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The Hudson Valley Environmental Justice Coalition endeavors to bring nationally recognized figures to local audiences to speak about environmental justice and the environmental-crisis. Aaron Mair will join Rev. Dr. Gregory Simpson for a moderated conversation.

Aaron Mair has spent much of his career advocating for environmental justice, including fighting to shut down a solid waste incinerator in his Albany, New York, hometown and helping to lead the campaign for the cleanup of toxic PCBs in the Hudson River. In 2015, he became the first African American president of the Sierra Club.

In 1995, Mair founded the Arbor Hill Environmental Justice Corporation, which was a member of the White House Council on Environmental Quality from 1998 to 2000. He also founded, served as board member, and lectured at the W. Haywood Burns Environmental Education Center in the Albany Capital region of New York. In 1999, Mair was a member of Friends of Clean Hudson. In 2000, Mair received an EPA Environmental Quality Award for clean-up of PCBs on the Hudson River. Mair, also served as a board member at the New York League of Conservation Voters in 2000. He currently serves on the board of directors of Hudson River Sloop Clearwater.

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.

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 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

Ulster County MBK

Ulster County Muslim Association

Ulster County Youth Bureau

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Catskills

Woodstock Timebank Constellation