RE Sources to honor 2021 Environmental Heroes in evening of powerful stories

The nonprofit’s virtual celebration and benefit on June 9 will recognize three NW Washington Environmental Heroes and will also feature State Rep. Debra Lekanoff and WA State Poet Laureate Rena Priest

||| FROM JAY KOSA for RE SOURCES |||

BELLINGHAM, WA — Every year, regional environmental group RE Sources holds its Environmental Heroes Awards celebration and fundraiser, where it recognizes individuals doing remarkable work to protect the Central Salish Sea region’s environment and communities.

This year, the Environmental Heroes Awards, coming up on Wednesday, June 9 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., will look a little different as it will take place online and will feature keynote speaker Rep. Debra Lekanoff and Washington State Poet Laureate Rena Priest in addition to our 2021 Heroes.

RE Sources is pleased to announce this year’s Environmental Heroes: Darrell Hillaire, Mary Ruth Holder and London Fletcher. The event is free and open to all, though capacity is limited.

After a tumultuous 2020, RE Sources is building toward a green recovery in 2021 and beyond, in part by focusing on this iconic Salish Sea region, the stories that emanate from its people, and the power that those stories hold. While the 2021 Heroes vary in age, culture and geography, they carry shared values around standing up in defense of — and on behalf of — the people, places and wildlife that make Northwest Washington so special.

Keynote speaker WA State Representative Debra Lekanoff and WA State Poet Laureate Rena Priest represent two distinct but vital ways of speaking out in lawmaking and the arts. Priest will recite some of her acclaimed poetry and will also conclude the evening with an original poem inspired by words about this region crowdsourced from event guests.

“The evening’s lineup affirms RE Sources’ belief that meaningful, local change can be made in many ways, and that environmental movements are most powerful when they are multi-generational, multi-cultural, multi-faceted and community-driven,” said Shannon Wright, executive director at RE Sources. “Our 2021 Heroes Darrell, Mary Ruth and London offer inspiring examples of how each of us has the power to make a difference when it comes to
defending our home and working toward a resilient, healthy future.”

Heroes are nominated and selected by community members, former Heroes, RE Sources staff, and board members for their extraordinary efforts to protect our natural world. RE Sources hosts Environmental Heroes to celebrate the accomplishments of individuals in Whatcom, Skagit and San Juan counties whose work has had significant, lasting impact.

About the 2021 Environmental Heroes:

● Darrell Hillaire
Darrell has served as a coach, mentor, teacher, speaker, and leader for the Lummi Nation for more than thirty years. He is currently Executive Director of Children of the Setting Sun Productions, leading storytelling projects based upon relationships with many elders and community leaders both regionally and nationally.

Darrell has served on many community boards, as well as on the Lummi Indian Business Council in various capacities, including Chair, for over 15 years. As Chair, he provided oversight and guided the development of the Northwest Indian College Campus, Silver Reef Casino, and K-12 Lummi Nation School. Darrell went on to work
toward strengthening the wellness of tribal youth as founder of the visionary Lummi Youth Academy.

Darrell has been widely recognized for his impact as a peacemaker, bridge builder, and culture bearer, both as a representative of Lummi Nation, and as a regional and national leader. Over the years Darrell has frequently spoken to the public on behalf of his community, and continues to provide strategic guidance to tribal and other
community leaders on key issues of the day such as: salmon recovery, economic development, sovereignty, and tribal governance.

● Mary Ruth Holder
Mary Ruth Holder has spent much of her life engaged in protecting the environment around her. She grew up in Louisiana and credits her mother with teaching her respect for the natural world and its creatures.

After getting a law degree at UT Austin, Mary Ruth worked for the Texas Attorney General. Her work included enforcing state air and water quality laws, supporting environmental groups in a case to stop destruction of endangered bird habitat in Texas’ National Forests, and bringing lawsuits to ensure that low-income people
living in Rio Grande Valley colonias had safe drinking water. Mary Ruth next worked for the Texas environmental agency as director of its legal division.

After leaving state government, Mary Ruth worked on projects for national and local environmental groups. She served on Austin’s Environmental Board and volunteered in city preserves monitoring endangered birds, salamanders and plants.

When she retired to Skagit Valley, Mary Ruth drew on her background to work as a volunteer, helping protect the Salish Sea, its communities and wildlife. Among other things, she helped mobilize Skagit Valley residents, NGOs, businesses and elected officials to make public comments opposing the proposed Gateway coal export terminal. Similarly, Mary Ruth helped with opposition to dangerous oil-by-rail projects. For five years, she has represented Evergreen Islands advocating for strong safety management regulations to protect workers, nearby communities and the Salish Sea from refinery explosions, fires and toxic air contaminant releases.

● London Fletcher
London is a 13-year-old who has been an advocate on behalf of the planet for the past seven years. During this time, she has focused her efforts particularly on the ongoing plight of endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW). She has continued to be a very vocal advocate for the SRKWs over the years, attending rallies and speaking on behalf of the orcas at events all over Washington State.

In 2019 London formed her own nonprofit research organization called Aquatic Research Conservancy, alongside Dr. Ingrid Visser, dedicated to education and the protection of marine inhabitants and their habitats. She is also a research assistant at the Orca Research Trust in New Zealand and the youngest member of the Society for Marine Mammalogy. As a spokesperson for the generation that is going to inherit the choices policymakers make today, London has made it her mission to do whatever she can to advocate for the Southern Residents and the ecosystem that they call home, fighting for the rights and protection of both captive and wild killer whales. Although London is most well-known for her compelling speeches, she is also very passionate about becoming a researcher. She is already a published author in the field of Marine Biology for the work she did during her internship at the Orca Research Trust during the austral winter of 2017.

The 2021 Heroes will be honored during the Environmental Heroes Awards virtual celebration and fundraiser on Wednesday, June 9 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. Event proceeds will go to support RE Sources’ critical programs and projects in the year ahead. For more information on the event or to register, visit resources.org/Heroes2021 or contact Julia Spencer at julias@re-sources.org or (360) 733-8307 x221

RE Sources is extremely grateful for the generous support of the following community-minded businesses who made this event possible: Cornerstone Sponsor Sea Witch Botanicals; Sustaining Sponsor Puget Sound Benefit Services; Partner Sponsors Daylight Properties and Village Books & Paper Dreams; and Supporting Sponsors Adventures Northwest, Bramble Berry, Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship, Community Food Co-op, Danne Neill Realtor, Evolve Chocolate + Cafe, Nuu Muu, and Pepper Sisters Restaurant. 

The Washington State Poet Laureate program is sponsored by Humanities Washington and the Washington State Arts Commission.

About RE Sources:

re-sources.org | 2309 Meridian Street Bellingham, WA 98225 |info@re-sources.org | (360) 733-8307

RE Sources is a leading organization in Northwest Washington serving as the region’s environmental watchdog, policy driver, relentless advocate, organizer and champion of real solutions. For nearly forty years, we’ve worked to protect our local environment and communities while advancing causes of clean energy, climate action, protecting the Salish Sea, environmental education, and ending waste. Whether you want to make a difference in this region through volunteering, community science, reusing materials, education, or by advocating at the local and state levels, RE Sources leverages on-the-ground experience and relationships to amplify your impact. For more information, visit re-sources.org.