Mariah Davis Receives Environmental Justice Award

The Choose Clean Water Coalition is thrilled to share that Deputy Director Mariah Davis was honored with a Black Millennials 4 Flint Young, Gifted & Green 40 under 40 Award! The 40 awardees are Black, Latinx, and Indigenous Environmental Justice leaders from across the country; they are scientists, educators, policymakers, artists, faith-based leaders, chefs, healthcare workers, farmers, journalists and more. These changemakers reflect Black Millennials 4 Flint's Core Values—Community, Education, Black and Latinx Lives, Equity, and a #LeadFreeUSA—and exemplify service, impact, and justice in historically disenfranchised communities. The awards ceremony was held September 21 at the Capitol View Rooftop in Washington, D.C., during the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference. The Keynote Speaker was Rep. Justin J. Pearson of the Tennessee House of Representatives, founder of the Memphis Community Against Pollution.

On staff with the Coalition for more than six years, Mariah was nominated by one of her Young Professionals of Color mentees. Before joining the Coalition, she worked in conservation policy and environmental science in Richmond, Virginia. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Master of Public Management from the University of Maryland. In her words,

Thank you so much to Black Millennials 4 Flint for creating this award and for this recognition. It's an honor and a privilege to share this space with all of you and this award with my fellow 39 awardees.

I also want to thank my friends and my family who have supported me personally and professionally. I wouldn't be here without you.

The one thing I'll say and want to leave you with is that one of the last things that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did was fight for Environmental Justice. Fast-forward to present day and we are out here fighting. We are still fighting. This isn't feel-good work, this is selfless work. Everyone deserves a right to clean air and clean water. There's no fight I'd rather be in and I'm blessed to be doing it with all of you. Thank you.

Thank you, Mariah! Find a complete list of awardees here.