Health and Environment Summit - Micah 6:8 Mission

2026 Health & Environment Summit:

When Pollution Becomes Personal

Saturday, September 26, 2026 | 10 AM–5 PM
West Cal Event Center | Sulphur, Louisiana

How are the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the places we live connected to our health?

Join Micah 6:8 Mission for a FREE, day-long Health & Environment Summit bringing together residents, health professionals, researchers, environmental experts, advocates, and community leaders to explore those connections and what we can do about them.

FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Registration is now open. Reserve your spot today.

When Pollution Becomes Personal

Environmental issues can feel distant until they begin affecting our homes, our neighborhoods, and the health of the people we love.

This year’s Health & Environment Summit focuses on the connections between pollution, our environment, and the health of our families and communities.

Throughout the day, speakers will help make complicated health and environmental topics easier to understand while giving residents practical information they can use.

Topics will include air and water quality, PFAS, industrial pollution, cancer risk, respiratory and cardiovascular health, children’s and reproductive health, epigenetics, environmental monitoring, disaster preparedness, environmental justice, and community action.

Featured Speakers

We are honored to welcome Lt. General Russel L. Honoré (Ret.) as a featured keynote speaker, sharing his experience in disaster preparedness, environmental justice, community resilience, and the power of communities to create change.

The Summit will also feature:

Keysha R. Nabours, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, CVNP
Environment, lifestyle, epigenetics, and long-term health

Denise Trabbic-Pointer, CHMM Emeritus
PFAS in the Louisiana environment and occupational health

Alexander Miele, M.S.
Water quality, environmental monitoring, and community water concerns

Vickie Boothe, MPH
Toxic air emissions, fenceline monitoring, and community health

Dr. Kimberly Terrell
Industrial air pollution, cancer risk, and environmental health in Louisiana

More Than a Speaker Series

The Health & Environment Summit is designed to give residents opportunities to learn, participate, ask questions, and take action.

Attendees will be able to explore community health and environmental information, participate in interactive activities, connect with organizations and resources, and learn more about ways residents can protect their families and advocate for healthier communities.

Community Health Mapping

One of this year’s interactive features will explore health and environmental patterns across Calcasieu Parish.

The goal is not to identify individuals or claim that a particular exposure caused a particular illness. Instead, the project helps us look at community-level patterns, ask better questions, and identify areas where additional information, research, or action may be needed.

PAST EVENTS:

HES 2024

We had a wonderful time at this year’s Health and Environment Summit! On the first day, we had the pleasure of meeting some incredible lawyers who are passionate about protecting our environment. Their expertise and shared knowledge have equipped us with valuable tools to push back against harmful practices in the Oil and Gas industry.

Day two featured a series of powerful presentations, most delivered by local experts who are deeply concerned about the environmental practices of large refineries. From discussing pollutants created during production to addressing “accidental” chemical releases, each presenter offered a wealth of knowledge and experience on the industry’s impact on our community.

On behalf of Micah 6:8 Mission, we want to thank everyone who participated in the Summit. Your commitment and contributions made this event a success, and we look forward to working together to bring about meaningful change for our community.

Debra Ramirez speaking at HES 2024
Debra Ramirez – Concerned Citizens of Lake Charles
Lois Malvo – Fisherville Environmental Action Now
James Hiatt – For A Better Bayou
Lori Cooke – Louisiana Bucket Brigade
Lori Cooke speaking at HES 2024
Vickie Boothe – Fenceline Monitoring Workgroup Technical Team
Matt Rota – Healthy Gulf
HES Ice Cream Truck

Lawyers Who Presented Include:

Alessandra Jerolleman, PhD, JD, CFM, MPA
Barrett Ristroph, PhD
Nicholas Bryner – Professor of Law, Louisiana State University Paul M Hebert Law Center
Haley Gentry – Senior Research Fellow Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy (BAR Admission – Louisiana)
Chris Dalbom – Director, Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy (BAR Admission – Louisiana)

Presenters Include:

Click the link for their presentation.

Lori Cooke – Louisiana Bucket Brigade
Roishetta Ozane – The Vessel Project
Breon Robinson, Matt Rota – Healthy Gulf
Vickie Boothe – Fenceline Monitoring Workgroup Technical Team
Matt Rota – Healthy Gulf
James Hiatt – For a Better Bayou
Debra Ramirez – Concerned Citizens of Lake Charles
Lois Malvo – Fisherville Environmental Action Now

HES 2023

Micah 6:8 Mission’s Health & Environment Summit 2023, held October 18–20 at the West Calcasieu Event Center in Sulphur, LA, stood out as a pivotal gathering aimed at educating and empowering the local community on pressing environmental and public health matters. Over the course of two days, participants engaged in a rich program of panels, presentations, interactive “toxic tours,” and even a documentary screening—each thoughtfully designed to bolster community understanding and action.

One of the summit’s notable features was its emphasis on transparency and expert knowledge. High‑profile speakers such as environmental chemist Dr. Wilma Subra—a MacArthur “genius grant” recipient—shared scientific insights into the potential health impacts stemming from industrial activities like the Westlake Chemical salt-cavern operations and their risks to groundwater. These presentations, along with panel discussions, offered attendees the chance to ask questions and gather concrete information about how pollutants affect local air and water quality.

Beyond education, the Summit emphasized building community resilience and collective advocacy. Local leaders like Micah 6:8 Mission’s founder Cynthia “Cindy” Robertson led workshops and delivered opening addresses. Participants not only built scientific familiarity but also learned about advocacy strategies—how to communicate concerns effectively to regulators, influence environmental policies, and hold polluters accountable .

Importantly, the Summit was designed to embody inclusivity and community care. All meals, child care, and educational materials were offered free of charge, removing common barriers to participation . This ensured that those most impacted by environmental injustice—especially low-income residents—could fully engage. The event helped lay the groundwork for ongoing projects like community-wide filtered water stations and environmental education, rooted in the kind of community-led action that defines Micah 6:8 Mission.

In summary, the 2023 Summit brought together residents, scientists, policymakers, and advocates for a shared purpose: equipping the Sulphur‑area community with knowledge, tools, and networks to protect health and the environment. It exemplified Micah 6:8 Mission’s commitment to “doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly” by creating both awareness and action rooted in community‑driven solutions.