Based in Merrimack, Laurene Allen is a licensed clinical social worker and co-founder of Merrimack Citizens for Clean Water, a community advocacy group formed to address PFAS contamination of area drinking water, air and soil and it's impacts to both the environment and human health. She is also a co-founder of the National PFAS Contamination Coalition and serves on it's leadership team. After pollution linked to the Saint Gobain Merrimack facility was revealed in her community, she began organizing residents to demand source control, testing, transparency, full remediation and stronger environmental protections. She additionally gathered community health data and co-authored Making the Invisible Visible, which was published in Environmental Health in 2019. In addition to community engagement, education, support and advocacy efforts on a state, local and federal level, Laurene has consistently worked to connect PFAS exposure to health outcomes and to ensure that all PFAS policy is science based and protective of human health. Laurene believes that PFAS contamination is a global crisis and was named to the Forbes 2025 Sustainability List due to her long standing commitment to environmental advocacy. She was also awarded the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize for North America in 2025 for her accomplishments. Laurene believes all people should have access to safe drinking water, air and soil and continues to push for polluter accountability, an end to all environmental pathways for PFAS contamination, and long term health support, guidance and justice for chronically exposed families. Organization: Merrimack Citizens for Clean Water Website | X/@pfasprojectnh |@laureneallen.bsky.social | Instagram/laurene_allen_nh | Location: Merrimack, New Hampshire

Andrea Amico is a co-founder of the Testing for Pease community action group. She started advocating for more answers and action for the Pease community impacted by PFAS water contamination at the former Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth, NH in 2014 after learning her husband and two small children were impacted by highly contaminated drinking water. She is passionate about raising awareness of PFAS water contamination, providing education to impacted communities, lowering standards for PFAS in drinking water, and collaborating with others from all aspects of PFAS (communities, physicians, legislators, researchers, government agencies, etc) to achieve a common goal of reducing PFAS exposure to impacted communities. Testing for Pease's advocacy was instrumental in securing a PFAS blood testing program and two PFAS health studies for the Pease community (CDC/ATSDR Pease Study and PFAS REACH Study with Silent Spring Institute). Andrea testified at the first hearing in the US Senate (Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs) on PFAS in September 2018 and again at a Congressional hearing in December 2021. She was awarded the Citizen Excellence in Community Involvement Award by US EPA Region 1 in November 2018. She also attended the President’s State of the Union Address as Senator Jeanne Shaheen's guest in February 2019 to raise awareness on PFAS contamination. Andrea is a co-founder of the National PFAS Contamination Coalition (NPCC) that formed in June 2017 to bring PFAS advocates from all over the country to organize for change at the federal level. She helped to organize the first two National PFAS Conferences held at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, in June 2017 and June 2019. She presented at the third National PFAS Conference in Wilmington, North Carolina, in June 2022. Andrea has also given multiple formal and informal presentations on PFAS from the community perspective at the local, state, and national level. In September 2019, she gave a TEDx talk on PFAS titled: PFAS and a Mother's Journey to Becoming a Clean Water Advocate. In November 2019, she presented at the CDC's first Public Health Grand Rounds on PFAS in Atlanta, Georgia. In July 2021, she presented to the National Academies Science Panel convened on PFAS Testing and Health Outcomes to share the community perspective. Andrea was named USA Today’s New Hampshire Woman of the Year in 2025 for her work on PFAS. Andrea serves on the Pease Community Assistance Panel (CAP) with ATSDR and has been a member since the CAP formed in 2016. She is the community co-chair of the Pease Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) with the US Air Force. Andrea also is a community co-chair on the City of Portsmouth Safe Water Advisory Group (SWAG). She is a community partner on the PFAS-REACH health study researching PFAS levels and immune function in children in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Hyannis, Massachusetts. Andrea served as a community liaison to the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) committee on Guidance on PFAS Testing and Health Outcomes. In October 2021, she was a presenter at the FLUOROS Global conference in Providence, Rhode Island, with speakers presenting on PFAS from all around the world. Organization: Testing for Pease Website: https://testingforpease.com Location: Portsmouth, New Hampshire

A cancer survivor who grew up on Florida’s Space Coast, Bailey was exposed to high levels of legacy contamination from the region’s three active military installations, often referred to locally as the “Toxic Triangle.” This experience drives her commitment to preventing future generations from facing similar environmental health risks. Bailey serves on advisory boards and national working groups focused on PFAS contamination, water quality, and public health. She has testified before Congress and played a role in advancing PFAS awareness, federal and state policy discussions, and health protections in Washington, D.C. In addition to her advocacy work, Bailey is an investigative journalist and digital strategist who has contributed to the growth of organizations and brands across the world. Her multidisciplinary background includes communications, research, business development, and creative direction, supporting efforts to increase transparency, accountability, and environmental health protections. Email: StelBailey@gmail.com Stel Bailey Studio, LLC | Fight for Zero, Inc | Advocates' Voice

