Karen Hadden, 2022 Dr. Judith H. Johnsrud “Unsung Hero” Awardee

We are thrilled to announce that Karen Hadden (pictured), executive director of the Sustainable Energy and Economic Development (SEED) Coalition based in Austin, Texas, is this year’s recipient of the Dr. Judith H. Johnsrud “Unsung Hero” Award.

Judith was an activist, leader and founding board member of Beyond Nuclear and other groups. The inaugural award was given in 2014, the year Judy passed on, in her honor.

For many long years, Karen has helped lead the grassroots environmental resistance against the consolidated interim storage facilities currently targeting Texas and New Mexico. For decades, she has led campaigns against dirty, dangerous, and expensive energy industries in the Lone Star State, including old and new atomic reactors, radioactive waste dumps, and coal burners. SEED Coalition is a party in the Don’t Waste Michigan, et al. coalition, opposing CISFs in the Permian Basin in federal court.

2014 (Inaugural), Diane D’Arrigo, NIRS, Takoma Park, MD;

2015, Michael Keegan, Don’t Waste Michigan and Coalition for a Nuclear-Free Great Lakes, Monroe, MI;

2016, Kay Cumbow, Great Lakes Environmental Alliance (GLEA) and Citizens for Alternatives to Chemical Contamination, Brown City, MI;

2017, David Kraft, Director, Nuclear Energy Information Service (NEIS), Chicago, IL;

2018, Terry Lodge, environmental and anti-nuclear attorney, Toledo, OH;

2020-2021, Ian Zabarte, Principal Man, Western Bands of the Shoshone Nation of Indians, and Secretary, Native Community Action Council, Las Vegas, NV.