Missouri Coalition for the Environment

Meet Ollie Caron-Noble, our new Policy Specialist! 👋 Ollie joins MCE with a passion for public policy and nearly a decade of experience in the legal field. After graduating from SUNY Purchase with a Bachelor’s degree in political science, he attended law school in Portland, OR, where he developed an interest in food law and policy. Ollie became a licensed attorney in the State of Missouri after moving to St. Louis in 2022 and spent over a year practicing law before joining MCE’s policy team. Ollie spends their free time crafting, taking pictures of their cats, hiking, and playing tennis with their partner. Welcome, Ollie! 

This session in the Missouri General Assembly was a special one for MCE. Legislators filed language we helped write in four separate bills (the greatest number of bills MCE has helped draft in a given session!) and one of them -- HB 2134/FB 1956 -- is expected to become law. HB 2134/HB 1956 addressed many of the concerns around the sludge crisis in Southwest Missouri in large part due to the operations of Denali Water Solutions, Inc. This bill was Truly Agreed to and Finally Passed and is awaiting Governor Mike Parson’s signature. Thank you to all the Missourians who spoke up about this issue!

Earlier this year, Bayer Corporation launched a campaign in Idaho, Iowa, and Missouri to push legislation protecting them from lawsuits alleging cancer and other harms from pesticides (like Roundup, which Bayer manufactures). These three states -- all of them farm country -- were a testing ground for pesticide manufacturers’ efforts to shield themselves from corporate liability. In each state, pesticides lost and citizens won. Read more in the Iowa Capital Dispatch op-ed “Heartland legislatures prove skeptical of industrial ag’s efforts to dodge accountability,” co-written by MCE policy director Melissa Vatterott, Idaho Conservation League government relations director Jonathan Oppenheimer, and Iowa Environmental Council water program director Alicia Vasto.

🌞 SUMMER INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY! 🌞 MCE is seeking a Community Outreach Intern to support our MCE Community Outreach Specialist in Kansas City! In this role, the Community Outreach Intern will: participate in relationship-building with local nonprofits, businesses, and residents; assist with event-planning and coordination; and table at events, markets, and venues to spread awareness about MCE. Learn more here and apply! https://bit.ly/MCEJobs

Our first Chats for Change of 2024 is just around the corner! Join us at Cooper's Landing in Columbia on Wednesday, May 22, from 5:30 to 7:30p. We’re excited to host an engaging night of conversation with elected officials — including State Representative Bruce Sassmann and Boone County Commissioner Janet Thompson — as well as other like-minded environmentalists and conservationists. This event is free. One drink will be provided to each attendee, and snacks are available to purchase. You can RSVP here: https://bit.ly/4d5aDvl

We hope you had a wonderful Earth Day celebration last week! In the spirit of Earth Day, let's take a moment to celebrate the strides we've made together. Your generosity empowered us to organize citizens in southwest Missouri to expand water and air quality testing. Together, we drove policy changes that will better protect our environment and the health of Missouri’s residents for generations to come. With this being an election year, our efforts are more important than ever. We need your continued support will help us continue to amplify our impact, expand our reach, and confront the pressing environmental challenges facing our state. You can donate here: https://bit.ly/3v4xup0 Thank you!

Happy Earth Day! As MCE supporters, your dedication has been instrumental in driving positive change. Your remarkable generosity enables us to live up to our mission in many ways, including by developing meaningful resources for environmental action. To date we have distributed hundreds of copies of The People’s Pocket Guide to Environmental Action, equipping individuals with the knowledge and tools they need to advocate for change in their communities. But the journey doesn't end here. As we continue to navigate through this election year and beyond, we need your continued support to keep the momentum going and ensure a brighter, greener future for Missouri. Today, we invite you to celebrate Earth Day with us by making a gift to MCE. Your support will help us continue to amplify our impact, expand our reach, and confront the pressing environmental challenges facing our state. Thank you for being a beacon of hope in our environmental movement. You can donate here: https://bit.ly/3v4xup0

𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥: The Missouri Coalition for the Environment is now hiring for our Policy Coordinator role! This key team member is responsible for helping to create and advance MCE’s policy agenda with other members of the Policy team. In prioritizing both proactive and reactive policy advocacy activities, the Policy Coordinator must factor in whether a policy being considered has the ability to advance or hinder racial equity for communities in Missouri. Program activities might shift depending on funding and issues, but this work must *always* be centered around people and environmental justice. Applications must be submitted by May 1, 2024. For complete information about the role, including duties and requirements, please visit our website: https://bit.ly/4aLD1AK

The Missouri Coalition for the Environment is now hiring for our Policy Coordinator role! This key team member reports directly to the Policy Director and is responsible for helping to create and advance MCE’s policy agenda with other members of the Policy team, as well as communicating with MCE members, partners, allies, policymakers, and other decision-makers about MCE’s policy advocacy work. In prioritizing both proactive and reactive policy advocacy activities, the Policy Coordinator must factor in whether a policy being considered has the ability to advance or hinder racial equity for communities in Missouri. Program activities might shift depending on funding and issues, but this work must *always* be centered around people and environmental justice. For complete information about the role, including duties and requirements, please visit our website: https://lnkd.in/egPTBK2e #nowhiring #applynow #policy #policycoordinator #missouri #environment #environmentaljustice #advocacy

Know a high school student who loves the environment as much as we do?👩🎓🌎 Encourage them to apply for our Student Environmental Action Award! These awards will recognize Missouri high school students who have initiated or contributed to innovative projects that will result in a strong, beneficial environmental impact. The deadline for submission is 2/28/24, head to https://lnkd.in/gDXbS6wQ to apply now and learn more! #MO #Missouri #MOEnvironment #MOStudent #SocialImpact