|
|
 About CHEJ > Our Staff
Our Staff
Lois Marie Gibbs, Executive Director
In 1978, Lois founded the Love Canal Homeowners' Association, and CHEJ in 1981. Her vision has guided our efforts to provide critical organizing and technical assistance to communities engaged in their own environmental struggles. Lois sits on numerous Boards and Advisory Committees. She is the recipient of an honorary Doctorate from SUNY at Cortland, New York, the 1990 Goldman Environmental Prize, the 1998 Heinz Award, and the 1999 John Gardner Leadership Award from Independent Sector. [read more]
Kira Ventura Ashby, Development Associate
Kira graduated from Middlebury College in 2005 with a B.A. degree in Spanish and minors in Environmental Studies and Psychology. Before joining CHEJ's staff, she was an intern at JSI Center for Environmental Health Studies in Boston. Kira also worked as a consultant at Family Service, where she translated parenting materials into Spanish and trained preschool teachers on how to reduce environmental health threats in their classrooms.
Liza Draper, Manager of Individual Giving
Prior to joining CHEJ’s staff in 2004, Liza worked from 2002-2004 at The Phillips Collection and from 2000-2002 at American Enterprise Institute. While at The Phillips she worked as Development Associate and Capital Campaign Administrative Associate. She served as Intern Coordinator and Event Planner at AEI. She obtained a B.A. degree from Bucknell in 2000.
Sharon Franklin, Finance/Administration Director
Sharon has over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. Her experience includes being the Director of Corporate Relations with an international children's organization, Executive Director of the Links Foundation, an international African American women's organization, and Chief Operating Officer of the Montessori Accrediting Commission for Teachers Education. Sharon's civic service includes being the President of the Historic Battery Heights Condominium Association and Board Member for the City of Manassas Housing Trust Fund. She is also a member of Women in Philanthropy and the Cultural Alliance of Washington, DC.
Stacey Gonzalez, Child Proofing Campaign Coordinator
Prior to taking charge of the Childproofing campaign, Stacey spent two years in Guatemala with the Peace Corps. There she taught environmental education to young people and trained women in sustainable agriculture techniques. Prior to that, she had led a successful campaign to raise environmental consciousness on the campus of the University of Buffalo and developed campus programs on IPM, recycling and energy conservation. Stacey also brings Spanish language, conference planning and leadership development skills and experience to CHEJ.
Hae-Young Kang, Bookkeeper
Hae-Young
has been working for CHEJ since 1993. She is in charge of all accounting work - A/R, A/P, G/L, P/R and bank reconciliation. She produces monthly reports for financial planning meetings and prepares financial information requested by the CPA firm that conducts CHEJ's yearly audit.
Maryll Kleibrink, Director of Development
Maryll has been fundraising for progressive nonprofits for 19 years, including the Children's Defense Fund and the Izaak Walton League of America. She joined CHEJ in 1996, where she manages grant-writing and foundation relations.
Stephen Lester, Science Director
Stephen received his first Master's of Science, in Toxicology, from Harvard University, and his second Master's of Science, in Environmental Health, from New York University. He received his Bachelor's of Science in Biology from American University. Stephen has served on numerous scientific advisory committees including the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers, the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment, and the Natural Resource Council of the National Academy of Sciences.
Sherman Ludwig, Child Proofing Our Communities Associate
Sherman Ludwig graduated from James Madison University in May of 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology. Sherman has experience in working with disadvantaged communities, having participated in a mission to the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee, volunteered at various Virginia homeless shelters, and participated in a home restoration project in South East Washington, DC. While at James Madison, Sherman authored an independently reviewed ethnography entitled “The People of the Gemeinshaft Home,” which documented the struggles of a group of men reentering society after incarceration. Sherman was brought on as a full-time staff member at CHEJ in April of 2005.
Anne Rabe, BE SAFE Campaign Coordinator
Anne has 25 years of organizing experi ence on environmental and social justice issues. From 1990 to 2003, she was Director and co-founder of Citizens's Environmental Coalition, a statewide grassroots organization in NYS helping communities harmed by toxic pollution and organizing campaigns on State Superfund, radioactive waste disposal, Kodak's dioxin pollution, and other issues. She also co-founded the NYS Labor & Environment Network, a coalition of over 30 labor and environmental groups working on corporate accountability, and Don't Waste New York, a statewide radioactive waste advocacy organization. In the 1980's, she was Director of the NY Environmental Institute and Senior Legislative Assistant to Assemblyman R. Gottfried. From 1980 to today, she has organized a commun ity/labor campaign on the NL Industries uranium waste dump in Colonie, NY. She has received eight state and national awards for her work. Anne works in a satellite CHEJ office in Castleton, NY, near Albany.
Michael Schade, PVC Campaign Coordinator
Mike coordinates CHEJ’s national PVC campaign and has coordinated numerous community, marketplace, and policy campaigns resulting in substantial victories for environmental health and justice in New York State over the past eight years. Prior to working for CHEJ, Mike was the Western New York Director of Citizens' Environmental Coalition (CEC) for four years. Mike has been an active participant in local, statewide, and national PVC campaigns. He is a graduate of the State University of NY at Buffalo with a degree in Environmental Studies.
Libby Sinback, Digital and Print Media Coordinator
Libby manages CHEJ's electronic and print media. She is responsible for the development and content of CHEJ's 5 websites, as well as the design and layout of all CHEJ publications. Prior to coming to CHEJ, Libby worked for Public Citizen maintaining the website for their environmental division. Libby brings to CHEJ a passion for environmental justice along with her many technical skills.
|
 |
|
