A year ago today, we lost our dear friend and colleague Cecil Corbin-Mark. He served as our Deputy Director and Director of Policy Initiatives, having joined WE ACT as our first paid employee back in 1994.
As we reflect back on Cecil’s life and legacy, we take comfort in knowing how proud he would be of the success WE ACT has achieved – much of which was built on his hard work and leadership.
For example, here in New York City we passed the Renewable Rikers Act along with legislation to reduce childhood lead poisoning. We also passed New York State’s Child Safe Products Act as well as a law prohibiting use of PFAS chemicals in food packaging. And our Federal Policy Office has grown in size and power, helping push environmental and climate justice to forefront of national policies and programs.
To honor Cecil, we will be formally introducing Cecil Corbin-Mark Fellowship for Environmental Justice Leadership at our Gala next week. He mentored so many young environmental justice advocates during his 26 years at WE ACT. This Fellowship will provide an opportunity for young people to follow in his footsteps and become the next generation of environmental justice leaders. We encourage you to join us on Thursday, October 21 for our Gala to learn more about this and so much more.
Until then, we wanted to share a few photos of Cecil with you and encourage you to read this great tribute, The Legacy of an EJ Titan, written by Rachel Ramirez for Grist (which featured Ericka Lugo's awesome illustration of Cecil, seen at the top of this email) not long after his passing.
