Gayle completed an LLM (Master of Laws) in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School in 2015 and continues to practice law in Clemmons, NC and work on environmental issues. Shortly after completing her degree, she represented a 12 year old on a petition to the NC Environmental Management Commission asking the Commission to enact regulations to limit carbon emissions. Although the petition was denied; it was appealed before the Superior Court of Wake County, NC where it was heard by a judge. Unfortunately, it was also denied there. However, undeterred another attorney has filed a new petition.
Since 2016, Gayle has been on the Boards of The Climate Times, where she has been Chair of the Board, and the NC Climate Solutions Coalition, where she is the current treasurer and is on the Executive Committee. The Mission of the North Carolina Climate Solutions Coalition is to stop climate change by implementing the Jacobson Solutions Project and by supporting forest protection and other complementary initiatives. In the short time this Coalition has been established, the NCCSC has gotten 15 "resolutions" adopted by towns, cities and counties agreeing to transition to 100% clean renewable energy (in all energy sectors) by 2050; 80% by 2030. We have a plan and are working with our coalition partners on plans of their organizations so as to bring all of our organizations together on the work that has to be down to avert catastrophic effects from climate change.
From 2010 to 2016, Gayle was on the Board of Yadkin Riverkeeper which acts as the eyes and voice of the Yadkin River. While on the Board, she served as Board President and chaired the personnel committee. Since the incorporation of Yadkin Riverkeeper in 2008, this non-profit has been fighting pollution from corporate giants, such as Alcoa and Duke Energy. While Gayle was on the Board, the organization grew by leaps and bounds.
In 2008, Gayle and a couple of friends started hosting environmental movies at Temple Emanuel. They founded TEEM (Temple Emanuel Environmental Movement) and continue to host a monthly environmental movie/speaker series with audiences of up to 125 people per month. The audience learns about issues pertaining to the community and the world and are asked to take "action". In 2011, as a result of TEEM's interfaith environmental work in the community, Temple Emanuel received the FAIN Award through the Religious Action Center of Reformed Judism. Because TEEM is a known entity in the Winston-Salem community, they have been asked to partner with others to host documentary films and host other events.
Gayle has been an activist since the late 1970's where she was first introduced to the issue of nuclear power. Citizens Against a Radioactive Environment (CARE) was a vocal opponent to the construction of the Zimmer Nuclear Power Plant in Moscow, Ohio when an whistleblower accused the utility company of unsafe practices. As a result of the poor construction and issues of quality assurance, at 97% complete, the utility agreed to terminate final construction of the plant. During the 1980s, Gayle completed a master's degree in Environmental Science from one of the oldest environmental master's programs, Miami University's Institute of Environmental Science. She then went on to obtain her law degree from Toledo University.
In the early 1990's, she was appointed to the City of Cincinnati Environmental Advisory Council where she chaired the air committee and an air ordinance was drafted and passed by City Council. In 1991, she was asked by the City to form and chair the Cincinnati Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee. As a result of their work, the federal government granted $562,000 for bicycle/pedestrian improvements, which was matched by the city. After moving to NC in 1999, she started attending Gerry Spence's Trial Lawyer's College where she has completed the 3 week "College" and continues to work on trial skills in order to combine law with her environmental work.
With these degrees, (M.En., J.D. and LLM) and her years of experience, she brings together the law and her passion for the environment in a continuing effort to conserve and protect our resources today and for future generations.
Since 2016, Gayle has been on the Boards of The Climate Times, where she has been Chair of the Board, and the NC Climate Solutions Coalition, where she is the current treasurer and is on the Executive Committee. The Mission of the North Carolina Climate Solutions Coalition is to stop climate change by implementing the Jacobson Solutions Project and by supporting forest protection and other complementary initiatives. In the short time this Coalition has been established, the NCCSC has gotten 15 "resolutions" adopted by towns, cities and counties agreeing to transition to 100% clean renewable energy (in all energy sectors) by 2050; 80% by 2030. We have a plan and are working with our coalition partners on plans of their organizations so as to bring all of our organizations together on the work that has to be down to avert catastrophic effects from climate change.
From 2010 to 2016, Gayle was on the Board of Yadkin Riverkeeper which acts as the eyes and voice of the Yadkin River. While on the Board, she served as Board President and chaired the personnel committee. Since the incorporation of Yadkin Riverkeeper in 2008, this non-profit has been fighting pollution from corporate giants, such as Alcoa and Duke Energy. While Gayle was on the Board, the organization grew by leaps and bounds.
In 2008, Gayle and a couple of friends started hosting environmental movies at Temple Emanuel. They founded TEEM (Temple Emanuel Environmental Movement) and continue to host a monthly environmental movie/speaker series with audiences of up to 125 people per month. The audience learns about issues pertaining to the community and the world and are asked to take "action". In 2011, as a result of TEEM's interfaith environmental work in the community, Temple Emanuel received the FAIN Award through the Religious Action Center of Reformed Judism. Because TEEM is a known entity in the Winston-Salem community, they have been asked to partner with others to host documentary films and host other events.
Gayle has been an activist since the late 1970's where she was first introduced to the issue of nuclear power. Citizens Against a Radioactive Environment (CARE) was a vocal opponent to the construction of the Zimmer Nuclear Power Plant in Moscow, Ohio when an whistleblower accused the utility company of unsafe practices. As a result of the poor construction and issues of quality assurance, at 97% complete, the utility agreed to terminate final construction of the plant. During the 1980s, Gayle completed a master's degree in Environmental Science from one of the oldest environmental master's programs, Miami University's Institute of Environmental Science. She then went on to obtain her law degree from Toledo University.
In the early 1990's, she was appointed to the City of Cincinnati Environmental Advisory Council where she chaired the air committee and an air ordinance was drafted and passed by City Council. In 1991, she was asked by the City to form and chair the Cincinnati Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee. As a result of their work, the federal government granted $562,000 for bicycle/pedestrian improvements, which was matched by the city. After moving to NC in 1999, she started attending Gerry Spence's Trial Lawyer's College where she has completed the 3 week "College" and continues to work on trial skills in order to combine law with her environmental work.
With these degrees, (M.En., J.D. and LLM) and her years of experience, she brings together the law and her passion for the environment in a continuing effort to conserve and protect our resources today and for future generations.