Based in Marinette, Chuck Boyle is a community advocate and leader with S.O.H2O (Save Our H2O), working to address PFAS contamination affecting residents in northeastern Wisconsin. After contamination from firefighting foam polluted local water supplies, he became a vocal advocate for environmental cleanup, safe drinking water, and accountability for impacted communities. For years, he has worked alongside residents, policymakers, and national advocatesm traveling to Washington, D.C. to ensure the voices of affected families are heard in federal PFAS policy discussions. Organization: S.O.H2O (Save Our H2O) Website: https://soh2o.org Location: Marinette, Wisconsin

Based in Peshtigo, Cindy Boyle is a community advocate and leader with S.O.H2O (Save Our H2O), working to address PFAS contamination affecting residents in northeastern Wisconsin. A longtime resident of the Town of Peshtigo and owner of Boyle Design Group in nearby Marinette, she turned her communications expertise toward environmental advocacy after discovering her family and neighbors had unknowingly been drinking PFAS-contaminated well water for decades. Since helping found S.O.H2O in 2017, she has led community education and grassroots organizing efforts while advocating for accountability and long-term drinking water solutions. Her advocacy has included testimony before state officials, engagement in regional and national PFAS initiatives, and traveling to Washington, D.C. to push for stronger protections and groundwater standards. Organization: S.O.H2O (Save Our H2O) Website: https://soh2o.org Location: Peshtigo / Marinette, Wisconsin

Based in Myrtle Beach, Cheryl Cail is an Indigenous advocate and chair of Idle No More South Carolina, working to protect Indigenous rights, cultural heritage, and the environment. She also serves with the South Carolina Indian Affairs Commission, supporting advocacy and policy efforts that affect Native communities across the state. Her work connects Indigenous leadership with broader environmental justice efforts, including raising awareness about PFAS contamination and water protection. Through community organizing and national advocacy, she works to ensure Indigenous voices are represented in decisions affecting land, water, and public health. Organization: Idle No More South Carolina Website: https://anthropocenealliance.org/idle-no-more-south-carolina/ Location: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Based in Maine, Dana Colihan (she/her) is Co-Executive Director of Slingshot, where she supports community campaigns addressing environmental contamination and helps co-facilitate the National PFAS Contamination Coalition. Previously Maine State Director at Community Action Works, she organized successful efforts to close a loophole allowing out-of-state waste dumping, push stronger PFAS action in Fairfield, and help communities pass local protections against pesticide spraying and metallic mining. Her work focuses on equipping communities with the tools to win stronger environmental protections. Organization: Slingshot Email: dana@slingshot.org

Based in Vermont, Victor Davila serves as Community Organizer and Clean Water Director at Slingshot, working with communities across the state to confront environmental contamination and advance clean water protections. For more than seventeen years, their work has centered on environmental justice and grassroots campaign building. Using strategies such as power mapping, facilitation, and base building, they have supported efforts to preserve native habitats, advance climate policy, and strengthen community-led environmental advocacy. Organization: Slingshot Email: victor@slingshot.org

Based in the Cape Fear River Basin, Emily Donovan is co-founder of Clean Cape Fear, a grassroots organization advocating for safe drinking water and accountability for PFAS contamination in North Carolina. She has become a leading national voice on “forever chemical” pollution, testifying before the United States Congress, helping secure reverse-osmosis water stations in dozens of public schools, and organizing residents impacted by contaminated drinking water. Her advocacy connects local community action with national policy efforts to strengthen protections against PFAS. She also works with communities across the country through the National PFAS Contamination Coalition, helping amplify impacted voices and advance stronger safeguards for public health. Organization: Clean Cape Fear Website: https://www.cleancapefear.org Location: Cape Fear Region, North Carolina

Based in Lansdale, Hope Grosse is a community advocate and leader with the BuxMont Coalition for Safer Water, working with residents affected by PFAS contamination in southeastern Pennsylvania. Through grassroots organizing and public advocacy, she helps raise awareness about the health risks of “forever chemicals” and pushes for stronger regulations, transparency, and cleanup of contaminated drinking water. Her work focuses on empowering impacted communities to demand accountability and secure lasting protections for public health. Organization: BuxMont Coalition for Safer Water Website: https://buxmontcoalition.org Location: Lansdale, Pennsylvania

