Clean Water Action enters the 2025 legislative session with a seasoned State House insider at the helm, Emily Howe! Emily was born and raised in Rhode Island and lives in Warwick with her husband and 3 young kids. She has been serving as Clean Water Action's Interim Rhode Island State Director since June 2024 and was most recently the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Democratic Party. Emily got her start in environmental advocacy as a Clean Water Action community organizer in 2007, and we are thrilled to welcome her, and her wealth of political and campaigns experience, back to the team.
What campaign in Rhode Island are you most excited to work on?
The Bottle Bill. As a mom who takes her kids on daily walks, I see an astounding amount of litter in the neighborhood streets. This is an issue that my young kids can see and understand. We can do better in the Ocean State. I am excited to get to work on a bill that makes it easy for Rhode Islanders to properly return containers, keeps litter out of our waterways and off our beaches, and improves our recycling rate. The next generation deserves a strong plan to fight plastic pollution and waste.
What drives your passion for environmental and justice advocacy?
I am lucky enough to live in Warwick, by the water, and my kids and I often ride our bikes down to the beach and walk the coastline, seeing what sea life is around. As a parent, I am teaching my children to be good stewards of our environment, and I am also extra motivated to fight for a livable climate future for them and their peers. I know from my time canvassing that most Rhode Islanders feel the same way.
What are you most excited about in this new role?
I am really looking forward to working with the incredible legislators in our state who keep Rhode Island at the forefront of positive environmental change. Our small state legislative districts mean we participate in democracy in a more direct way here, and grassroots community organizing makes a direct impact. I can’t wait to get to work.
What's one fun fact about you Rhode Islanders should know?
I pride myself on always having snacks on hand which I will gladly share with friends.
Anything else you'd like to share?
It's 2025. I'm not here for "concepts of plans." I believe in taking action and fighting for concrete policies that will actually "make America healthy again," and opposing anti-science ideas that will take our state backwards.
