Kimberly Wasserman, an environmentalist who is executive director of Little Village Environmental Justice Organization and 2013 Goldman Environmental Prize winner for North America, is scheduled to speak Tuesday, Oct. 9 on the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh campus.

The lecture takes place at 5:30 p.m. at the Alumni Welcome and Conference Center Ballroom, 625 Pearl Ave., and is free and open to the public.

Wasserman led local residents in a successful campaign for passage of the Chicago Clean Power ordinance that resulted in closure of two of the country’s oldest and dirtiest coal-fired power plants—the Crawford and Fisk plants—and is now transforming Chicago’s old industrial sites into parks and multi-use spaces.

“As the keynote speaker for Earth Charter week, she will talk about the ongoing fight for environmental justice in the Little Village community in Chicago, and the greater Midwest,” said Elizabeth Barron, assistant professor of geography and environmental studies at UW Oshkosh.

As a Mexican-American woman and activist who tirelessly advocates for people’s rights to safe and clean communities, Wasserman’s talk promises to touch on many issues UW Oshkosh focuses on—inclusive excellence, shared governance and sustainability, Barron said.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has called Wasserman a “force to be reckoned with.”

“We are very excited about bringing Kim Wasserman to campus. She is a community organizer, an activist, a mother and a passionate advocate for environmental justice.” Barron said. “I fully expect a motivating and engaging event that will hopefully leave our students full of ideas and inspiration to get out and take ownership of their world.”

Sponsors of the event are UW Oshkosh Green Fund; the Sustainability Institute for Regional Transformations; and the campus sustainability office.

Learn more:

• UW Oshkosh Sustainability Institute for Regional Transformations