Current Issues

October 2011: Grassroots Announces the "Cell Phone Card." Grassroots has published a handy information card for parents that provides basic scientific information about radiation from cell phones and suggestions for steps families can take to protect their children from unnecessary exposures. Read the press release. View the card. Visit our web page on cell phones and towers.

August 2011: Back to School: The ABCs of Cell Phones and Kids. Independent research continues to show health risks associated with exposure to RF radiation emitted by cell phones, and kids are particularly vulnerable. Grassroots has developed five rules every parent should teach their kids about cell phone use. Read the press release. Visit our web page on cell phones and towers.

May 2011: Grassroots Organizes Coalition to Thank New York Legislators. Supporters of children's health join together to thank New York lawmakers for banning toxic pesticides on school playing fields and open spaces. Read the press release. See the poster.

January 2011: Grassroots Creates "Thank You Connecticut" campaign for Legislators. A new campaign to express widespread public support for legislation prohibiting the use of pesticides on school grounds was unveiled by Grassroots in Hartford with a presentation to key lawmakers.
Read the press release. See the poster.

January 2011: Grassroots Announces Training for NY School Turf Managers. Grassroots announces a series of natural turf management courses for school personnel at eight locations around New York State during the month of January, beginning with a program in Islip on January 13th.
Read the press release.

November 2010: Grassroots Announces Partnership with NYS PTA. Grassroots announces a partnership with the New York State PTA in a campaign to help enforce the state education department's prohibition against idling of motor vehicles on school grounds. Executive Director Patti Wood addressed the PTA's state-wide convention via video, announcing the "No Idling Means No Idling" ("NIMNI") campaign and encouraging participation.

September 2010: Connecticut Landscapers Learn How To Do It Without Pesticides. Grassroots announces that it will conduct a series of professional turf training programs for school turf managers in Connecticut to help them comply with the state's new law prohibiting the use of chemical pesticides on school playing fields for grades K-8 and daycare centers. Read the press release.

September 2010: New ChildSafe Guidelines Announced for Green Cleaning Products Used in Schools. Grassroots announces the publication of its newly revised ChildSafe Guidelines for cleaning products used in schools and day-care centers, along with a list of products that meet the new Guidelines. The new Guidelines contain the most stringent requirements of any published green cleaning standard. Read the press release.

August 2010: Back To School Is Easy As 1-2-3. Grassroots alerts parents of children headed back to school about emerging science linking exposures to chemicals commonly found in anti-bacterial products, bottled water and food packaging with potentially serious health problems. Read the press release.

July 2010: Grassroots Announces Training for School Turf Managers in New York and Connecticut. In support of the recent legislation banning turf pesticides from school grounds in New York and Connecticut, Grassroots has teamed up with natural turf expert Chip Osborne to provide free training to qualified turf managers in both states. Download the flyer. Photo. (Organically-maintained football field at East Meadow High School on Long Island)

May 2010: Grassroots Celebrates "Child Safe Playing Fields Act" in New York State - Grassroots was instrumental in helping to shape, support and pass this historic legislation that eliminates turf pesticides from school grounds. Read the press release.

April 2010: Grassroots Receives Second Environmental Quality Award from EPA - In recognition of the contribution made by two Grassroots programs ("The ChildSafe School" and "How Green Is My Town?") the organization received its second EPA Award. Read the press release.

March 2010: How Green is Westchester County? Grassroots announces the five greenest towns in Westchester County, based on our 142-point environmental assessment program "How Green Is My Town?" The winning towns were recognized in a ceremony at Pace University.
Read the press release. Watch the video.

January 2010: Green Street Radio on WBAI - Patti and Doug Wood, founders of Grassroots Environmental Education, are the hosts of "Green Street Radio," a one-hour interview and talk show about the environment and human health issues, heard in New York on WBAI Radio, FM 99.5, part of the Pacifica Radio Network.

May 2009: Grassroots Announces "How Green Is My Town?" - Comprehensive "greenweb" is a checklist, scorecard, buyers guide and rating system to help towns and schools across America connect the dots on climate change, sustainability and environmental health. Read the press release. Read the Newsday Editorial. Link: Advocacy Posters

November 2008: Grassroots Hosts Synthetic Turf Symposium - Synthetic turf fields have become popular in communities across the nation, but what do we really know about their environmental impact or the long-term effects of exposure to some of their toxic components? See the program flyer

June 2008: "Green Fields, Clean Water" Program Announced - Westchester towns, villages and schools bordering the Hudson River and Long Island Sound receive free training in natural lawn care to reduce non-point source pollution.

Photo: A Problem Front Lawn on Long Island Sound

February 2008: The Childsafe School Leadership Summit
School superintendents, administrators, school board members and parents gather at Pace University to learn more about the ChildSafe School. Photo: Westchester County Executive Andy Spano addresses the Summit Photo: Speakers and sponsors at Leadership Summit

November, 2007: The Childsafe School - Science-driven and solution-based, new initiative uses doctors, documentaries and policies to eliminate environmental toxins linked to cancer, developmental problems and asthma. Photo: The ChildSafe School Package

July, 2007: ChildSafe List and Logo - ChildSafe Product List and Logo Identify Safe Cleaning Products for Schools. Photo: The ChildSafe Logo