Professor Bryant Receives Two State Honors for Environmental Activism

ANN ARBOR, Mich., March 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Bunyan Bryant, a founder
of the academic field of environmental justice, is being honored with the
state of Michigan's highest environmental honor.

Professor Bryant, a faculty member in the University of Michigan's School of
Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE), will receive the Helen and William
D. Milliken Distinguished Service Award May 28. The ceremony takes place as
part of the Tenth Annual Environmental Awards Celebration, coordinated by the
Michigan Environmental Council (MEC). The annual Milliken Award recognizes an
individual who has made outstanding contributions to the protection of
Michigan's environment.

"I am honored to receive this prestigious award and grateful for the attention
it gives the field of environmental justice, which has been my life's work,"
said Professor Bryant, who began teaching at SNRE in 1972. Today, he
coordinates the school's Environmental Justice field of study and directs its
Environmental Justice Initiative, which he helped create about 10 years ago.
The mission of the Environmental Justice Initiative is to ensure the rights of
all people to live in a safe, clean and healthy environment.

"Environmental Justice seeks to help the public and policymakers use
scientific information to build sustainable communities worldwide," Professor
Bryant said.

The Milliken Award was first bestowed in 2000. Past honorees have included
John Dingell, Peter Wege and Peter Karmanos. The honoree is chosen by the
board of directors of MEC, a coalition of organizations protecting Michigan's
people and environment.

Professor Bryant's lifelong contributions to environmental justice have been
recognized numerous times in recent decades. In addition to the Milliken Award
this spring, he will receive a special 2008 Environmental Leadership Award
April 9 from the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services
(ACCESS). The award recognizes his lifetime of leadership and contributions to
promoting environmental justice.

He will receive the ACCESS honor during the organization's 5th Annual
Environmental Leadership Celebration at the Bint Jebail Culture Center, 6220
Miller Rd., in Dearborn, from 6-9 p.m. Three years ago, SNRE master's students
conducted an environmental justice analysis of the Arab community in and
around Dearborn for ACCESS. The work was partially funded with a grant from
the Ford Foundation to the Environmental Justice Initiative. The students'
report concluded that the community was being overburdened by toxins.

For the full release, please visit http://www.snre.umich.edu/node/5755/.

SOURCE University of Michigan School of National Resources

Kevin Merrill, director of communications of University of Michigan School of
Natural Resources and Environment, +1-734-936-2447