[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 7, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E583]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





TRIBUTE TO SIGRID WRIGHT--CALIFORNIA'S 24TH CONGRESSIONAL WOMAN OF THE 
                                  YEAR

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. SALUD O. CARBAJAL

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 7, 2022

  Mr. CARBAJAL. Madam Speaker, each year, through the Women of the Year 
Award, my office extends special recognition to women on the Central 
Coast who have made a difference in our community. I would like to 
recognize one outstanding Women of the Year Award recipient, Sigrid 
Wright of Santa Barbara, California.
  A longtime resident of Santa Barbara, Sigrid Wright has been a leader 
in environmental non-profits and climate change advocacy on the Central 
Coast for more than 25 years. With the many daunting challenges of the 
growing climate crisis, her leadership has guided the community in 
facing those challenges.
  Sigrid was named as CEO/executive director of the Community 
Environmental Council (CEC) in 2015, becoming the first woman to lead 
the 45-year-old non-profit. Driven by the environmental destruction 
seen along Santa Barbara's coastline due to the 1969 oil spill, Sigrid 
has championed CEC's mission to move the Santa Barbara region away from 
dependence on fossil fuels in one generation--Fossil Free by '33. As 
CEO, Sigrid has spearheaded CEC's climate goals by educating and 
activating the Santa Barbara community around sustainable practices, 
advocating for environmentally sound policies and laws, and building 
partnerships with other organizations to open new pathways for 
sustainable transportation, energy, and food systems.
  In her longstanding commitment to resolving the climate crisis, 
Sigrid co-founded the Central Coast Climate Justice Network as well as 
the Central Coast Climate Collaborative, devoted to advancing social, 
economic, and environmental justice. Sigrid's efforts to effect real 
change in climate advocacy have already been recognized by her 
community. In 2020, California Assemblymember Monique Limon named CEC 
Non-Profit of the Year. Community initiatives sparked by Sigrid and CEC 
have included Santa Barbara's first ever wind farm which is expected to 
power 53,000 family homes with clean, sustainable electricity.
  Where Sigrid sees a need, she takes action to fill it. She 
strategizes and addresses each of the root causes of climate change in 
her role as leader of CEC. Her influence over Santa Barbara's local 
food justice movement has led to produce and prepared food being 
redirected to impoverished peoples and families in need rather than end 
up at a landfill. Sigrid's quest to reduce consumption and waste has 
helped expand the Rethink the Drink program, providing access to 
thousands of hydration stations across Santa Barbara County and 
environmental education for participating schools. She gives so much of 
her time, energy, and resources to serve our community. She is a worthy 
candidate for this honor and a role model for community leaders of all 
kinds.
  I am honored to recognize Sigrid for her continued commitment to 
environmental and climate change advocacy on the Central Coast. I ask 
all Members to join me today in honoring an exceptional woman of 
California's 24th Congressional District, Sigrid Wright, for her 
incredible service to her community.

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