Kiersten Alton, Rph.

Nutritionist

After graduating from the University of Montana with a Pre-Med Zoology degree, I then attended pharmacy school at the University of Texas where I obtained a bachelors degree in Pharmacy.

I currently work for a holistic, wellness Pharmacy called Peoples Pharmacy. We specialize in helping patients get back their health by changing diet and lifestyle first. When needed, we use supplements, herbs, vitamins and diagnostic testing to help manage all types of conditions. I have over 500 additional hours of training in other modalities of healing. I love working with infants, toddlers and older children.

My true passion lies in changing the way we feed our children. I firmly believe many of the childhood diseases and conditions such as asthma, ADD, and eczema could be reduced if we gave those little growing bodies the building blocks to develop a healthy system. As a pharmacist I feel that the overuse of antibiotics has greatly contributed to many of these conditions. I work with many Autistic and special needs children. This is the most rewarding work anyone can do. These children desperately need our help. Their bodies are extremely toxic from the environment, the food and modern medicine. My future goals are to start a structured nutrition program in schools, which engages the parents, teachers and children to develop healthy eating habits. Good eating habits begin with that first bite of food at 6 months of age.

I love what I do, but more importantly I love being a mother even more! My toddler has taught me more about life in the last 4 years than any school or class ever will. He has helped me develop toddler friendly programs and tests all of my recipes and natural remedies!

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Jenny Brady

Green Educational Consultant

Jenny has been working with Healthy Child, Healthy World (HCHW) since 1999. Ms. Brady brings a wide range of professional experience in project coordination, business management, and client service. In addition to a BA from UCLA in Ecosystem Analysis, she received an MA from Antioch University in Environmental Advocacy. She is passionate about educating people about the pervasive toxic substances that affect our health and environment. A Certified Green Build Professional, she founded Going Green Consulting, a HCHW partner business devoted to non-toxic solutions for living environments. She is married with two children living in Southern California.

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Amy Brenneman

Actress/Activist

"When I was younger, I had faith that I was taken care of by the government—in other words, that nothing would be on the market or in the air or water if it wasn’t safe. The realization that this wasn’t the case hit me when I became a mom. I learned that thousands of chemicals are used in products for children that aren’t tested on adults, much less kids. For instance, the chemicals in some conventional cleaning products such as general purpose cleaners, dish detergents, and glass cleaners can cause a range of health problems for children and adults, including respiratory irritation and chemical burns. At that point, I knew that I needed to take action, and joined the board of Healthy Child Healthy World. It gave me a place for answers, simple everyday solutions, support, and participation."

Amy Brenneman is one of the most talented and respected actresses of her time. Additionally, she spends her time working with two organizations dear to her, Healthy Child Healthy World and The Feminist Majority. Amy is a champion messenger for Healthy Child Healthy World and has gone on numerous television and radio shows to help educate the public about children’s health. She has two children, Charlotte Tucker and Bodhi Russell, who are very busy with their own projects.

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Erin Brockovich Ellis

Director of Environmental Research - Masry & Vititoe

is the Director of Environmental Research at Masry and Vititoe law firm. She is credited for spearheading the 1996 environmental lawsuit against Pacific Gas and Electric Company on behalf of 600 members of the Hinkley, California community. Her tireless efforts resulted in a $333 million compensation package, the largest settlement ever paid in a direct-action lawsuit. Erin’s HCHW message advocating for children’s health appeared on over 22 million Organic Valley milk cartons in 2003. She was the recipient of HCHW’s Special Citizenship Award in 2000.

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Natalie Cadranel

Director of Program Development

As Healthy Child Healthy World’s Director of Program Development, she oversees and executes organizational programs to help keep the public aware of ways to protect and improve children's health. With over 7 years’ experience working in the not for profit and education fields, her varied skills in writing, education, management, technology, social and environmental justice issues and legislation lend themselves to the diverse and dynamic nature of her position here at HCHW.

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Nancy Gould Chuda

Healthy Child Co-Founder & President Emeritus, Author & Environmental Activist

is the founder of Healthy Child Healthy World. Healthy Child Healthy World was established to honor the Chuda’s only child, Colette, who died in 1991 at the age of five due to a rare, non-genetic, form of cancer. Since launching both the Colette Chuda Environmental Fund and Healthy Child Healthy World, Nancy has won numerous awards for her advocacy. The California League of Conservation Voter's Environmental Leadership Award, The Healthy Schools Heroes Award, presented to both her and her husband James Chuda by Governor Gray Davis for their legislative efforts in securing The Healthy Schools Act which was signed into law in September, 2000.

She serves as an associate of the Director's Council of Public Representatives of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and was appointed by President Clinton’s Health and Human Services Secretary, Donna Shalala, to serve as a member of the National Advisory Environmental Health Sciences Council for the National Institutes of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS) a position she held for four years.

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Laura Dern

Actress/Activist

"As a mother wanting a safer and cleaner environment to raise my children in, it was an easy choice for me to get involved with Healthy Child Healthy World. This organization is the place to go to be engaged — and, most importantly, they offer answers, support, and ways we all can help."

Laura Dern has emerged as one of the great actresses of her generation proving that she is capable of great depth and range, touching audiences and critics alike with her moving and heartfelt performances. The recipient of countless awards, Laura is recognized for her ability to portray a wide range of characters. Not only is she a wonderful actress, but she is a dedicated environmentalist and mother as well. Her decision to join the Healthy Child Healthy World Advisory Board and become their spokesperson is a testament to her commitment to the cause. She now resides in Los Angeles with her husband Ben Harper and two children.

