
Everglades Coalition
Grassroots Activism Award
The Grassroots Activism Award is awarded each year to someone who does exceptional work to engage and educate the community in the name of Everglades restoration. First established to acknowledge the efforts of John Kabler, he gathered thousands of signatures, organized rallies, and knocked on doors across the community to oppose government plans to dump contaminated wastewater from the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant accident into the Susquehanna River. He monitored legislatures and published voting charts to track support for environmental bills and was one of the first environmental leaders to form alliances with organized labor. He played a crucial role in pushing politicians to protect the Chesapeake Bay watershed before joining Clean Water Action in Dade County, where he became involved in Everglades issues. After meeting George Barley and other conservation leaders in South Florida, John set to work defending the Clean Water Act and advancing restoration. Outstanding community organizers are honored by the Everglades Coalition still today.

Award Recipients
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2023 Tropical Audubon Society Staff
2022 Rev. Houston Cypress
2020 Diana Umpierre
2019 Stephen Davis, Ph.D.
2018 Betty Osceola
2017 Gayle Ryan
2017 Dr. Karen Dwyer
2016 Cris Costello
2015 Jaqui Thurlow-Lippisch
2014 Cynthia Plockelman
2013 Margaret England
2012 Drew Martin
2011 Mark Oncavage
2010 John Cassani
2009 Paul Holmes
2008 Cynthia Guerra, Ellen Peterson
2007 Nancy Lee
2006 Herb Zebuth
2005 Nancy Anne Payton
2004 Dr. Paul Gray
2003 Alan Farago
2002 Cissy Durando
2001 Juanita Greene
2000 Don Chinquina
1999 Rod Tirrell