Destiny Watford

Destiny Watford is an American environmental activist. She won a Goldman Environmental Prize in 2016.[1][2][3]

Destiny Watford (left) with Nancy Pelosi, 2016

Biography

Watford was raised in Curtis Bay, Maryland, in an area with significant air pollution.[4][5][6] While in high school, she started an advocacy campaign against an incinerator project that had been approved by the city and state, and could burn 4,000 tons of waste per day.[5] Over four years, she led advocacy with other students at Benjamin Franklin High School based on concerns about the health impacts from more air pollution in the area, including the prevalence of asthma already experienced in the local community.[6][7] Their work included research into land use and zoning policies, as well as lobbying school and government officials.[8] In 2016, the Maryland Department of the Environment canceled the incinerator project.[9][10]

She studied at Towson University.[11] In 2018, she presented at the Facing Race Conference.[12] At age 16, she co-founded the advocacy group Free Your Voice,[3][13] which is now part of the human rights organization United Workers.[14]

Awards and recognition

Watford has received a variety of awards and accolades, including the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2016, as well as recognition as a Birdland Community Hero in 2016,[15] Time Next Generation Leader 2016,[16] and Essence Work 100 Woman.[17]

Public speaking

Watford is a regular keynote speaker on environmentalism and environmental justice. Speaking credits include:

  • Speaker at 2017 TEDxMidAtlantic[18]
  • Speaker at Facing Race National Conference 2018[12]
  • Keynote at 2018 University of Maryland Environmental Justice and Health Disparities Symposium[19]
  • Keynote at 2019 New Mexico Clean Energy Conference [20]
  • Keynote at 2019 Celebrating ‘The Power of 10’ Towson University Conference[21]

References
  1. "Destiny Watford". Goldman Environmental Foundation. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
  2. Worland, Jason (October 8, 2020). "Fighting for Environmental Justice on the Streets of Baltimore". Time. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
  3. Norris, Anna (April 26, 2016). "This Brave Baltimore Student Shut Down the Nation's Largest Trash Incinerator". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  4. Dance, Scott (April 18, 2016). "Curtis Bay youth wins award for campaign against Fairfield incinerator". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  5. Blackstone, John (April 19, 2016). "Baltimore student takes on gov't, saves town from more pollution". CBS News. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  6. Fears, Darryl (April 18, 2016). "This Baltimore 20-year-old just won a huge international award for taking out a giant trash incinerator". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  7. Schwartz, Ariel (April 20, 2016). "This 20 year-old stopped the largest trash incinerator in the U.S. from being built". Business Insider. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  8. Mock, Brentin (April 25, 2016). "How Destiny Won Over Baltimore". Bloomberg. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  9. "Meet the black activist who derailed a big polluting project before graduating college". Grist. 2016-04-18. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
  10. Dance, Scott (December 15, 2017). "How a trash incinerator — Baltimore's biggest polluter — became 'green' energy". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  11. "TU in the News: Destiny Watford '17 wins international award for activism". Towson University. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
  12. "Destiny Watford". Facing Race: A National Conference. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
  13. Inc, Younts Design. "Youth Environmental Activism / Expert Q&A: Destiny Watford, Charles Graham, & Evan Maminski". Biohabitats. Retrieved 2021-04-20. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  14. Pinder, Gay (August 18, 2016). "How Destiny Watford went from 'just' a teenager to acclaimed activist". The Daily Record. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  15. "Birdland Hero: Destiny Watford | 06/25/2016". MLB.com. Retrieved 2021-05-01.
  16. "Meet the 20-Year-Old Who Stood Up to a Major Company—and Won". Time. 3 June 2016. Retrieved 2021-05-01.
  17. Kwateng-Clark, Danielle (August 1, 2017). "ESSENCE Black Girl Magic: Meet The 20-Year-Old Environmentalist Fighting For Her Community". Essence. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
  18. Watford, Destiny (5 October 2018), How one student activist helped her community stop a polluting incinerator, retrieved 2021-05-01
  19. "2018 Symposium". Community Engagement, Environmental Justice & Health. Retrieved 2021-05-01.
  20. "Clean Energy Conference w/ Goldman Prize Winner Destiny Watford :: Sustainability Studies Program | The University of New Mexico". sust.unm.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-01.
  21. "Celebrating 'The Power of 10'". Towson University. Retrieved 2021-05-01.
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