2021 Sierra Club Missouri Chapter Executive Committee Candidate Statements

Here are the candidate statements for the 2021 Sierra Club Missouri Chapter Executive Committee election. Those chosen will serve a two year term, during the years 2022 and 2023.

Voting begins on December 1, 2021. Please vote by midnight, December 31, 2021. You can learn the details of voting and then vote at this link.

 

Kevin Grooms

I’m proud to complete my third year on the chapter Executive Committee and first year as committee chair. I have also served two terms on the Thomas Hart Benton group executive committee, and three years as chair. I was born in Arkansas and raised in Kansas City where I live now, and have lived most of my life. I joined the Sierra Club as a way to return to the values of protecting the environment I learned in my youth. I have especially enjoyed engaging in the legislative process, introducing myself to elected officials and their staffs and in some cases establishing good relationships. The role of chair has given me the wonderful opportunity to work extensively with staff and volunteers. We’ve seen the Missouri Chapter expand its capacities as an organization, especially in service of our grassroots leaders and the goal of creating a more welcoming organization. I’ve served on the chapter Finance Committee since its inception, attended numerous trainings and collaborated with other leaders through the Chapter Strong strategic planning process. I’m currently working on the hiring committee to select a new development associate, and I’m prepared to see our fundraising efforts expand as a result. My mission in the coming year is to be a helpful presence for every group and committee, searching out ways leaders at every level can collaborate to achieve environmental justice in Missouri.

Helen Host

Growing up in Western Pennsylvania, I was blessed to be in a family that enjoyed outdoor adventures: camping, hiking, and exploring through all 48 contiguous US states before college. These experiences instilled in me a love of the outdoors and appreciation for environmental preservation. I am a wife and mother, a trail runner, a cyclist, a skier and outdoor enthusiast! Professionally, I am a Physical Therapist with a PhD from Washington University in Saint Louis; my 30+ year professional career has been focused on improving health and wellness in individuals. My research focus has been optimizing physical function in older adults through increasing their physical activity. As a long-time supporter of environmental organizations including the Sierra Club, I realized in 2018 that I needed to become a more active participant in creating change. I’ve enjoyed helping with various campaigns with our local Sierra Club Chapter since that time. In the fall of 2018, I trained as a Climate Reality Leader (CRL) and became a CRL Mentor in 2020; additionally, I joined Citizens’ Climate Lobby and am part of the Missouri Leadership Team. We are working tirelessly to bring our nation’s Congressional leaders together, to combat the challenges of climate change with bipartisanship and to address environmental inequities. All individuals deserve a healthy environment in which they can thrive. My career experiences plus my love of the outdoors and strong devotion towards preserving and improving our world’s environment, makes me a strong & enthusiastic candidate for this Sierra Club role.

  

Debi Pratt

My name is Deborah Pratt (Debi) and I am currently an active member of the Sierra Club- EMG. I currently chair the EMG Political Committee and serve on the Missouri Chapter Board. In describing myself, I most closely fit the description of a social justice advocate and activist. The collective power of passionate people is one of my fundamental beliefs. I have volunteered with numerous organizations that have social justice at the core of their mission and find this work to be very rewarding. I value the Sierra Club as a leading authority on global, national, and local environmental issues. The staff and volunteers I have met and worked with are committed to protecting—and improving—the environment for future generations. I believe their success comes from working to understand the issues and then helping to educate others on how to implement solutions. I would like to continue to participate with the Sierra Club through connecting environmental issues to social justice issues, i.e. the connection between poverty and poor health as it relates to environmental inequities. Working on electing candidates who understand and are committed to a pro-environmental platform is another area of interest for me and one in which I have some experience. Please let me know if you need any other information regarding my personal or professional experience.

Sarah Richmond

My name is Sarah Richmond and I have been interested in conservation and environmental activism my whole life. Most recently, I was able to be part of the conversation around the Keystone XL Pipeline when I lived in Omaha, Nebraska. I am a Data Analyst by day, and I am hoping to bring that skillset to the Sierra Club through infographics, analysis and data visualization. Thank you for considering me for the executive board position for the Missouri Sierra Club.

Stephanie Todd

For over 20 years, I've supported the Sierra Club and recently have become more active, working with the Conservation Committee and the Political Action Committee. I also act as a liaison between Missouri Sierra Club, St. Louis Audubon Society, and Missouri Chapter of International Dark Sky since they share many common goals. In the past year, I took the initiative on several issues where I felt I could make an impact. One of my projects is educating people about the detrimental effects of light pollution. As part of this effort, I am asking St. Louis businesses and buildings owners to turn-off lights during peak bird migration periods for Lights Out Heartland. I am also the focal for certifying "Dark Sky Places" for the Missouri Chapter of International Dark Sky. In this role as focal, I led a year-long effort that ended with certification of a local park in St. Louis County as the first Urban Night Sky Place in the country! I am also working to persuade cities to stop fogging or spraying for mosquitos. I have talked to many people, including city councils, to understand their concerns and help educate them that fogging has practically no effect on mosquitoes but kills all insects and pollinators it contacts. I would like to join the Sierra Club Board to make an even greater impact for the environment.