Midwest Environmental Advocates is pleased to announce that Marco Marquez of Milwaukee, Paul DeMain of Hayward, and Lee Donahue of the Town of Campbell are the recipients of this year’s Bill Iwen Environmental Justice Award.
About the award
MEA established the Bill Iwen Environmental Justice Award in 2019 to recognize and honor outstanding environmental justice leaders like Marco, Paul and Lee. They are leading the way toward a more just and equitable future by advocating for the rights of all people to live in a clean and healthy environment.
Help us congratulate the awardees!
We invite you to join us in congratulating this year’s awardees. You can use the following links to send a note or to record a video greeting.
Celebrate with us on Tuesday, October 22
Our virtual awards celebration will take place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 22. Please join us to celebrate the vision and dedication of our fellow advocates and to draw inspiration and strength for the work ahead.
MEET THE AWARDEES
MARCO MARQUEZ
Marco Marquez, a Milwaukee native, works closely with high school students across the state who are passionate about protecting our environment and protecting our future. He is the Wisconsin state director for Action for the Climate Emergency (ACE), where he works to educate, inspire, and support Wisconsin youth to become agents and leaders of change in the fight for climate justice. He also serves as a mentor with Wisconsin Badger Boys State Program, a leadership development program that trains and inspires high school students to become active and engaged citizens in their own communities.
PAUL DEMAIN
Paul DeMain, also know by his Ojibwe name, Skabewis, is a citizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. His connection to water began in childhood, when he spent significant time around the Wisconsin River and Lake Wausau. This early bond with water deeply influenced his lifelong commitment to environmental protection. As the former board chair of Honor the Earth, Paul advocated for protecting northern Wisconsin and the ceded territories from oil pipelines and other environmental threats. During his 40-year career as a journalist, he edited and published the national Native newspaper ‘News from Indian Country’ and produced shows for ‘Indian Country TV.’ Throughout his career, Paul has worked to highlight the interconnectedness of environmental health and cultural survival.
LEE DONAHUE
Lee Donahue lives on French Island in the town of Campbell, a small community adjacent to the city of La Crosse. For almost four years, Lee and thousands of other Town of Campbell residents have been unable to drink their tap water due to toxic PFAS contamination. As a town supervisor, Lee has worked tirelessly to draw attention to this environmental and public health emergency and to advocate for a permanent source of safe drinking water for her constituents. In addition, she is actively engaged in advocating for new environmental health protections, including a statewide groundwater quality standard for PFAS.
