Recipients of the 2025 Sierra Club Michigan Chapter awards. Left to Right: David Poulson, Great Lakes Echo, Brian Allnutt, Planet Detroit, Nina Ignaczak, Planet Detroit, Eric Freedman, director of the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism at the Kemeny Center on Sept, 20, 2025.

Overview:

- Planet Detroit's independent journalism, which amplifies the voices of communities facing pollution and climate change, earned the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter's Environmental Journalism Award.
- Dr. Dolores Leonard, a pivotal figure in the 48217 community, was honored as the 2025 Jane Elder Environmentalist of the Year for her leadership in environmental justice.
- Her efforts were instrumental in securing a $2.7 million commitment from DTE Energy for projects in River Rouge, Ecorse, and Detroit.

Planet Detroit has received the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter’s Environmental Journalism Award for print journalism. The award was presented during the chapter’s 2025 ceremony at Detroit’s Kemeny Recreation Center on Sept. 20.

The Sierra Club recognized Dr. Dolores Leonard as the 2025 Jane Elder Environmentalist of the Year for her exceptional leadership in environmental protection.

Dr. Dolores Leonard accepts the 2025 Jane Elder Environmentalist of the Year Award at the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter’s annual ceremony at Detroit’s Kemeny Recreation Center. Photo by Nina Ignaczak.

Leonard has been a longstanding leader in the 48217 community, fighting for environmental justice and legal protections from coal plants and other industrial polluters in River Rouge, a predominantly Black community.

Her advocacy recently helped deliver a $2.7 million commitment from DTE Energy for improvement projects in River Rouge, Ecorse, and Detroit through a coalition with community members, Sierra Club, and Earthjustice.

“We’re deeply honored to be recognized alongside Dr. Leonard, whose tireless advocacy has transformed the fight for environmental justice in Michigan,” said Nina Misuraca Ignaczak, Planet Detroit’s founder and editor.

“This recognition highlights the role of independent journalism in supporting communities most impacted by pollution and climate change.”

Other honorees included Great Lakes Echo, a Michigan State University student journalism organization, and Jeffrey Insko, professor of English at Oakland University and author of a blog on Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline (grangehallpress.com/Enbridgeblog).

Here is the full list of honorees:

Bunyan Bryant Award: Sergio Cira-Reyes, Climate Justice Catalyst at the Urban Core Collective

Environmental Journalism Award: Interlochen Public Radio (Broadcast) &Nina Misuraca Ignaczak, Planet Detroit (Print)

White Pine Award: Mike Stout, Michigan Waterway Stewards 

Burton V. Barnes Award: Jeffrey Insko, Professor of English at Oakland University

Trilium Award: John Pagel, Fisheries Technician, United States Forest Service

Virginia Prentice Award: Dave Dempsey, Senior Policy Advisor at F.L.O.W. (For Love Of Water)

Vince Smith Award: Ken Jacobsen,  Southeast Michigan Group

Helen LeBlanc Excellence Award: Felicia Eshragh

Theodore Roosevelt Award: Mark Meadow

Marlene Fluharty Award (2): Cheryl Ruble, Crossroads Group and  Stephen C. Brown, Huron Valley Group

Sylvania Award: Brett Swanson, Crossroads Group

Chapter Service Award: Laurie Mercure, Crossroads Group

Group Service Award: Shirley Jackson, Crossroads Group

Ed Steinman Digital Excellence Award: Charlie Carpenter, Southeast Michigan Group

Nina Misuraca Ignaczak is an award-winning Metro Detroit-based editor, journalist, and documentary filmmaker. She is the founder, publisher, and editor of Planet Detroit, a digital media startup focused on producing quality climate, health, and environment journalism that holds power accountable, and spotlights solutions. Planet Detroit has received awards and recognition from the Society for Professional Journalists Detroit, the Institute for Nonprofit News, and LION Publishers since its establishment in 2019. Prior to her journalism career, Nina worked in urban planning in local government and nonprofit sectors, holding a Master of Science in Natural Resource Ecology and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.