NWF Names Simone Lightfoot Director, National Urban Initiatives
Move to bolster conservation work in front-line communities across the country.
Simone Lightfoot. Photo courtesy of the National Wildlife Federation.” width=”325″ height=”487″ />
Simone Lightfoot. Photo courtesy of the National Wildlife Federation.Ann Arbor, MI (August 24,2016) – The National Wildlife Federation has named Simone Lightfoot as director of national urban initiatives, where she will help bolster the organization’s conservation work in urban communities across the country. Previously Lightfoot oversaw the National Wildlife Federation’s work in 11 cities in the Great Lakes region, where she helped engage communities on a range of conservation and environmental issues—from aging infrastructure to urban habitats to lack of access to clean, affordable drinking water in places like Flint, Mich.
“Simone Lightfoot has the experience, track record, passion, and drive to help ensure that as we work to solve the conservation challenges of our time, we are standing arm-in-arm with front-line communities to ensure that every American benefits,” said Collin O’Mara, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Wildlife Federation.
Lightfoot, an Air Force veteran who went on to serve as a deputy chief of staff in the Michigan House of Representatives and state director for voter empowerment for the national NAACP, presently oversees the National Wildlife Federation’s outreach to urban communities in the Great Lakes region. With this promotion, Lightfoot will expand that portfolio to work throughout the country on conservation and wildlife issues that impact front-line communities, from access to clean and affordable water to urban impacts of climate change to the transition of post-industrial urban centers. Her work will include connecting NWF’s existing work in key urban communities around the nation to national social justice and environmental justice organizations, fostering national alliances and partnerships, and expanding NWF relationships with urban elected leaders at the national level.
“I am excited to do my part in helping ensure that our urban centers play a vital role in shaping a modern conservation agenda that leads to a cleaner, healthier environment and better quality of life for all of our nation’s vibrant and diverse communities,” said Lightfoot. “The success of our conservation movement will depend on whether we extend the promise of safer and healthier communities to all communities. As a nation, we have a long way to go on that front, but by working together, I am confident that we can get there.”
Lightfoot assumes her new position on September 1, 2016.
The National Wildlife Federation is America’s largest conservation organization uniting all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in a rapidly-changing world. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
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Simone brings superior efforts to the objectives of conservation .
Urban Americans have another asset to lean on when they confront issues of toxicity in their venues.
Greg Thrasher
Director
Plane Ideas
Alternative Think Tank
DC/Detroit
What an outstanding choice in selecting Simone Lightfoot for this great opportunity! Simone’s vision, insight, passion and experience in dealing with resource concerns of an urban landscape are precisely what’s needed in order to tackle economic deprivation as well as other conservation issues as they relate to the urban environment!
Congratulations Simone!