2004 Spring State Conference: Sharon Fuller

Sharon Fuller is the Director and founder of the Ma'at Youth Academy, a multicultural environmental organization dedicated to a safer, cleaner healthier environment. MYA seeks to improve all ecological relationships, including those between humanity and nature, as well as between people. Cultural differences are embraced and honored as they promote the preservation and conservation of vital natural resources.

Through research, education, and community organizing, MYA's goal is to create a system of community monitors that can minimize human exposure to environmental hazards, while preserving the health and well being of individuals in low-income communities and communities of color.

By informing young people and creating opportunities for them to join successful community environmental initiatives Ma'at Youth Academy's Community and Global Ecology (CGE), Environmental Coalition for Community Health (ECCH) and Youth Environmental Ambassadors of Health (YEAH!) literally bring "the environment" to life.

Ma'at (my-OT) is the Egyptian goddess of justice and truth.

Ma'at Youth Academy is the recipient of the 1999 National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Achievement Award.

The Ma'at Youth Academy has won the coveted National Environmental Education and Training Foundation's coveted National Achievement Award. The NEETF presented the award to MYA Executive Director Sharon Fuller at a ceremony in Washington, DC on January 20. In her acceptance speech, Fuller noted: "Most environmental education programs focus on wildlife and wilderness areas, even though 50 percent of the world population and 70 percent of the US population live in cities. The Ma'at Youth Academy helps high school students and adults make their communities healthier and safer for all species - including human beings." MYA, 445 Valley View Road, Suite D, Richmond, CA 94803, (510) 222-6594,