It is bittersweet news that the Ecology Center’s Deputy Director, Rebecca (Becca) Meuninck is moving to a new job as the Regional Executive Director of the National Wildlife Federation’s Great Lakes Office. We’ll miss Becca immensely, but we’re delighted she’ll be applying her genius at our long-standing partner organization. Her new position gives us the opportunity to further deepen those connections.
Twenty-three years ago, Becca started working part-time at the Ecology Center as an environmental health intern, and she’s been serving, since 2015, as our Deputy Director. She brings joy to her work, along with great intelligence and a talent at building strong relationships with all sorts of people. Among her many accomplishments, Becca helped develop the Ecology Center’s Health Leaders Fellowship program, spurred the creation of the State of Michigan’s Lead Poisoning Elimination Plan, launched our municipal procurement initiative and championed children’s environmental health through a state-wide coalition, helped convene the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network, worked on the federal level on PFAS action, helped build connections with national environmental health networks, and much more. In particular, the lead poisoning elimination work deserves special mention.
Spurred by the Flint Water Crisis Becca helped persuade the state to address ongoing lead contamination through Michigan’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Elimination Strategy, and current legislative proposals to address lead contamination. Most recently, Becca worked tirelessly with our coalitions: Lead Impacted Families Together and the Great Lakes Lead Elimination Network, a regional advocacy effort promoting lead prevention strategies in Great Lakes states.
Over the last 23 years, Becca’s work at the Ecology Center has improved the lives of countless Michigan residents, and elevated her to a prominent national role in environmental health advocacy. We can’t wait to work with her in her new role, and we’re looking forward to working with her to build a stronger movement for environmental justice.