public health

Clean Water Action joined the Moving Forward Network in holding a World Asthma Day Virtual Town Hall featuring elected officials, health professionals and grassroots leaders working on the front lines to address the root cause in “asthma hotspots” like Newark, Elizabeth, Camden, California as well as state legislators promoting environmental justice legislation. Watch here.

The road to becoming Clean Water Action’s National Communication Intern has been very similar to just about every major life decision/change that has occurred in the past four years of my life — unexpected, out of left field, but of course, the best possible thing that could’ve happened for me.

As a nurse, I'm deeply concerned about the health impacts of climate change. Many may not realize that climate change is the most pressing public health issue of our time.

Yesterday, the Rhode Island House of Representatives voted to pass H5082, which will phase out the use of organohalogens, a dangerous chemical used in flame retardants that is associated with cancer and respiratory ailments.

The Senate already unanimously passed this bill in the spring, but when the General Assembly adjourned suddenly in June, the House version was left in legislative limbo. Over the summer, we worked to make sure that a strong version of this bill would be on the agenda  when the General Assembly reconvened in the fall to address its unfinished business.

This blog is in response to David Brooks’ recent op-ed published in the New York Times on May 17, focused on improving the health and lives of residents in Lost Hills, California, a community in which I work with Clean Water Action. We submitted a letter to the editor to the paper in response to Mr. Brooks' article, but the editors chose not to publish it. Still, you might want to read Mr. Brooks' piece before you dive in, here. 

Hi, I'm Hallie Leonard, the office manager for Clean Water Action's Providence office!

Much of my work is administrative, making sure our office runs nice and smooth all year long. However, as Spring time rolled around, I began a career fair marathon to recruit our next great canvassers. I learned an incredible amount.

My first career fair was a bit intimidating. Having no idea what to expect, I put on my professional pants (literally), and headed to Brown University. Brown was followed by Johnson and Wales, followed by UMass Dartmouth, and many others.