Toxics Action Center’s corporate board includes eleven community activists and environmental and public health professionals who meet at least twice each year to provide advice on and vote on programmatic, organizational, and fundraising initiatives. Board members are chosen for their expertise in developing and implementing community organizing strategies. The Board votes to approve the annual budget.

 

 

 

Ann Bettinger is the director of Alton Community Action, a community group working for a full cleanup of an industrial toxic waste site under their neighborhood. 

Paul Burns is the Director of Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG), Vermont’s largest environmental and consumer organization.  For the past decade, Paul has led campaigns throughout the Northeast on solid waste issues, pesticides and river protection. 

Bernadette Del Chiaro is the Director of Environment California’s energy program.  She was a staff member ofToxics Action Center from 1997 through 2002 and Organizing Director from 1999-2002. 

Jackie Elliott is an environmental health advocate retired to Maine from New Hampshire, where she worked as organizer and leader of the citizens' group C.L.E.A.R. fighting a waste-to-energy incinerator in the community.

Elizabeth Hayes is the chairperson of the Newhall Coalition, which works to ensure a timely and effective cleanup of the Olin Chemicals toxic waste site inHamden, CT.  She founded the organization four years ago. 

Naomi Roth (Clerk) is the Executive Director of Activist Training Center.  Formerly, she was Executive Director of Green Corps, where she trained dozens of talented organizers since 1999.  She has coordinated Green Corps campaign work with the Sierra Club, the Alaska Coalition, U.S. PIRG, Corporate Accountability International and many more groups, leading to concrete environmental victories, such as protecting the Arctic and clean air laws. 

John Rumpler is the Senior Environmental Attorney with Environment America.In his current position, John spends his time working with advocates to develop new environmental policy and campaigns.  John has also legally represented low-income community groups in local environmental battles with the organization Alternatives for Communities and the Environment in Massachusetts. 

Robert Sargent (President) is the Energy Policy Director for Environment America. He provides assistance to state PIRG organizations across the country in developing and implementing progressive state energy policies.  He was founder and first Director of Toxics Action Center in 1987. 

Linda Segal (Vice President) is the former chair of NED/Dow Neighbors, which worked for seven years to clean up property contaminated by Dow Chemical in Wayland, MA.  She also served a term as Selectwoman for the Town of Wayland.

Matt Wilson (Treasurer) currently is running campaigns for electoral candidates in Connecticut.  He holds a degree in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. Formerly he served as the Field Director for Grassroots Campaigns, Inc. where he focused on building support for progressive candidates, parties and campaigns.  Matt directed Toxics ActionCenter for 16 years, expanding the organization’s reach across New England.

 

Toxics Action Center currently has four active Advisory Boards for different regions.  Our staff relies on the Advisory Boards for state-specific direction in steering our program, staffing and fundraising.  Advisory Boards are comprised primarily of community activists, and also include environmental professionals and coalition partners.