2025 Environmental Justice Awards

Lindsey Horvath

Los Angeles County Supervisor, 3rd District

Environmental Justice Champion Award

Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath is the youngest-ever Chair of the Board of Supervisors and is focused on bringing young and marginalized voices into the work of the County. She is the first millennial, and currently the only renter to serve on the Board, bringing a much-needed perspective to Los Angeles County leadership.

Upon taking office in December 2022, she authored LA County’s homelessness emergency declaration, bringing added urgency and transparency to the region’s homelessness response. Supervisor Horvath also appointed herself to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) Commission, where she now serves as Chair, to focus accountability and transparency on the use of resources to address the emergency.

A member of the Metro Board of Directors and Vice Chair of Clean Power Alliance, she is also a longtime champion for transportation, environmental sustainability and justice, and women’s and LGBTQ+ rights.

She previously served as Councilmember and the longest consecutively serving Mayor of West Hollywood.

Tony Cardenas

United States Congressman, Retired

Lifetime Achievement Award

Tony Cardenas is the youngest of eleven children, born and raised in Pacoima. His immigrant parents taught him the value of hard work, education and to respect the land and all that we are blessed with. Tony Cardenas attended public schools and earned an Electrical Engineering degree from the University of California Santa Barbara. He moved back home to Pacoima after college, started a local business, married his wife Norma and started a family. In 1996 Tony was elected to the State Assembly becoming the first Latino to represent the San Fernando Valley in the California Legislature. He championed juvenile justice, environmental justice, education and many other laws that were important to the community.

After serving three terms in the State Assembly, Tony Cardenas was elected to represent the Northeast San Fernando Valley on the Los Angeles City Council in 2003. As Chairman of the committee that oversaw the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Port of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Airports, Tony Cardenas ushered in the new era of a cleaner Los Angeles. The Department of Water and power began its first carbon reduction standards. The Port of Los Angeles installed its first electric plug in infrastructure, which allowed the ships to turn off their dirty diesel engines. The airport started its first clean vehicles program at LAX.

Mr. Cardenas served 10 years on the Los Angeles City Council. In 2013, Tony was elected to the House of Representatives becoming the first Latino to Represent the San Fernando Valley in Congress. In Congress, Tony continued to work on many issues including environmental justice. Working with now United States Senator Alex Padilla, together they championed the first ever “Clean Commute for Kids Act” and funded over $7.5 Billion so that schools across America can replace diesel school buses with electric school buses and clean school buses. For the last 28 years Tony Cardenas has been a champion for the San Fernando Valley, our State and our Country. Tony Cardenas has been a champion, para todos, for everyone.

Sherry Purcell, Ph.D.

Immaculate Heart Community | President and Principal Executive Officer

Environmental Justice Ally Award

Sherry joined the Immaculate Heart Community (IHC) in 2015 after a career of direct and administrative service in public education. She holds Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Connecticut. 

As a member of the Community, she has served on a committee which helps incoming members with discernment about membership; helped to re-write the original Decrees to define the spirit of the Community today; and served as Secretary and Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees and on various Board committees. She leads a Community prayer group via Zoom on a monthly basis. Sherry was honored to be elected President/PEO of the Community in 2023.

She has made two trips to the border of the US and Mexico to stand for the rights of immigrants and refugees, and she has regularly visited people held in detention centers waiting for a determination of their immigration status. She volunteers her time on weekends to provide hot meal service to local residents who are unhoused. Sherry has found a spiritual home within the IHC and is grateful for God’s guidance to the Community. 

Enrique Chiabra

News Anchor

Enrique Chiabra is a News Anchor for Noticiero Telemundo 52 at 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. Telemundo 52 is Telemundo’s West Coast flagship television station, delivering nearly 30 hours of news and local programming each week to viewers in Southern California, including breaking news coverage, up-to-the-minute weather forecasts and entertainment. Chiabra joined Telemundo 52 in 2016 as News Anchor of the morning newscast, Noticiero Telemundo 52 at 5 a.m. and 6 a.m., and in 2018 he was named News Anchor of the afternoon newscasts at 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. Prior to joining Telemundo 52, Chiabra anchored the weekend newscasts at KUVS Univision Sacramento where he also worked as a reporter and video journalist. Chiabra also worked at Univision Palm Springs for four years where he held various positions as news director, news anchor, reporter, producer, editor and cameraman. His work has been recognized with several awards including 11 Emmy Awards, a GLAAD Award and the Ruben Salazar Award for a special series that examined the ongoing attacks and abuses facing the transgender community. Born in Peru, Chiabra earned his bachelor’s degree in Sociology from UCLA in Los Angeles, California and a master’s degree in communication sciences and journalism from Florida International University. 

Nicole Martinez

Artist

Nico Martinez is an aspiring animator born and raised in Sun Valley. Their work revolves around many topics including environmental justice, self empowerment and nature. They recently had the opportunity to work with Kristy Sandoval on a mural in Paxton Park in Pacoima and ever since then, they have been eager to experience the creation of murals and navigate the world of becoming a freelance artist. Their art is inspired by the people around them, their experiences and the little details in everyday life.

Olea

DJ • Curator • Event Producer

Olea is a first-generation Mexican American from the San Fernando Valley who makes sense of the world through the things he enjoys most - music and books. While his sound is founded on the principles of hip-hop and R&B, he is steadfast to showcase his vast knowledge of sounds from all around the world: amapiano, batida, house, jungle, and everything in between. Open format in all senses.

From house parties in his backyard to venues across the world - New York, Mexico City, London, and Paris - Olea's purpose is to challenge the idea that a zip code has the power to determine a person's life outcomes. As a DJ, curator, and event producer, Olea likens himself to a community organizer who uses his talents to engage and connect with the next generation in new ways.

For more information, visit Olea's website: oleasfv.world

Astrid Cortez

Photographer

Astrid Cortez is currently a student at Los Angeles Valley College majoring in Photography with a minor in Journalism. She had the privilege of being photo editor of her school’s newspaper for two semesters and then got promoted as managing editor; she is responsible for overseeing the creation of the school’s magazine. She is also a behind-the-scenes (BTS) photographer, working on many student films, the Rose Parade, and other projects.