Meet the SustainPHL Nominees: Activist of the Year

These activists are promoting sustainability in their communities by increasing visibility and awareness of sustainability initiatives to new and broader audiences.

Join us on August 8th at WHYY for the SustainPHL Awards as we celebrate the nominees and announce the recipients!

SustainPHL 2019 Activist of the Year Nominees

• Arnett Woodall
• Eurhi Jones
• Amanda Lapham

Arnett Woodall

““I am driven by the philosophy that each individual must contribute and make a difference in the community they live, and leave it a better place for generations to come.”

Arnett Woodall has been actively involved in making a difference in Philadelphia. In 2001, he invested in West Philadelphia by purchasing two lots on a corner that had become the hub for heroin in Philadelphia and neighboring Delaware County.  That lot has become West Philadelphia Produce/A&W Solutions and The Upper Room Community Space. The building was constructed by neighborhood youth ages 12-17, and by doing so, they learned marketable skills in carpentry, construction, electricity, and plumbing. 

West Phillie Produce/A&W Community Solutions has become a beacon in the community and the center of activity. Residences will not only find fresh fruits and vegetables in a food desert but will also be able to be informed about community events and city programs. There are daily workshops, seminars information tables, and a plethora of resources to help the community. These seminars and workshops have been on creating community gardens, healthy cooking, composting, and healthy eating. 

Eurhi Jones

“I want the next generation of humans to survive in a better world.”

Eurhi is a community public artist and climate crisis activist who has made murals about nature and sustainability in Philadelphia for 20 years. She works with neighborhoods all over Philly with folks to highlight the human connection to nature.

The majority of her work is done in underserved neighborhoods in the Philadelphia area, in Hestonville, Sharswood, Fairhill and Strawberry Mansion, to name just a few. The project that Jones is currently working on is a good example – a colorful mural that wraps all the way around the William Cramp Elementary School, brightening the whole neighborhood. Community participants developed the theme of healing, gardening, and migration, and children participated in every stage of the process. 

In addition to murals, Eurhi works in a variety of media, making paintings, embroidery, and sculpture often made from repurposed materials. Images of her work are currently in an exhibition about the climate crisis at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington, DC. Natural phenomena, biology, sustainability, and interconnectedness inspire her work. All in all, she uses art and activism to address issues of climate change and social justice.

Amanda Lapham

“The people I work with on a daily basis, and the narratives I am able to hear and share, give me inspiration to keep fighting for environmental protection and social justice, despite the powerful special interests we are up against.”

Amanda is the Montgomery and Bucks County Climate Defender Organizer with PennEnvironment. She educates communities on local, state, and federal environmental issues and provides communities with the tools and skills that they need to take action. As an organizer, Lapham spends her time speaking to community groups, giving educational presentations, and organizing environmentally-themed events with communities, local leaders, and state legislators. 

She has helped organize over 400 Pennsylvanians to attend an environmental Lobby Day event this past June at the State Capital in Harrisburg. Through grassroots organizing, they have achieved over 95 co-sponsors for our state-wide 100% Renewable Energy legislation between the State, House, and Senate.  

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Join us at SustainPHL on August 8th to find out who will become the 2019 Activist of the Year award recipient!