in Western New York. He has a BS in Environmental Studies from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a minor in Physical Geography. Mike previously worked for the Buffalo Coalition for Economic Justice/Jobs With Justice on local labor struggles and campaigns.
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