What happens when pollution stops being something we simply measure and becomes something we experience in our health, our families, and our communities?
On Saturday, September 26, Micah 6:8 Mission will host the 2026 Health & Environment Summit: When Pollution Becomes Personal from 10 AM to 5 PM at the West Cal Event Center in Sulphur.
The Summit will bring Southwest Louisiana residents together with researchers, environmental experts, health professionals, advocates, and community leaders to explore the connections between pollution and health.
Featured Speakers
Lt. General Russel Honoré will deliver the keynote address. Since retiring from the U.S. Army, Honoré has become a prominent voice for protecting Louisiana’s air, water, and communities from pollution. His keynote will help frame the day’s conversations around health, environmental protection, accountability, disaster readiness, and community action.
Dr. Kimberly Terrell, Research Scientist with the Environmental Integrity Project, will share expertise from her work examining the health and economic impacts of industrial pollution, particularly in Louisiana communities.
Denise Trabbic-Pointer, CHMM Emeritus, a chemical engineer and environmental specialist with decades of experience in hazardous materials and environmental issues, will discuss Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the Louisiana environment.
A Day Focused on Health
Throughout the Summit, sessions will explore:
12:30 PM | Cancer, Air & Water
Cancer concerns, air pollution, drinking water, PFAS, disinfection byproducts, and environmental exposures.
1:30 PM | Breathing & Lung Health
Asthma, respiratory illness, air pollution, and the ways poor air quality can affect the body.
2:30 PM | Heart, Blood & Circulation
Exploring connections between environmental conditions and cardiovascular health.
3:30 PM | Before Birth & Across a Lifetime
Pregnancy, reproductive health, children’s health, neurological concerns, immune and hormone health, and environmental exposures.
Each session will be followed by Community Health Mapping, giving residents an opportunity to help document health concerns and environmental experiences across Southwest Louisiana.
The day will conclude from 4:30–5 PM with a conversation focused on moving from concern to action.
Join the Conversation
You don’t have to be a scientist or environmental expert to participate. If you’ve wondered about the air you breathe, the water you drink, your family’s health, or environmental conditions in your community, HES is a place to learn, ask questions, and connect with others.
2026 Health & Environment Summit
When Pollution Becomes Personal
Saturday, September 26 | 10 AM–5 PM
West Cal Event Center | Sulphur, Louisiana
Come learn, ask questions, share your experiences, and be part of the conversation about a healthier future for Southwest Louisiana.
