SACRAMENTO, CA –Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) today recognized Veronica Garibay and Phoebe Seaton for their environmental stewardship in California. Garibay and Seaton were awarded the James Irvine Award which recognizes leaders advancing innovative solutions to critical issues facing California. Both have contributed effective solutions in career readiness, civic engagement, and environmental justice.

“Last year, I had the honor of partnering with Veronica and Phoebe to craft and pass SB 351,” stated Sen. Hurtado. “Their leadership lead to the successful expansion of the Transformative Climate Communities program to ensure unincorporated communities are eligible to receive grants that will give residents the power to decide what projects will be built in their communities that further climate resilience and address major environmental, health and economic issues,” continued Sen. Hurtado.

“Leadership Counsel wouldn’t exist without the residents who lead every effort, every day in their neighborhoods, their city councils, and their state building,” Seaton said. “Their leadership fuels each victory.”

Veronica Garibay and Phoebe Seaton launched the Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability (LCJA) in 2013 to help address access to safe drinking water, clean air, sewer systems, affordable housing, public transportation, sidewalks, or parks remain out of reach in hundreds of neighborhoods - urban and rural alike. Through the organization they founded, Veronica and Phoebe are addressing the Valley’s challenges by partnering with residents to ensure rural communities can influence the policy and resource decisions affecting their lives.

About Senator Melissa Hurtado

Senator Melissa Hurtado is an advocate for expanding access to health care, growing educational opportunities and creating more quality jobs. Representing the 14th Senate district in California, which includes cities in Fresno, Kern, Kings and Tulare counties. Senator Hurtado was born in Fresno, California and raised in the City of Sanger, where she still resides with her family.

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