![\"California](\"https:\/\/www.send2press.com\/wire\/images\/22-0426-s2p-ca-safe-schools-800x600.jpg\")
Image Caption: California Safe Schools Coalition.<\/em><\/p>\n
California Safe School\u2019s founder and Executive Director, Robina Suwol, welcomed guests stating, \u201cThe solution to the environmental challenges facing us can only be found if we actively engage as a community. We are enormously happy to celebrate such accomplished individuals whose efforts continue to make our world a much better place.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI could not be prouder to support CA Safe Schools and \u2018Your Life is Now\u2019 as we work for environmental justice for all,\u201d said Assembly Member Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles). \u201cWe must ensure all communities have clean air and water and work with \u2018Your Life is Now\u2019 to ensure our communities are involved.\u201d<\/p>\n
“We thank each of these leaders for their passion and commitment to student success and safety. Thank you California Safe Schools, and congratulations on an incredible 25 years of truly impactful work,\u201d added Clayton Heard, Senior Field Representative from the Office of Assembly Member Josh Lowenthal.<\/p>\n
DISTINGUISHED 2023 HONOREES<\/strong><\/p>\n Lowell Anger<\/strong>, joined the Los Angeles County District Attorney\u2019s Office in January 1995 and has been a Head Deputy District Attorney of the Environmental Crimes Division and the Organized Crime and Hate Crimes Division. He received the 2016 Project LEAD Award for the outstanding teacher in the District Attorney\u2019s program that works with at-risk fifth graders. Throughout his career, Lowell has been a frequent guest lecturer in schools throughout Los Angeles County.<\/p>\n Enrique Baeza<\/strong>, Branch Chief Peace Officer, California Department of Toxic Substances, Office of Criminal Investigation. Enrique is one of the first in the nation to create an Environmental Justice unit within a Law Enforcement office and has also been recognized for outstanding performance in the investigation and prosecution of a polluter in the highest traditions of the US Department of Justice.<\/p>\n Maria Dolores R. Dalusong<\/strong> has worked for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division for 20 years and is now Chief of the Vectorborne Disease Surveillance Program. She also serves on the Los Angeles Unified Integrated Pest Management Committee to protect children and all school stakeholders from pesticide exposure.<\/p>\n Mui Koltunov, Ph.D.<\/strong>, Research Scientist Supervisor II, Branch Chief of the Environmental Chemistry Laboratory in Pasadena for the Department of Toxic Substances Control. Dr. Koltunov and her team established the Toxic Crusaders Program to work specifically with K-12 students and teachers to learn about toxic chemicals in consumer products and the environment.<\/p>\n Pete Treebumrung<\/strong>, Combines analytics and technology into visual map layers that provide a simple but transformative understanding of data to enable clear communication and focus problem-solving. Projects he has completed include, \u201cAsthma Alley, CA\u201d, \u201cThe Diesel Death Zone of Los Angeles\u201d and \u201cThe Poverty-Pollution Loop\u201d.<\/p>\n Los Angeles 10th District PTSA<\/strong> Los Angeles 31st District PTSA<\/strong> \u201cCongratulations to all the honorees. Your hard work and dedication to ensuring that children have safe schools free from harmful pesticides is admirable and wholeheartedly appreciated,\u201d said Joel Torrez, Jr. Environmental Health Deputy Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn.<\/p>\n Noemi Emeric-Ford, US EPA Region IX Director, Southern California Field Office said, \u201cProtecting children from harm isn\u2019t just a responsibility, it\u2019s a commitment to shaping a safer future. Honoring those who have been champions to identify and eliminate toxic exposures in schools underscores the California Safe Schools Coalition\u2019s dedication to nurturing healthy spaces for our most precious resource \u2013 our children.\u201d<\/p>\n Each honoree was presented with California Safe Schools engraved Hero Award designed by celebrated artist Michael Bruza. Catering for the event was by Wolfgang Puck.<\/p>\n About California Safe Schools:<\/strong><\/p>\n Founded by Robina Suwol in 1998, California Safe Schools (CSS) is children\u2019s environmental health and environmental justice coalition. CSS achieved national prominence by spearheading the Los Angeles Unified Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Policy, the most stringent pesticide policy in the nation for K-12 public schools and the first to embrace the \u201cPrecautionary Principle\u201d and \u201cRight to Know\u201d. The success of the policy led to California\u2019s Healthy Schools Act. Today the LA Unified IPM policy serves as an international model for school districts and communities.<\/p>\n On October 6, 2005, Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 405 (Montanez) sponsored by California Safe Schools. The bill bans experimental pesticides, whose health effects are unknown, from California k-12 public schools. As a result, more than 6 million California children and hundreds of thousands of school children are protected from experimental chemicals, whose health effects are unknown.<\/p>\n
\nChildren are the main focus of everything the PTA does with Informed parental involvement in the schools being essential to effective educational programs. Issues on their agenda: gun control, drug abuse, vaping, homelessness, teenage suicide, cultural diversity and belonging and social media impacts.<\/p>\n
\nThe 31st District PTSA serves 6 councils and over 110 PTA\/PTSA units in the San Fernando Valley, Sunland and Tujunga area. Their areas of focus are: student and school success, health and safety, arts and culture, and advocacy.<\/p>\n