Our Mission + Team
THEA Protects your right to a safe environment through education and advocacy.
MISSION
The Texas Health and Environment Alliance’s mission is to protect water resources and public health by advocating and collaborating for the safe removal of toxic contamination.
We endeavor to establish an informed and engaged public movement to restore and protect environmental resources from toxic contamination.
Why Superfund Sites?
Abandoned toxic waste sites (Superfund Sites) contaminate land, air, and water throughout the United States which may manifest as illnesses within our communities. We have a personal connection to this cause. Read our founder’s story here.
Committed to Safe Water
THEA is committed to safeguarding public health by holding polluters accountable for environmental contamination. We serve as your voice to local and national government agencies. Dive deeper into our initiatives to learn more about our work.
Community Health Survey
We actively ensure that your health is at the forefront of local and national government officials’ agenda. Help us represent your voice by taking our Community Health Survey which allows us to collect health data on potential contamination exposure.
About THEA
A Chronological Timeline
2014
In 2014, Jackie was selected by Citizens League for Environmental Action Now (CLEAN Houston) for the Houston Heroes series, People Who Make a Difference.
Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist, Nick Anderson, was the first to illustrate the unfortunate events that Young’s family endured and turned into action. The cartoons featured a series of high-profile, full-page editorial cartoons that were published in The Houston Chronicle in 2014. Visit Our Founders page to read the entire article.
2015
In 2015, THEA is officially a 501c3 organization and begins working with the Texas Department of State Health Services on an Assessment of the Occurrence of Cancer in East Harris County, TX. The department looked into the cancer registry for Texas and pulled data for the 17 types of cancer we most commonly come across in the community. The state’s report provided the rates of those 17 types of cancer within the study area and compared those to rates across the State of Texas. Cervical cancer, kidney cancer, and rare cancer in children such as retinoblastoma came back statistically significant nearest the Waste Pits. In total, within the study area, 14 of the 17 types of cancer were found in elevated rates. The Department is no longer working on this study but we continue to collect current health data to continue advocating for those living and/or working near the toxic waste.
2016
In 2016, while working with the San Jacinto Superfund Site, we recognized the need for a broader-based organization to address the impacts of toxic contamination. We want the Houston area to have a safe, equitable environment for all who visit and live in the region. Abandoned toxic waste sites are a serious threat to public health and to the environment.
THEA works to safeguard public health by preventing or minimizing exposure to harmful contaminants. In Harris County alone, there are more than 20 toxic waste sites and hundreds of groundwater contamination cases each year. This extensive contamination harms fisheries, threatens public health and impedes the region’s resiliency.
2017
In 2017 our advocacy moved the needle to safely removing toxic materials from the San Jacinto River community. The EPA issued its long-awaited Record of Decision (ROD), which unequivocally ruled in THEA’s favor.
After a years-long fight with corporate giants, we won our David vs. Goliath fight against the parties responsible for contaminating the site. The EPA ordered responsible parties to fully remediate the site to the tune of $115 million.
2018 to Today
Since our third anniversary, we have been dedicated to safeguarding the health of our communities by collaborating with responsible parties to safely remove toxic contamination from water in Houston and surrounding areas.
Our advocacy has takes a multidisciplinary approach that has proven to be extremely effective at creating change. The EPA announced an agreement with the Responsible Parties for the design phase of the Superfund.
ADVOCACY IN ACTION
We take a multidisciplinary approach that has proven to be extremely effective at creating change.
PROGRAMS
THEA works to safeguard public health by preventing exposure to harmful contaminants, striving to restore our precious environmental resources for future generations. As our capacity increases, our service area will expand across the Houston metropolitan region. Our long-term goal is to improve the environment where Houstonian’s live, work, play, and worship.
JONES ROAD
The Jones Road Superfund Site has continued to contaminate Cypress residents’ underground water wells and aquifers. Sign the Jones Road Letter to support remediation. More Info on the Jones Road Program here.
SAN JACINTO
Over 50,000 supporters have joined the fight for remediation of the San Jacinto River Waste Pits Superfund Site. See how you can get involved, or meet us at our next town hall. More Info on the San Jacinto Program here.
