News Releases from Region 04
White House Honors Florida Faith Leader for Climate Champions of Change
ATLANTA - On Monday, July 20th, the White House will recognize Steven Beumer of Maitland, Fla., as a "Champion of Change" for his efforts in protecting our environment and communities from the effects of climate change.
The Champion of Change event will feature remarks by Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy and Senior Advisor to the President Brian Deese, as they honor Mr. Beumer and 11 other Americans who have demonstrated clear leadership across the United States and around the world through their grassroots efforts to green their communities and educate others on the moral and social justice implications of climate change.
The Champions of Change program was created as an opportunity for the White House to feature individuals doing extraordinary things to empower and inspire members of their communities.
"Today, we are excited to recognize extraordinary people of faith, from across the country, who are acting on climate to protect our planet from harmful climate change impacts," said Administrator McCarthy. "Many of our faith leaders understand that it is our moral obligation to help preserve a healthy planet for generations to come, and are heeding President Obama's call for community-led climate efforts."
Steven Beumer is an active member of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Winter Park, Florida. He has led St. John to make changes through new energy efficient roofing and LED lighting. He also organized a regular worship service in April dedicated to Earth Day. Additionally, Beumer organized hands-on environmental projects such as labeling storm drains in the neighborhood to prevent trash from going into the lakes, and litter clean up on public streets near the church. Further, Beumer has worked with other faith communities to find their environmental footing within their own faith context.
The other honorees are:
Patrick Carolan, Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM), Stratford, Connecticut
Sunita Viswanath, Coalition of Progressive Hindus, Brooklyn, New York
Cassandra Carmichael, National Religious Partnership for the Environment, Annapolis, Maryland
Rachel Lamb, Steering Committee for Young Evangelicals for Climate Action, Silver Spring, Maryland
Reverend Lennox Yearwood Jr., Hip Hop Caucus, People's Climate Music, Hyattsville, Maryland
Huda Alkaff, the Islamic Environmental Group of Wisconsin (Wisconsin Green Muslims), West Bend, Wisconsin
Sister Joan Brown, New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Reverend Kim Morrow, Executive Director of Nebraska Interfaith Power & Light, Lincoln, Nebraska
Rabbi Marc Soloway, Haver, Boulder's Rabbinic Fellowship, Rabbinic Advisory Board for Hazon, Boulder, Colorado
Nana Firman, Green Mosque Initiative for Islamic Society of North America, Riverside, California
The event will be live streamed on the White House website. To watch this event live, visit www.whitehouse.gov/live on Monday, July 20th at 2:00 PM ET. To learn more about the White House Champions of Change program, visit www.whitehouse.gov/champions. Follow the conversation at #WHChamps.
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