Based in Lawrence County, Brenda Hampton is a grassroots leader and founder of Concerned Citizens of WMEL Water Authority, advocating for safe drinking water and accountability for PFAS contamination. After industrial pollution contaminated her community’s water supply, she organized residents, raised statewide awareness, and helped secure a reverse osmosis treatment plant to protect local drinking water. Her advocacy continues to push for stronger protections for rural communities facing environmental contamination. Organization: Concerned Citizens of WMEL Water Authority Location: Lawrence County, Alabama

Based in Nantucket, Jaime Honkawa is co-founder of the Nantucket PFAS Action Group, working to inform residents and mobilize community response to PFAS contamination on the island.

Based in Durham, Allison Jumper is an environmental advocate and leader with the Coalition for Sludge-Free Land, working to address PFAS contamination linked to the land application of biosolids. Her advocacy focuses on protecting farms, soil, and drinking water from “forever chemicals” entering the environment through sewage sludge spreading. Through community organizing and policy engagement, she works to strengthen protections for farmers and rural communities impacted by PFAS contamination. Organization: Coalition for Sludge-Free Land Website: https://sludgefreesouthnh.org Location: Durham, New Hampshire

Based in Nantucket, Ayesha Khan is a community advocate and leader with the Nantucket PFAS Action Group, working to address PFAS contamination affecting the island’s drinking water and environment. Through community outreach and public advocacy, she helps raise awareness about the risks of “forever chemicals,” pushing for stronger testing, transparency, and protections for local residents. Her work focuses on ensuring Nantucket communities stay informed and engaged in decisions that impact their water, health, and environment. Organization: Nantucket PFAS Action Group Website: https://nantucketpfas.org Location: Nantucket, Massachusetts

Based in Oscoda, Arnie Leriche is a community advocate and member of the Wurtsmith Restoration Advisory Board, working with residents and agencies to address PFAS contamination tied to the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base. Through the advisory board and community engagement, he works to ensure transparency in the cleanup process and advocates for stronger protections for local drinking water, wildlife, and natural resources. His efforts help connect impacted residents with federal and state decision-makers responsible for environmental remediation. Advisory Board: Wurtsmith Restoration Advisory Board EPA Information: https://www.epa.gov/superfund/wurtsmith-air-force-base Location: Oscoda, Michigan

Serves as Organizing Director at Slingshot, where he coaches and supports community leaders building campaigns for environmental and economic justice. Over more than 25 years in grassroots organizing, he has helped communities turn lived experience into powerful advocacy and policy change. His work has supported seniors and people with disabilities fighting for affordable prescription drugs, formerly incarcerated people reforming laws around criminal records, and coalitions of labor and environmental groups advancing responsible offshore wind development. He focuses on strengthening grassroots leadership and building durable movements capable of winning lasting change. Organization: Slingshot Email: steve@slingshot.org

Based in Newburgh, Jennifer Rawlson is a community advocate and leader with the Newburgh Clean Water Project, working to address PFAS contamination impacting the city’s drinking water. Through grassroots organizing and public advocacy, she works alongside residents to demand environmental cleanup, transparency, and stronger protections for public health. Her efforts focus on ensuring that communities affected by PFAS contamination have the resources, information, and representation needed to secure safe drinking water and long-term accountability. Organization: Newburgh Clean Water Project Website: https://www.newburghcleanwaterproject.org Location: Newburgh, New York

Linda is the founder and vice President of the Community-Based Organization, which consists of several family members and affected local residents. She believes that all people must have a human right to live in a clean and safe environment, where people live, learn, work, play, pray, and breathe. Her group is actively involved in environmental justice work focused on Tucson Southside's most disproportionately impacted neighborhoods, especially zip code 85706. This includes mobilizing exposed citizens in response to PFAS pollution. Participating in the National PFAS Contamination Coalition and the National PFAS Conference Committee calls. Developing organizing, leadership, and communication skills that turn fact-based information into action. On the policy level, we have worked alongside the EPA and federal institutions, lawyers, and advocates addressing federal regulatory, litigation, and civil rights issues related to PFAS and environmental justice. Organization: Environmental Justice Task Force Email: lindarobles39@gmail.com Website |  Facebook

Based in Fountain, Liz Rosenbaum is a community advocate and leader with the Fountain Valley Clean Water Coalition, working to address PFAS contamination affecting residents in the Fountain Valley region. After PFAS pollution linked to nearby military activities contaminated local drinking water supplies, she helped organize community members to demand clean water, environmental cleanup, and stronger public health protections. Through grassroots advocacy and public engagement, she works to ensure impacted families have a voice in decisions affecting their water and long-term health. Organization: Fountain Valley Clean Water Coalition Website: https://www.fvcwc.org Location: Fountain, Colorado

