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California Safe Schools Celebrates 26th Anniversary – Honors Environmental Legend Ed Begley Jr. and Heroes of All Ages!

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Oct. 15, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — California Safe Schools (CSS) a coalition dedicated to children’s environmental health and environmental justice, renowned for spearheading the most protective pesticide policy in the nation for K-12 schools within the Los Angeles Unified School District, hosted their 26th Annual ‘Your Life Is Now’ Forum on October 9th at the California Endowment in historic downtown Los Angeles. This vibrant gathering celebrated the dedication of environmental and community leaders while creating invaluable networking opportunities between regulatory and enforcement agencies, students, teachers, environmentalists, offices of elected officials, and community members.

Image caption: California Safe Schools Coalition.

A standout moment was the presentation of the prestigious “Champion for Change” Award to Ed Begley Jr., honoring his decades-long commitment to environmental sustainability and his role as a pioneering advocate for green living.

The inspirational keynote address was delivered by Jacqueline Hamilton, Senior Advisor to City of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Deputy Mayor of Neighborhood Services.

“The California Safe School’s event empowered our students to believe they have a place at the table with adults to address community environmental issues. The intentional interaction provided an atmosphere where our students were less spectators and more thought partners. Investing in youth this way only grows possibilities for positive change and a better future. This is what exceptional education is all about,” said Brian Boyle, Teacher at the Huntington Park Institute of Applied Medicine.

The Forum also featured “Hero Awards,” recognizing the outstanding contributions of exemplary leaders:

Rachel Greene — Assistant Head Deputy in the Sex Crimes Division of the LA County District Attorney’s Office, for her unwavering commitment to children’s advocacy.
Maria Hall — Civil Rights Attorney and Director of the Los Angeles Incubator Consortium, for her decades of advocacy for unrepresented communities.
Warren Hawkins — Manager of the Community Outreach & Enforcement Section at the California Air Resources Board (CARB), for his steadfast support and leadership.
Leticia Ordaz — Television News Anchor, Publisher, Award Winning -Bilingual children’s book author, for her significant contributions worldwide as a children’s literacy ambassador.
Michael Mendez — Regional Water Board Member, UC Irvine Professor and author, for his impactful work in water conservation and education.

In recognition of youth achievements, “Impact Awards” were presented to exceptional students:

Isabel Portillo Abrego, 3rd Grade at 24th Street Elementary School, honored for her contributions to the Garden School Foundation program.
Yuxin Guan, Senior at Abraham Lincoln High School, honored for her advocacy and mentorship of children, and Editor-in-Chief of The Railsplitter, the school newspaper.
Allanah Mouton, Senior at California State University at age 16, honored for her academic excellence and aspirations to use her knowledge to address environmental challenges.

Certificates of achievement were presented by distinguished Los Angeles government officials, including:

Clayton Heard, Senior Field Representative, Office of Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal
Joel Torrez Jr., Environmental Health Deputy for Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn
Ben Feldman, J.D., Transportation & Economic Mobility Deputy, Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis
Walker King, Deputy District Director for Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman

“California Safe Schools’ dedication to our students, school staff and wider community is greatly appreciated. Congratulations to all the awardees, and Champion for Change, Ed Begley Jr.,” said Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal.

Panel discussions featured insightful career experiences from speakers including Maria Hall — Attorney and Director of the Los Angeles Incubator Consortium; Warren Hawkins, Manager of the Community Outreach & Enforcement Section at CARB; Leticia Ordaz, News Anchor and celebrated children’s author; Michael Mendez, Regional Water Board Member and UC Irvine Professor; Terrence Mann, Deputy Executive Officer, South Coast AQMD; Ben Harris, Senior Staff Attorney, Los Angeles WaterKeeper; Bruce Jennings, Former Senior Advisor to California Legislature on Environmental Policy; and Jane Williams, Executive Director, California Communities Against Toxics.

Moderators included Katherine Butler, Director of the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), and Jessica Brown, Los Angeles City Attorney.

Robina Suwol, Executive Director of CSS, remarked, “This unique event brought together community members, students, teachers, and regulatory agencies, cultivating valuable networking and collaboration while honoring exceptional leadership within our community.”

The Forum served as a powerful reminder of the collective effort needed to improve communities and empower the next generation of leaders dedicated to environmental advocacy. California Safe Schools remains committed to its mission of protecting vulnerable populations—particularly children—from toxic environmental exposures that pose lifelong health risks.

