Sister Pat Lupo, long-time, award-winning advocate for the environment was honored as a Freshwater Hero in a virtual ceremony on April 10. Freshwater Voices recognized ten Heroes this year who "have dedicated their lives to making a difference and are paving the way for meaningful, lasting change in our Great Lakes region. Their commitment to protecting our communities and water resources is nothing short of inspiring, with many of this year’s heroes spending years, if not decades, tackling the complex issues that impact our region.

View the presentation here. Sister Pat's award begins at 19:54. The Freshwater Voices newsletter writes about Sister Pat: Pat Lupo has committed decades to fostering environmental awareness and advocacy among youth as well as fighting for water quality in Erie, Pennsylvania. Pat is a respected leader, courageously speaking up and inspiring her community to protect the environment, Lake Erie, and public health.  An example of her impactful leadership is her work to advocate for stricter regulations on the Erie Coke plant. A history of pollution and environmental violations at the Erie Coke plant motivated Pat and other Erie residents to form Hold Erie Coke Accountable (HECA). Participating in the public process around a permit renewal, Pat and HECA’s voices influenced the state agency and the City of Erie to pressure Erie Coke to meet compliance regulations. Erie Coke refused and eventually closed the plant in 2019, elevating new concerns related to the clean-up of contamination and job loss for residents. Pat with HECA jumped right in, pushing for transparent cleanup efforts that resulted in meetings with public, governmental and civic groups. They are focused on monitoring the clean-up progress, engaging the community on the site's future use, including pressuring for an Erie Coke Community Working Group to increase transparency and public engagement.

Pat continues to nurture the next generation of environmental stewards through her work at the Inner-City Neighborhood Art House and John E. Horan Garden Apartments. We are confident that because of Pat’s brave voice and commitment to growing future stewards, her vision--where toxic facilities are replaced with green spaces accessible to all--will be achieved. Thank you, Pat, for being a Freshwater Hero for the youth and the environment in Erie.