WASHINGTON –Brittany Stallworth, a Howard University biology senior, received the 2012 Brower Youth Award for her work as the founder of the campus environmental organization, Green is the New Black.

The Brower Youth Award recognizes young leaders in North America, ages 13-22, for their advocacy of positive environmental and social changes. Stallworth was selected as one of six awardees from hundreds of students around the nation. She received a cash prize of $3,000 and a trip to San Francisco for the award presentation on Oct. 23.

In February, Stallworth organized the Green is the New Black campus event at Howard. The day-long event featured campus workshops for students led by experts in food, health and environmental issues. The event was attended by more than 35 green organizations, some of which offered internship and job opportunities for students.

“Most students do not know about the job opportunities out there in this field,” Stallworth said. “I wanted to give students a path. I wanted to expose students to a new way of thinking about the future.”

Stallworth is a member of the Howard University Environmental Biology Scholars Program. She said her commitment was fueled by her experiences as a victim of environmental injustice. Growing up in Detroit, she said she and other members of her family dealt with health issues related to pollution in the environment. As a result, Stallworth founded Green is the New Black, which is dedicated to building a green economy through student awareness.