September  2007

Announcing MEA's New Executive Director

Midwest Environmental Advocates welcomes Karen M. Schapiro as its new Executive Director.  Karen comes to us from the law firm of DeWitt Ross & Stevens, S.C., where she was a partner in the environmental practice group. 

Karen is honored to assume the role of Executive Director, so ably held by Melissa Scanlan since the founding of the organization.  She is looking forward to working with Midwest Environmental Advocates, its staff and supporters, to carry on and expand the mission of promoting environmental justice in the Western Great Lakes Region.  Learn more about Karen here. Read the press release here.

Opening the Milwaukee Office

Midwest Environmental Advocates has opened a Milwaukee office to provide legal representation on environmental justice issues, protect the Great Lakes, and work for a more sustainable urban environment.   Our former Executive Director, Melissa Scanlan, has moved to Milwaukee to carry out this work as Midwest Environmental Advocates's new Senior Counsel.  You can reach her at mscanlan@midwestadvocates.org.

Welcoming MEA's Newest Staff Attorney

Jamie Saul started as Midwest Environmental Advocates's newest staff attorney on August 20^th.  He graduated with honors from Lewis & Clark Law School in 2007, with a Certificate in Environmental Law.  Jamie also holds a B.S. in Geology from the College of William & Mary.   Hailing from Virginia, Jamie has a passion for canoeing and kayaking and the rivers that sustain the natural landscape.  Before attending law school, he worked as an outdoor educator, and founded a youth kayaking program that explored the whitewater of the western United States. 

Jamie will be continuing Midwest Environmental Advocates's work on the Family Farming, Clean Water and Sustaining Communities Campaigns.  Learn more about Jamie here.

Saying a Fond Farewell to Brent Denzin

At the end of August Midwest Environmental Advocates said goodbye to Staff Attorney and Equal Justice Works Fellow Brent Denzin.  For two years Brent has worked to develop the new Sustaining Communities Campaign.  Brent's many accomplishments include creating an on-line 'Big Box Toolkit' to help residents defend against the damaging effects of sprawl; providing support and information to numerous community groups advocating for sustainable development; and taking the lead on numerous cases.  Midwest Environmental Advocates would like to thank Brent for all his hard work and enthusiasm and wishes him and his family the best as they relocate to Chicago.

Fighting to Keep Great Lakes Water in the Great Lakes

Recent media stories have highlighted the deteriorating water quality of our Great Lakes.  Both Lake Michigan and Lake Superior have had uncharacteristically low water levels and have registered warmer than usual water temperatures.  Midwest Environmental Advocates continues to work on protecting these valuable resources and is actively encouraging the Wisconsin legislature to draft concise legislation that adopts the Great Lakes Compact.  Jodi Habush Sinykin, MEA's Of Counsel Attorney, had been working with the Special Committee on Great Lakes Water Resources Compact to advance the legislative process.  This process recently took a turn for the worse when the Committee was disbanded.  Learn more. 

Now your voice is urgently needed to protect the Great Lakes.  Act now to keep Great Lakes water in the Great Lakes!

Speaking Out Against Polluting Our Great Lakes: Success! BP Will Stick to Stricter Limits

Midwest Environmental Advocates joined with thousands of residents, elected officials, and organizations across the Great Lakes Basin to oppose a recent pollution permit in the state of Indiana that allowed BP to increase the dumping of pollutants into Lake Michigan.  Our letter to the editor encouraged Wisconsin politicians to come out in strong protest of the violation of our shared water resource.  Because of just this kind of publicity and public reaction, BP has agreed to limit their pollution and abide to previous, stronger pollution limits.  This is a great example of the effect of public involvement!