Ai Kuwabara -Ted Zuur Volunteer of the Year
Ai Kuwabara was born in Niigata, Japan and now interns with the SVTC. Since Kuwabara is fluent in Japanese, she was very instrumental in researching high-tech companies’ web sites, comparing the Japanese versions with the English versions. She focused on how companies disclose information about their environmental practices. The SVTC says that Kuwabara wanted to work to share her bilingual skills, diverse cultural knowledge and research skills.
Chad Raphael – Community Partner
Chad Raphael has volunteered his time and energy to help facilitate a series of discussions and workshops, which brought together a wide range of people to address health, environmental justice, and e-waste issues. The SVTC said that his vision, dedication, compassion and sense of humor have inspired many and have served as a role model of how to make academic resources accessible to the community.
Raquel Sancho – Community Partner
Raquel Sancho has rallied in an effort to create a healthy and safe work environment for Silicon Valley’s high-tech workers. Sancho began her career organizing women in multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-racial communities in the Philippines. After moving to the U.S., she began her work at the Santa Clara Center for Occupational Safety and Health in 1993 as the community organizer for the Campaign to End the Miscarriage of Justice.
Richard McMurtry – Special Projects
The SVTC especially appreciates Richard McMurtry for his contribution in creating the Clean Streams / Clean Bay Community Monitoring Project. Clean Streams / Clean Bay brings Pioneer and Oak Grove High School students and SVTC staff to local streams to monitor for toxic PCBs using bagged clams. McMurtry continues to work on the Santa Clara Basin Watershed Management Initiative..