Sharon Lavigne facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sharon Lavigne

Sharon Lavigne was born in May 1950. She is an important activist from Louisiana. She works to protect communities from pollution caused by large chemical factories. These factories are often found in an area known as Cancer Alley. Sharon Lavigne has received several major awards for her work. These include the Laetare Medal in 2022 and the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2021. She was also recognized by TIME magazine in 2023 and 2024 for her climate efforts.

Fighting for a Cleaner Environment

Sharon Lavigne lives in St. James Parish, Louisiana. This area is right in the middle of what people call "Cancer Alley." This nickname comes from the many petrochemical factories there. These factories make chemicals from oil and gas. Sometimes, they release pollution into the air and water.

RISE St. James

Sharon Lavigne leads a group called RISE St. James. It's a faith-based organization. Their main goal is to stop more chemical plants from being built in the area. They also work to reduce the pollution from existing factories. Lavigne has even spoken to the United States Congress about these issues.

Working with Others

She also works with other groups. One of these is the Coalition Against Death Alley. This group also focuses on environmental justice in the region. Sharon Lavigne has been part of legal cases too. She was a plaintiff in a case called White Hat v. Landry. This case aimed to change laws about oil and gas in Louisiana.

Protecting History and Homes

Sharon Lavigne also works to protect the history of the African American community. In 2019, she helped organize people against a new factory. This factory, planned by Formosa Plastics Corp, would have disturbed an old burial ground for enslaved people. In December 2020, a court stopped the factory's plans. She had also helped stop similar projects before. These included plans from Wanhua Chemical Group and South Louisiana Methanol.

Major Awards and Victories

Sharon Lavigne's hard work has been recognized. She received the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2021. This award is sometimes called the "Green Nobel Prize." On March 27, 2022, she was given the Laetare Medal. This is a very high honor for American Catholics. In the same year, RISE St. James and other groups won a lawsuit against Formosa. They argued that the proposed factory's air pollution would be too high. The court agreed, which was a big win for the community.

About Sharon Lavigne

Sharon Lavigne used to be a special education teacher. Her father was a sugarcane farmer in the area. Her mother stayed home to care for their family. Her family was also involved in the civil rights movement. This was a time when people worked for equal rights for all.

She is also a Black Catholic. She attends St. James Catholic Church in St. James, Louisiana.

See also

In Spanish: Sharon Lavigne para niños