Based in Oscoda, Cathy Wusterbarth is a community advocate working to address PFAS contamination affecting local drinking water and the surrounding environment. She is active with Need Our Water (NOW), a grassroots group formed by residents impacted by pollution linked to historic firefighting foam use at the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base. Through community organizing, public outreach, and advocacy, she helps raise awareness about PFAS contamination and supports efforts to secure accountability, cleanup, and long-term protections for affected residents. Her work focuses on ensuring the voices of impacted communities are heard in decisions about environmental health and clean water. Organization: Need Our Water (NOW) Website: https://needourwater.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/needourwater/ Location: Oscoda, Michigan

Based in Harleysville, Joanne Stanton is a community advocate and leader with the BuxMont Coalition for Safer Water, working with residents impacted by PFAS contamination in southeastern Pennsylvania. Through community organizing, public outreach, and policy advocacy, she helps raise awareness about drinking water contamination and pushes for stronger protections, transparency, and cleanup of “forever chemicals.” Her work focuses on empowering local residents to hold polluters accountable and secure safer water for their communities. Organization: BuxMont Coalition for Safer Water Website: https://buxmontcoalition.org Location: Harleysville, Pennsylvania

Greater Lakes PFAS Action Network co-founder advancing PFAS cleanup and protections in Michigan.Based in Belmont, Sandy Wynn-Stelt is a community advocate and co-founder of the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network (GLPAN), working to address PFAS contamination across Michigan and the Great Lakes region. After PFAS pollution linked to dumping by Wolverine Worldwide was discovered near her home, she became a leading voice for impacted communities. Through organizing, public testimony, and national advocacy, she pushes for stronger regulations, environmental cleanup, and long-term protections from “forever chemicals.” Organization: Greater Lakes PFAS Action Network Website: https://greatlakespfasaction.org Location: Belmont, Michigan

Based in Woodbury, Dana Strande is a PFAS advocate and community voice for families affected by toxic chemical contamination. After losing her daughter Amara to a rare cancer connected to PFAS exposure from the regional 3M groundwater plume, she became deeply involved in efforts to protect public health. Through advocacy, public education, and policy engagement, she helped support the passage of Amara’s Law, legislation designed to strengthen PFAS oversight and advance research into the long-term health impacts of exposure. Her work centers on honoring her daughter’s legacy by pushing for transparency, stronger environmental protections, and justice for impacted families. Learn more: https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air-water-land-climate/pfas-in-minnesota Location: Woodbury, Minnesota

Based in Woodbury, Nora Strande is a young advocate speaking out about PFAS contamination and its impact on families. After losing her sister Amara to a rare cancer associated with contamination from the 3M PFAS groundwater plume, she joined her parents in raising awareness about the dangers of “forever chemicals.” She has helped share her family’s story in public forums and advocacy efforts supporting Amara’s Law, helping bring attention to the human impact of PFAS contamination. Her voice represents the next generation of advocates working to ensure safer communities and stronger environmental protections. Learn more: https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air-water-land-climate/pfas-in-minnesota Location: Woodbury, Minnesota

Based in Woodbury, Michael Strande is a PFAS advocate working to protect families from toxic chemical exposure. After his daughter Amara died from a rare cancer linked to contamination from the 3M PFAS groundwater plume in Minnesota’s east metro, he became a leading voice calling for stronger protections and accountability. He helped lead the effort behind Amara’s Law, landmark legislation aimed at strengthening PFAS regulation, expanding environmental monitoring, and supporting long-term health research. His advocacy focuses on ensuring families impacted by contamination are heard and that meaningful safeguards are put in place to prevent future harm. Learn more: https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air-water-land-climate/pfas-in-minnesota Location: Woodbury, Minnesota

Based in Oscoda, Cathy Wusterbarth is a community advocate working to address PFAS contamination affecting local drinking water and the surrounding environment. She is active with Need Our Water (NOW), a grassroots group formed by residents impacted by pollution linked to historic firefighting foam use at the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base. Through community organizing, public outreach, and advocacy, she helps raise awareness about PFAS contamination and supports efforts to secure accountability, cleanup, and long-term protections for affected residents. Her work focuses on ensuring the voices of impacted communities are heard in decisions about environmental health and clean water. Organization: Need Our Water (NOW) Website: https://needourwater.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/needourwater/ Location: Oscoda, Michigan