Washington, D.C. – The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) held Climate Victory 2016 Tuesday night, its 14th Annual New York Dinner at the Hilton Midtown’s Trianon Ballroom. The event honored Rev. Lennox Yearwood and the Hip Hop Caucus with LCV’s inaugural Climate Leadership Award for the organization’s work to stimulate civic and electoral activism among young voters via culture and hip-hop music to inspire social change and environmental protections. 

“The Hip Hop Caucus is extremely honored to receive the 2016 Climate Victory Award from the prestigious League of Conservation Voters,” said Reverend Lennox Yearwood Jr., Hip Hop Caucus president, and CEO. “For the past decade we have fought for justice by working to solve climate change at the international, national, and local levels. We continue to educate communities about the importance of climate justice and demand legislation that ensures every person is provided with clean air, water, and even street corners. We are committed to a sustainable future, particularly in underserved communities of color.”

“We must remain vigilant and lead on actions to curb climate change with an all-hands-on-deck approach,” said League of Conservation Voters President Gene Karpinski. “Here we celebrate Rev. Yearwood and the communities of color and champions helping us engage diverse stakeholders, open paths for our youth to be the climate leaders of tomorrow. Together we’ll make sure our politicians truly feel this movement’s heartbeat. They need to hear the voices of the people who are on the front lines of the climate fight, experiencing the effects of climate change firsthand.”

The award presentation to the Hip Hop Caucus was made by Erin Rogers of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. The annual event also featured Senator Charles E. Schumer (NY), and a musical performance by Grammy Award nominee and climate activist Antonique Smith before an estimated 200 LCV members in attendance for the dinner.

“The League of Conservation Voters is at the very vanguard of this vital fight to confront the most challenging environmental issues of our time – from global warming to reducing toxins in the air and water to preserving open space,” said Sen. Charles E. Schumer. “If you look back at the quarter century history of the League of Conservation Voters, the results speak for themselves. Thank you to my good friends, Gene Karpinski, Carol Browner and everyone at LCV for your commitment to a cleaner, healthier planet. I will continue to work hard in Congress by fighting for resources and pushing for policies that will help safeguard our planet for another generation.” 

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