For additional information please visit https://www.calisafe.org/.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Robina Suwol
Executive Director
California Safe Schools
818.785.5515
calisafe@earthlink.net

MULTIMEDIA:

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NEWS SOURCE: California Safe Schools

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California Safe Schools Honors Earth Day Champions and Celebrates its 26th Anniversary of Environmental Protection

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- California Safe Schools (CSS) celebrates 7 Earth Day Champions for their extraordinary achievements and mindfulness of future generations. "California Safe Schools proudly honors these individuals whose dedication and resolve make the world a better place and inspire others," affirms Robina Suwol, Executive Director of California Safe Schools.

This Spring also marks the 26th anniversary of CSS spearheading Los Angeles Unified School District's Integrated Pest Management Policy, the first to embrace the "Precautionary Principle" and "Right to Know" that led to California's Healthy Schools Act and AB405 (Montanez).

CSS continues its work with diverse communities and regulatory agencies that are essential to protecting Earth's life-giving air, soils and water.

2024 Earth Day Champions:

:: Derrick J. Alatorre is Deputy Executive Officer in the Office of Legislative, Public Affairs & Media at the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Derrick keeps open lines of communication with the public, elected officials, the business community, and local residents. His department is responsible for legislation, environmental justice, outreach and education, and small business assistance.

Derrick was formerly a public affairs officer for the California Department of Transportation, conducted public and tribal government outreach on environmental cleanup efforts at the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, and served as a district field representative to California State Senator Art Torres. Mr. Alatorre is a veteran of the United States Navy.

:: Andrea Enriquez is 17 and a junior at Huntington Park Institute of Applied Medicine, a Los Angeles Unified School District pilot school on the Linda Esperanza Marquez High School campus. Through Chemistry Club, Andrea took part in the exceptional Toxic Crusaders Program developed by Mui Koltunov, Ph.D., Research Scientist Supervisor II, with the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. The intensive six-week course inspires her to inform her peers and community about toxins in consumer products and to make safer choices.

Andrea is President of GirlsBuild Huntington Park with projects focusing on Civic Engagement, Health & Wellness and STEM & Digital Skills. Her career goal is to become a Pediatrician.

:: Theodore Higgins is Chief Environmental Compliance Inspector in the Industrial Waste Management Division overseeing an inventory of nearly 10,000 food service establishments. He helped create LA Sanitation's Professional Development and Work Exposure Program, serves as the Chair of the Pretreatment, Pollution Prevention, and Stormwater Committee of the California Water Environment Association (CWEA), is a Sector Champion for the Car Wash Industry to strategize growth and sustainability, and sets goals with the LA Sanitation's Clean Up Green Up Working Group to ensure the health and well-being of disadvantaged communities.

Theodore has been honored with an Employee Excellence Award and twice-honored by the CWEA as an "Emerging Leader" and "Person of the Year".

:: Bruce H. Jennings served for two decades as Senior Advisor to the California Legislature on Environmental Policy, Policy Advisor with the Senate Office of Research and Chief of Staff of the Assembly Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials.

His book, "The War on California: Defeating Oil, Oligarchs and the New Tyranny," documents invaluable lessons learned from community and public interest advocates pushing back against poorly regulated pesticides and industrial chemicals in food, water, buildings and landscapes. Bruce is now writing about his experiences in Latin America and agroecology opportunities he sees as an alternative to the failing model of industrial agriculture.

:: Nate Lillge has dedicated his entire life and career to working with children and young adults in various aspects of outdoor education and conservation. Since 2007, he has been the Adventures and Engagement Director for Tuleyome Conservation Organization, leading outings, trails and stewardship programs in the Woodland, California area. Nate also teaches a California Naturalist course for those who want to become more connected to and involved with the natural world.

:: Lisa Tanaka O'Malley has over 30 years of experience in legislative affairs and government and community relations, Lisa is the Assistant Deputy Executive Officer for Legislative, Public Affairs & Media at South Coast Air Quality Management District.

She has spearheaded initiatives such as the "Clean Communities Plan," "Why Healthy Air Quality Matters" high school education program, and the Annual Environmental Justice Conference. Lisa also champions community engagement through the "Working with Communities" volunteer program.

:: Mariano Miguel Torres has been environmentally conscious his entire life. From the age of 7 until today at 17, he has farmed an acre of land, growing organic fruits and vegetables, raising hens for fresh eggs, and donating a bulk of the produce to others in need.

Miguel is a senior and honor student and member of the Medical Careers Pathway Program at Consumnes Oaks High School in the Elk Grove School District in Sacramento. His goal is to become an Otolaryngologist or ENT. Mariano also volunteers at senior living communities and mentors at neighborhood elementary schools.

