Founder and Executive Director, Texas Health and Environment Alliance

Jackie Medcalf founded THEA after discovering that contamination in her community was affecting the health and future of her family and neighbors. What began as a search for information became a long-term commitment to ensuring that other families would not have to navigate environmental health concerns alone.

Under Jackie’s leadership, THEA has helped residents understand technical information, engage in government cleanup processes, communicate their concerns, and seek meaningful protections for their communities. Her work is grounded in lived experience and in the belief that the people closest to environmental problems must be included in the decisions that affect their lives.

CHEJ founder Lois Gibbs is widely known as the “Mother of Superfund.” After years of mentoring and working alongside Jackie, Lois gave her the name “Daughter of Superfund,” recognizing Jackie’s commitment to carrying this community-centered work into its next generation. She now leads a team who is also committed to preserving CHEJ’s legacy while strengthening the resources and support available to communities across the country.