Community Sentinel Award for Environmental Stewardship

ABOUT THE SENTINEL AWARDS

The Community Sentinel Award for Environmental Stewardship is an annual award recognizing leaders across the United States who are working to protect their communities from environmental injustice. Established in 2015, the award honors individuals on the front lines of environmental and climate justice whose work addresses the impacts of fossil fuels and industrial pollution through organizing, advocacy, research, education, storytelling, and community care.

The Sentinel Awards celebrate not only individual achievements, but the broader movement working toward healthier, more just communities.

The 2026 Community Sentinel Awards Ceremony will be held at the NOPSI Hotel in New Orleans on Thursday, November 12, 2026 at 6:00 PM, with additional programming taking place throughout the weekend. Check back here soon for more information.

Your support helps provide each awardee with a $1,000 honorarium and programming to uplift local advocacy!

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Sentinel Awards Nomination

Nominations are now open for the 2026 Community Sentinel Awards for Environmental Stewardship. The awards recognize five individuals across the U.S. leading impactful environmental justice work in their communities through organizing, advocacy, education, research, and storytelling. Each honoree receives a $1,000 award and recognition at the November 12, 2026 ceremony in New Orleans, Louisiana.

SUBMIT A NOMINATION

Legacy Of Heroes

As part of the Sentinel Awards, we honor activists who passed away within the last year through our Legacy of Heroes recognition. Use this form to nominate someone whose life and contributions to environmental justice should be recognized at the 11th annual awards ceremony.

SUBMIT A HERO

Meet the 2024 Sentinels

Natisha C Washington

2024 Community Sentinel

Wilkinsburg, PA

Quinn Eide

2024 Community Sentinel ⋅ Emerging Leader

Oakland, CA

Roishetta Ozane

2024 Community Sentinel

Lake Charles, LA

Andrea W Pierce

2024 Community Sentinel

Ypsilanti, MI

Patricia J Popple

2024 Community Sentinel ⋅ Community Choice

Chippewa Falls, WI

~Read Their Stories ~

Date:	November 12, 2026
Location:	NOPSI Hotel, 317 Baronne St, New Orleans, LA 70112
Time:	6 – 10 PM

Event Details

Join Us December 4

2024 Community Sentinel Awards Ceremony

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Thank You to Our 2024 Sponsors & Supporters

Thank You to Our 2024 Sponsors & Supporters

Major Sponsors

Supporters

Community Sentinel Award Winners

2024

NaTisha C Washington – PA Andrea W Pierce – MI Roishetta Ozane – LA Patricia J Popple – WI Quinn Eide – CA

2023

Anaïs Peterson – PA Debra Ramirez – LA Gillian Graber – PA Maury Johnson – WV Sarah Martik – PA

2022

Cesar Aguirre – CA Dr. Joy and Jo Banner – LA Dr. Crystal Cavalier-Keck – NC Chanté Davis – LA Jill Hunkler – OH Laurie Barr – PA

2021

John Beard – Port Arthur, TX Veronica Coptis – Greene County, PA Travis London – Donaldsonville, LA Love Sanchez – Corpus Christi, TX

2020

Edith Abeyta – North Braddock, PA Yvette Arellano – Houston, TX Theresa Landrum – Detroit, MI Brenda Jo McManama – Fairmont, WV

2019

Ron Gulla – Canonsburg, PA Sharon Lavigne – St. James, LA Allie Rosenbluth – Medford, OR Melissa Troutman – Pittsburgh, PA

2018

Ellen Gerhart – Pennsylvania Natasha Léger – Colorado Rebecca Roter – of Pennsylvania, now Georgia Youth award: Nalleli Cobo – California

2017

Ranjana Bhandari – Arlington, TX Frank Finan – Hop Bottom, PA Ray Kemble – Montrose, PA

2016

Alma Hasse – Fruitland, ID Alex Lotorto – Milford, PA Vera Scroggins – Brackney, PA

2015

Dory Hippauf – Dallas, PA Craig Stevens – Herndon, VA Therese Vick – Raleigh, NC

Legacy of Heroes

Ashby Berkley – Pence Springs, West Virginia Bob Nelson, Pennsylvania Chris Shepard – Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania Courtney Miller Fish – Georgetown, Pennsylvania David Braun – Oakland, California & New York, New York Debby Lee Cohen – New York, New York Klee Benally – Flagstaff, Arizona Laurel Gulla – Waukon, Iowa Peter Dykstra – Hackensack, New Jersey & Atlanta, Georgia Sreedhar Ramamurthi – Mumbai, India Teresa Mills – Columbus, Ohio William “Bill” Limpert – Bath County, Virginia

Legacy of Heroes

Each year, FracTracker Alliance and Halt the Harm Network honor the memory of environmental activists and advocates as part of the Community Sentinel Awards program.