Terranisha Nathaniel, Stephen Vance and Pamela Tapia
Five Mack students were honored for their work in environmental justice at an awards ceremony at the Environmental Protection Agency in San Francisco on Thursday.
Three of the students — Terranisha Nathaniel, Stephen Vance and Pamela Tapia – spoke about researching asthma and environmental toxins in West Oakland, testifying in front of various regional, state and federal agencies, producing a video about Proposition 23, and collecting medical histories and life stories from local residents.
Two other students — Sarai Cornejo and DePaul Nguon — were absent.
“These students were selected based on their impact in raising consciousness about air pollution in their community,” said Ina Bendich, director of the Law Academy at McClymonds High School.
Schools mentioned for their “green curriculum” included Fremont (Mandela) Oakland Tech and Oakland High.
