The Hudson Valley Environmental Justice Coalition is hosting a virtual event “Great-grandmother Mary Lyons & Justin J Pearson - HVEJC” on March 12, 2021 from 5:30PM-6:30PM EST.
HVEJC is honored to host Great-grandmother Mary Lyons and Justin Pearson for conversation about their struggles to protect the environment.
About this Event:
The Hudson Valley Environmental Justice Coalition endeavors to bring nationally recognized figures to local audiences to speak about environmental justice and the environmental-crisis. Great Grandmother Mary Lyons and Justin J. Pearson will join Rev. Dr. Gregory Simpson for a moderated conversation. Both of our esteemed guests are deeply involved in the struggles against Line 3 in Minnesota and the Byhalia Pipeline in Memphis.
Great-grandmother Mary Lyons is an Ojibwe Elder, formally known as a world-renowned Wisdom Keeper, an Empowerment Coach, Activist and Author. She is an International Keynote speaker and seminar leader, from the Parliament of World Religions, NYC Climate March, Global Elder’s Gathering on Climate Change and a United Nations Indigenous Observer, just to mention a few. Amongst, her strong commitments, she is one of the 5 women whom co-founded the global “Grandmothers of the Sacred WE, etc.
She continues to work at the intersections the criminal justice, environmental issues, child welfare systems and develops policy and advocacy strategies to help reduce the chances of family separation and MMIW (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women). She brings a de-colonial and anti-capitalistic framework to the mainstream environmental movement through spiritual wisdom lessons. She speaks at rallies, city council meetings, schools, women prisons, global elder circles and is currently an elder observer at the United Nations Forum on Indigenous Issues. Being an activist and policy changer; she’s worked on everything from Native Lives Matter, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, LGBT, Transgender issues, Moms Clean Air Force organization, and bringing awareness and action to protecting the four elements, Water, Air, Fire and Earth.
Justin J. Pearson is the fourth son of five boys born to teenage parents in Memphis, Tennessee. Justin J. graduated from Mitchell High School as Valedictorian and Bowdoin College in 2017 majoring in both Government & Legal Studies and Education Studies. He currently lives in Memphis but works at the headquarters of Year Up in Boston, Massachusetts. He is focused on social, racial and economic justice as Special Assistant to the CEO of Year Up - a national program helping 18 - 24-year-olds gain training and entry-level jobs with corporate partners such as Bank of America, Facebook, and Salesforce. Justin J. is also one of the leaders of Memphis Community Against the Pipeline (MCAP) which is a Black-led environmental justice organization seeking to end the racism and injustices in Memphis with the stopping of the Byhalia Connection Pipeline. Pearson has an unwavering commitment to justice and the pursuit of opportunity for all people.
Rev. Dr. Gregory Simpson (moderator) is a scientist and theologian. He holds a Doctorate degree in Organic Chemistry from the University of the West Indies. He was a postdoctoral research fellow in genomic physiology and molecular biology at UMass Medical School and taught chemistry as an adjunct professor at Worcester State University. Later he completed both Master of Divinity (MDiv) and Master of Sacred Theology (STM) degrees in New Testament Bible and Ethics at Union Theological Seminary NY. His scholarship focused on Intellectual Property Rights, Biblical Ethics and Climate Change. He is the Pastor at Nauraushaun Presbyterian Church & Co-Founder of Learning for Life Solutions.
Hudson Valley Environmental Justice Coalition
Members:
The Ashokan Center
Calvary Presbyterian Church (Newburgh)
Catskill Mountainkeeper
The Center for Economic and Environmental Partnership
Citizens Climate Lobby – Columbia County Chapter
Citizens Climate Lobby - Mid-Hudson South
The Climate Actors
Climate Reality Hudson Valley & Catskills Chapter
Harambee
Holy Cross/Santa Cruz Episcopal Church
Hudson River Maritime Museum
Hudson River Sloop Clearwater
The Hudson River Watershed Alliance
Kingston Interfaith Council
Kingston Land Trust
Kingston Midtown Rising
Minister’s Alliance of Ulster County
MyKingstonKids
Nauraushaun Presbyterian Church
New Paltz Climate Action
Oceans 8 Films
Old Dutch Church Kingston
New Progressive Baptist Church
New Yorkers for Clean Power
Peaceful Guardians Project
Pointe of Praise Family Life Center
Radio Kingston (WKNY)
Riverkeeper
Scenic Hudson
Schaghticoke First Nations
Sustainable Hudson Valley
Transart
Ulster County MBK
Ulster County Muslim Association
Ulster County Youth Bureau
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Catskills
Woodstock Land Conservancy
Woodstock Timebank Constellation