Board Members

Alexandra Powe Allred
A former U.S. national athlete, lives in Midlothian with her husband and three children. Alex is a freelance writer of adult non-fiction and children’s books, a runner and avid outdoors enthusiast.

Carolyn Bell
A Fort Worth resident and a community volunteer, has served on numerous boards including eight years on the Fort Worth ISD Board of Education and has served appointments by Bob Bullock to the Education Economic Policy Center Board in Austin , by Mayors Kay Granger, Kenneth Barr, and Mike Moncrief to the Fort Worth Housing Authority Board, and by Judge George S. Kredell to the Tarrant County Community Justice Council. Carolyn has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Stephen F. Austin University.

Becky Bedsole Bornhorst
A native Dallasite, is a resident of DeSoto. Her children were in elementary school when she joined Downwinders – they are now graduates of the University of Texas. She is the former business manager of a children’s nonprofit advocacy organization and a legal secretary.

Sandra Breakfield
The treasurer of Downwinders at Risk, a Dallas resident and mother of two. She has owned an accounting consulting firm for 25 years. She is an active volunteer in local community service projects.

Diane Castillo
A mother of two in Duncanville, is a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies. She is an environmental inspector with the City of Grand Prairie.

Margaret DeMoss
A Fort Worth resident. With a background in Public Health, she has been active for many years in a variety of health and environmental issues. She is a former chair of the Fort Worth Zoning Commission and active in local political affairs. She and her husband are owners of The DeMoss Company, a general contracting firm.

Cynthia Fava
A recently retired educator, was a member of CAUSE (Citizens Aware and United for a Safe Environment), a Midlothian-based group which fought hazardous waste burning in cement kilns in the 1990's. Her favorite pastime is organic gardening.

Reecea Roderick Henderson
Is a resident of Cleburne. She has four grown children and two grandchildren. Reecea was the first Staff Director of North Texas Clean Water Action (1995-2000) and worked as North Texas Program Director of Texas Citizen Action (1993-1994). She attended Midwest Academy in Chicago, where she received certification as a Grassroots Organizer. She is actively involved in the Cleburne Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and has served there in many different teaching and leadership positions over the past 20 years. She works as Office Manager for an international amusement ride sales firm in Arlington.

Nelda Mills
A community volunteer for many years in Fort Worth, chairing fund-raisers for the arts and for historic preservation. A former board member of The Women's Center, The Arts Council, Because We Care, and University Christian Church, Nelda considers her primary work advocacy for women and children. As such she has traveled to South American countries to participate in cultural exchange and healing workshops. She is currently working with Courage and Renewal North Texas in an advisory capacity.

Sue Pope
A Midlothian resident, is the driving force behind the founding of Downwinders At Risk and its spiritual leader. She’s been organizing against TXI’s waste burning since 1991. She serves on the local Dallas area advisory council of the American Lung Association. Sue is nationally known as the “Lois Gibbs of cement kiln incineration.”

Merle Ann Roten
A Duncanville native and graduate of SMU, lives in Cedar Hill. A licensed realtor since 1979, Merle is a board member of the Greater Dallas Association of Realtors and an active member in Chambers of Commerce, historical associations and libraries.

Stephen Smith
An Arlington resident since 1979, is a custom cabinetmaker and a wood lathe-based multimedia 3-D sculptor. Steve served on the Arlington Conservation Council Board of Directors for ten years. He is an active gardener and cook.