MONTPELIER — Vermont Conservation Voters (VCV) has presented this year’s Environmental Rising Star Award to Rep. Mari Cordes, D-Lincoln, and two other first-term legislators who have become leaders on environmental issues: Rep. Kathleen James, D-Manchester Center, and Sen. Andrew Perchlik, D/P-Montpelier.
This year’s Environmental Rising Star Awards were presented at VCV’s 2020 Environmental Common Agenda Reception at the Statehouse last week, where VCV also revealed its guide to this year’s top legislative priorities for the environment. To view the agenda go to tinyurl.com/VCV-agenda.
Rep. Cordes is a registered nurse and labor negotiator, and has volunteered extensively in her community and abroad — including offering medical care for Vermonters after Tropical Storm Irene, in Haiti after a devastating earthquake, and for refugees fleeing Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. She also works locally with organizations including 350VT and Rights & Democracy.
Cordes completed her degree in Natural Resource Economics, Management and Policy. She chose her home in Vermont because of its beauty, the ability to live close to the land and a strong commitment to community. Having raised her family on their organic vegetable farm, she now lives with her husband off the grid in Lincoln.
Since being elected to the Vermont House of Representatives in 2018, VCV says Cordes has stepped up to become a leader on the legislative Climate Solutions Caucus, helping the team build and execute strategies for connecting with more Vermonters all over the state about climate solutions. This includes ambitious efforts this past fall that resulted in reaching over 1,000 Vermonters at climate events in communities around the state.
“Rep. Cordes has brought her years of organizing experience and expertise at getting hard things done to the Statehouse, and that’s why she earned this year’s VCV Environmental Rising Star Award,” said VCV Executive Director Lauren Hierl. “We’re looking forward to seeing what she accomplishes next.”