All the honorees received awards designed by celebrated artist Michael Bruza and commendations from elected officials.

Learn more about California Safe Schools at: http://www.calisafe.org/

California Safe Schools (CSS) celebrates 7 Earth Day Champions for their extraordinary achievements and mindfulness of future generations. "California Safe Schools proudly honors these individuals whose dedication and resolve make the world a better place and inspire others," affirms Robina Suwol, Executive Director of California Safe Schools.

Related link: http://www.calisafe.org/

Are Your Kids in Danger of Being Sexually Abused at School?

SAN MATEO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Thousands of children every year are molested, used for pornography or otherwise sexually abused by teachers, coaches or other school employees - according to leading research, school employees sexually abuse one in ten students before the end of high school. New resources from Stop School Sexual Abuse (SSSA) help parents keep their kids safe.

"Children's safety is just not a priority for many schools," said Charles Gleen from SSSA. "Parents need information to know if their school can be trusted."

SSSA has created the School Sexual Abuse Database, the only directory of educator sexual abuse of students in California. SSSA also has published its School Sexual Abuse Hall of Shame, which uses some of the worst examples of schools enabling the sexual abuse of students to highlight how schools fail on children's safety.

"To reduce educator sexual abuse, parents must know if their school has been unsafe and must be able to recognize dangerous practices," said Gleen. "But that information has not been available before."

Schools don't want you to know

The SSSA database includes cases involving the sexual abuse of hundreds of students from kindergarten through high school in more than 65 communities statewide.

"Schools try to hide or minimize sexual abuse of students," said Gleen. "School sexual abuse is a powerful sign that administrators can't handle the most important part of their job - keeping kids safe. They don't want parents to know they have failed in this most basic responsibility."

Even after abuse happens, schools often do not improve safety. Many believe changes are an admission that they failed before.

"Schools don't automatically become safer, especially if the same leaders who neglected safety before remain in charge," said Gleen. "Parents should ask what has changed to make kids safe. Were school leaders held accountable? Have policies or training improved? Parents need to know what happened in order to demand needed changes."

Recognizing unsafe culture

The failings of unsafe schools are often similar from case to case, and parents can recognize the signs - if they know what to look for. The Hall of Shame provides examples of schools where sexual abuse could easily have been prevented, allowing parents to see how schools enable abuse.

"The Hall of Shame shows the failed attitudes and dangerous patterns of leadership that allow abuse to happen," said Gleen.

The Hall of Shame includes private and public schools from San Mateo (St. Matthew's Episcopal Day School), Daly City (Westmoor High School), San Jose (Dartmouth Middle School), Redlands (Redlands High School), Riverside (Liberty Elementary School) and Anaheim (Kennedy High School).

Understanding the risk

To help children stay safe, parents must first understand the risk themselves, and SSSA research provides insight into school sexual abuse.

"The diverse schools in the Hall of Shame highlight that students can be sexually abused at any school," said Gleen. "Other research shows the highest-risk employees - coaches, teachers, aftercare workers, aides and bus drivers - and reminds that predators are found in every school job."

The cases in the database also help parents understand the ways that educators manipulate children into abuse.

Promoting change through knowledge

"Predators are drawn to schools," said Gleen. "Schools give predators a constant supply of vulnerable kids. Parents need to demand that schools take necessary steps to keep kids safe."

Public pressure is the most effective way to make schools take employee sexual abuse seriously, but for that to happen, parents must know if their school failed and what to watch out for.

Search the School Sexual Abuse Database - https://stopschoolsexualabuse.site/.

Visit the School Sexual Abuse Hall of Shame - https://stopschoolsexualabuse.com/topics/school-sexual-abuse-hall-of-shame.

Other Information on School Sexual Abuse is at Key Topics - https://stopschoolsexualabuse.com/topics.

About Stop School Sexual Abuse

Knowledge is power. Stop School Sexual Abuse is a volunteer-run organization that provides victim advocacy services to school sexual abuse survivors and their families, as well as a website where survivors can tell their stories and a database of school sexual abuse cases. Our mission is to advocate and educate to reduce sexual abuse in schools. Stop School Sexual Abuse is a pro bono site supported financially by our team.

To learn more about Stop School Sexual Abuse, volunteer or submit your survivor story, visit https://www.stopschoolsexualabuse.com/.

Thousands of children every year are molested, used for pornography or otherwise sexually abused by teachers, coaches or other school employees - according to leading research, school employees sexually abuse one in ten students before the end of high school. New resources from Stop School Sexual Abuse (SSSA) help parents keep their kids safe.

Related link: https://stopschoolsexualabuse.com/