Grassroots Environmental Education
Your donations help fund local and national programs that benefit everyone.
Pesticides - Grassroots took the lead role in securing passage of legislation to prohibit pesticides in all New York City Parks, and working with a coalition of non-profits, helped develop a partnership with the NYC Parks Department to ensure its success. Early this fall, nationally recognized turf expert Chip Osborne conducted training workshops and site visits in all five boroughs. We also created an updated "Pets and Pesticides" resource for veterinarians and pet owners, warning them of the hazards associated with lawn pesticides.
Fracking & Pipelines - Grassroots is a key partner in numerous coalitions seeking to protect the public from toxic fracking chemicals and radioactive waste from fossil fuel extraction operations, and to help local grassroots organizations with professional communication materials to push back again pipeline expansions. We have been active in addressing safety issues raised by the de-commissioning of the nuclear plant at Indian Point, which sits perilously close to gas pipelines.
Green Street News - Our New York radio show has grown and matured into a nationally syndicated half hour news program and podcast, with compelling stories about plastic waste, cell phones and brain cancer, and unregulated chemical exposures. With a dedicated website and a growing audience, Green Street is a primary outreach tool for Grassroots.
5G and Wireless Radiation - We continued our educational outreach on this emerging public health issue with national webinars, social media posts, and meetings with FDA officials. We produced a new brochure for the BabySafe Project (www.BabySafeProject.org) which has now been translated into six languages. We've added a new section to our TechSafe Schools program regarding workplace exposures for teachers (www.TechSafeSchools.org) and more advocacy materials to our Resources page. Our primary advocacy effort, Americans for Responsible Technology ("ART") has developed a reputation as the go-to organization for local government officials and advocates to help them adopt protective codes to control the deployment of wireless infrastructure in residential settings (Americans4RT.org).
Helping to Heal - Written by Grassroots’ executive director Patti Wood for parents of seriously ill children, the book is once again being shipped to our hospital partners, childhood cancer organizations and Ronald McDonald Houses. Distribution of the new edition, which was completed just as COVID became a national health crisis, was put on hold as our partners were otherwise focused. The incidence of childhood cancers continues to rise and environmental exposures are playing a significant role.
Educational Programs - Grassroots provided expert speakers to a wide array of educational meetings and conferences, including environmental lectures for students at Stony Brook and Adelphi Universities and CUNY Hostos. We continue to be inspired by the determination of the next generation to do their part to make a difference in our human journey.