COMMUNITY HEALTH SURVEY
Our Community Health Survey uses health data to identify potentially contaminated communities. Help us know which areas to focus our efforts by taking this 2-minute survey.
SAN JACINTO
Over 50,000 supporters have joined the fight for remediation of the San Jacinto River Waste Pits Superfund Site. See how you can get involved, or meet us at our next town hall. More Info on the San Jacinto Program here.
JONES ROAD
The Jones Road Superfund Site has continued to contaminate Cypress residents’ underground water wells and aquifers. Sign the Jones Road Letter to support remediation. More Info on the Jones Road Program here.
COMMUNITY HEALTH SURVEY
Our Community Health Survey uses health data to identify potentially contaminated communities. Help us know which areas to focus our efforts by taking this 2-minute survey.
Meet Our Board
Jacquelyn Young-Medcalf
CEO + Executive Director
Jackie Young-Medcalf founded THEA after she discovered it was the environment in her community that caused her family and animals to get ill. Her environmental advocacy began when she was a junior at UHCL, it was during a hydrology course when she discovered why she was having multiple seizures in a day. Today, Jackie dedicates her work to make sure another family doesn’t have the same experience. Her personal mission is for Houston to have a safe and equitable environment for all who visit and live in the region.
Sarah Davis
President
Sarah Davis resides in a community impacted by historical toxic waste site in the San Jacinto River. She has first-hand experience with the superfund process and organizing the community around this cause. Sarah has supported THEA from it’s early years and volunteers several hours a month in the areas of event planning, community organizing, and community outreach. Sarah provides invaluable support to The San Jacinto River Coalition.
Jeffrey Spike Ph.D.
Vice President
Dr. Jeffrey Spike is a national leader in the fields of clinical ethics and medical and public health education. Since graduating from Johns Hopkins in 1987, Dr. Spike began his career in education, with a focus on Clinical Ethics. He was Professor and the director of campus-wide ethics at the University of Texas in Houston until 2018. He is now Professor at the George Washington University School of Medicine, and on the ethics committee of the Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. With his extensive experience in environmental ethics his leadership provides THEA valuable guidance in the area of public health.
Professor Lisa Gossett
Secretary + Treasurer
Lisa Gossett, J.D., chairs the Environmental Management program at the University of Houston – Clear Lake, where her courses include environmental law and water management. She previously worked as an attorney for Blackburn and Carter and a larger downtown law firm. Before earning her J.D. degree at the University of Houston Law Center, Professor Gossett worked in the petrochemical industry. She also earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Rice University. She continues to support THEA by volunteering her expertise in environmental law, regulatory processes, and environmental management.
Testimonials
“Water is in everything. It’s a basic human right, and it’s just so nerve racking to think that something you use everyday to take care of your family can cause you harm. THEA has equipped me to keep my family healthy.”
DONATE
Give today to keep another family from suffering unnecessarily.
Be a constant champion in our corner with a monthly recurring donation. We rely on your support to maintain our small and mighty team that protects your health by keeping your water safe.
News + Awards
5 Years of Protecting Public Health
Over six years ago our CEO, Jackie Young-Medcalf set out to start a movement that would educate and equip people who have suffered like her and her family have. She didn’t know where to turn to or who could help her when she suspected that there was something wrong with the land her family lived … Read More
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Climate change threatens nearly 80% of Superfund sites in Houston area, GAO says
Rising seas and more intense flooding caused by climate change could put nearly 80 percent of the Superfund sites in the Houston area at greater risk of releasing toxic pollutants into waterways and nearby communities, data from a congressional watchdog agency show. A report by the Government Accountability Office found that more frequent or intense … Read More
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Feds hope to start San Jacinto Waste Pits cleanup within 2 years
Experts continue to work on a design to clean up the San Jacinto Waste Pits in hopes of beginning actual remediation in less than two years, federal officials said Monday. The EPA announced plans two years ago to remove about 212,000 cubic yards of material containing the dangerous compounds from the waste pits. And in … Read More
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