The Canary Coalition is honored to announce that Cherokee Principal Chief Leon Jones has joined the Canary Coalition and will serve on the Advisory Board of the organization. The Advisory Board consists of respected members of the community who are making themselves available to staff and Governing Board members for counsel on important policy decisions.

   The Canary Coalition, a broad-based clean air advocacy movement, now has over 200 members, mostly in western North Carolina, consisting of businesses, local government officials, religious leaders, members of the medical profession and private individuals.

   "The purpose of the Canary Coalition is to focus state and national attention on the air quality crisis in the Smoky Mountain region", says Avram Friedman, Executive Director of the Canary Coalition, "This gesture by Principal Chief Jones represents the most dramatic leap we've taken toward achieving that goal."