Congratulations to the 2021 Community Sentinels!

The 2021 Sentinel Awards ceremony was held virtually December 9th, with over 100 fabulous attendees tuning in nationwide. Impassioned speeches, inspirational video presentations and beautiful music left us all teary-eyed with gratitude for all those leading us towards a future where environmental justice prevails.

We continue to celebrate these dedicated community leaders: John Beard, Jr., Veronica Coptis, Travis London, and Love Sanchez.

The event was a reminder that there are many kindred spirits from every region of the US together in the fight for environmental justice.

Thank you to all the grassroots organizers, activists, and environmental stewards whose work too often goes unseen. Read more about the awardees and learn more about the award below.

To watch the ceremony, click here to visit Halt the Harm, or join by visiting halttheharm.net/join.

John Beard, Jr.

John Beard, Jr., is the founder, chairman and CEO of the Port Arthur Community Action Network (PA-CAN) of Port Arthur, TX, a community based environmental, social justice, and community development organization addressing environmental and community disparities affecting quality of life in PATX.

John Beard is a former three term City Councilman and Mayor Pro Tempore, having served his hometown of Port Arthur on numerous boards and committees. He has been active in public affairs for over 33 years, and is retired from ExxonMobil Corporation with 38 years of service in petrochemical refining.

Veronica Coptis

Veronica Coptis joined the Center for Coalfield Justice staff in March 2013 as a Community Organizer, and is now serving as the Executive Director. She grew up in western Greene County near the Bailey Mine Complex, the largest underground coal mine in the country, and currently lives in the eastern part of the county surrounded by shale gas.

Before joining CCJ, Veronica served on the Board of Directors for CCJ and organized with Mountain Watershed Association, where she worked with communities forming civic groups to resist the expansion of fracking.

Veronica has been at the center of many coalitions and partnerships to create a stronger movement ecosystem that shifts power back to people most impacted. She received a bachelor’s degree in biology from West Virginia University. She enjoys hiking and geocaching at Ryerson State Park and other areas around Greene County with her husband and daughters.

2021 Partners & Sponsors

This event was hosted by FracTracker Alliance and Halt the Harm Network, and sponsored by The Heinz Endowments, The 11th Hour Project/The Schmidt Family Foundation, and Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds. Partnering organizations include Art Killing Apathy, Ashtabula County Water Watch, Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community, Break Free from Plastic, Breathe Project, Center for Coalfield Justice, Clean Air Council, Climate Reality, Crude Accountability, Dakota Resource Council, Earthworks, FaCT Ohio, Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services, Food & Water Watch, Mountain Watershed Association, NAACP Ashtabula, Ohio River Valley Institute, Peak Plastic Foundation, Sierra Club, Sisters of St. Joseph, of Baden, Pennsylvania, Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project, and Viable Industries.