Learning from Louisville

On Monday, April 4th we’re hosting two incredible activists who fought for and won strong air pollution regulations in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Strategic Toxic Air Reduction (STAR) Program of the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District is a regulatory program to reduce harmful contaminants in the air we breathe, to better protect citizens’ health and enhance quality of life.

We’re hosting two women who were in the forefront of establishing and implementing this program: Wilma Subra and Eboni Cochrane.

Wilma Subra is an environmental scientist with degrees in microbiology, chemistry and computer sciences. She has worked with dozens of communities to help them understand technical information to be full participants in decisions that impact their lives. She has worked for the Gulf South Research Institute, served as vice-chair of the EPA National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology, serves as President of the Subra Company and was recently in the documentary Gasland about hydrofracking.

Eboni Cochrane is a member of Rubbertown Emergency Action (REACT). REACT is a grassroots organization of residents living near or at the fence lines of a cluster of 11 chemical plants commonly referred to as Rubbertown. REACT fights for:

• Strong laws to stop toxic air pollution from chemical plants
• The protection of residents in the event of a leak, fire or explosion in a chemical plant or railcar.
• Full disclosure and easy access to information concerning the impact of Rubbertown on residents living nearby

Eboni and Wilma will speak about how they organized the community to push for the program, how the STAR program reduced harmful emissions and they lessons they’ve learned.

Join us at the Sheridan Parkside Community Center at 7:00 pm