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Christopher Gavigan

Executive Director/CEO

Christopher Gavigan is Chief Executive Officer of Healthy Child Healthy World. For more than a decade, he has dedicated himself to improving the lives of children and families. He holds degrees in environmental science and geography from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and has extensive graduate training in child psychology and education. He has worked as an ecology and sciences teacher in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay area, and as a children and family specialist. He is the founder of Pinnacle Expeditions, an outdoor leadership program for teenagers.

Since joining Healthy Child Healthy World, Gavigan has launched public awareness campaigns and educational programs that have educated millions about daily choices and actions that impact our children’s health and our planet’s future.

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Rebecca Foster

Green Educational Consultant

Rebecca Foster is one of the original members of Healthy Child, Healthy World. Being a mother of three girls made it a priority to stay closely involved for the last 17 years. From co-chairing many HCHW annual events, to launching The Green House, her experience and knowledge has been invaluable. She found her passion blending her sense of style, love of great design and enthusiasm for green interior design into assisting HCHW with it's goal of being a leader in children' environmental health. A Certified Green Building Professional she co-founded Going Green Consulting.

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Mandy Geisler

Director of Special Projects and Events

As Director of Special Projects and Events at Healthy Child Healthy World, Mandy oversees and coordinates programs, projects and events. She is also the Executive Director and Program Director’s right hand. Mandy has an accomplished track record as both a student and a dedicated employee. When not working, she loves to travel above all else, dance, and ride her bike all over the inhospitable streets of Los Angeles.

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Anna Getty

Women’s and Eco-Lifestyle Expert http://www.purestyleliving.com/

"Healthy Child Healthy World not only brings to the public a heartfelt story, as an organization we bring you cold hard facts through science and then offer you a support system that can help you make educated choices for your child's wellfare. We hold a vision and have a mission for a healthier and happy future for all children. As a mom and environmental advocate, it has been an honor to work with Healthy Child Healthy World. It feels so good to know that I am working with a group of people that walk their talk. I am honored to serve an organization that has such integrity and holds such a clear vision for how this planet could be: free and clear of environmental toxins. The time is now to make a change. Our children and theirs will be grateful for it later."

Anna Getty teaches Kundalini and Pre-natal Yoga in Los Angeles at Goldenbridge Yoga. She is committed not only to Yoga but to an Eco lifestyle. Anna's passion is to educate and uplift the public about pregnancy, yoga, motherhood, diet and a conscientious and fun way of being.

Http://www.pictage.com/301402

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Dina Goda

Program Intern

Dina has been helping Healthy Child Healthy World in researching and writing blogs, program assitance and web contents.

She's currently pursuing a BA degree from UC Berkeley in Spanish Literature and Molecular and Cellular Biology with Genetics Emphasis.

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Jason Graham-Nye

Kimberley (wife of me) and I (Jason) had this grand plan...to move to America from Australia and launch a new and very unique kind of baby diaper: gDiapers. They are flushable and compostable and have been in Australia since 1991. We were just happy customers who loved it so much, we bought the rights to the rest of the world and headed to Portland, Oregon with child and dog in tow.

We launched the product 11 months ago and are now available nationally through Whole Foods & Wild Oats and 300 or so natural supermarkets.

We are the very first consumer good with William McDonough’s "Cradle to Cradle" product accreditation - something we are very proud of. We also give a percentage of revenue to CHEC - we love those guys and gals.

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Dr. Philippe Grandjean

Adjunct Professor of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health

Dr. Grandjean has served as Vice-Dean and Institute Chairman at Odense University and as member of the Danish Medical Research Council. He is founding editor of the web-based journal Environmental Health and has served as European Editor of the Archives of Environmental Health and is currently a member of editorial boards of ten scientific journals. He has been elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and was elected to the Board of Collegium Ramazzini in 2005. Past committee memberships include the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency SAB/SAP Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program Subcommittee, the Danish Committee on Scientific Dishonesty, the Panel on Contaminants of the European Food Safety Authority, and the chair of the Commission on Toxicology of IUPAC, and the Danish Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Research, as well as advisory tasks for several international organizations.

http://myprofile.cos.com/PGrand

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Dr. Alan Greene

Founder: DrGreene.com, Author: Raising Baby Green

"This website is a fabulous, positive resource for learning about the effects of the environment on kids. I love the “daily tips” that will help you reduce exposure to chemicals, toxins, and pollutants—for the benefit of your children's health, the health of your home, and the environment."

Dr. Alan Greene, Clinical Professor, Division of General Pediatrics, Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University School of Medicine and author of Raising Baby Green, is a graduate of Princeton University and the University of California San Francisco. In addition to being the founder of DrGreene.com, he is the Chief Medical Officer of A.D.A.M., and the Pediatric Expert for WebMD. He is the Chair Elect of The Organic Center and on the Advisory Board of Healthy Child Healthy World. Dr. Greene appears frequently on TV, radio, websites, and in print including appearances on The Today Show, Fox and Friends, The Wall Street Journal, Parents Magazine, and US Weekly. Dr. Greene is a practicing pediatrician at Stanford University's Packard Children's Hospital.

http://www.DrGreene.com

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Tessa Hill

Board Chair / President, Kids for Saving Earth

Tessa Hill serves as board chair. Motivated by the loss of her 11 year-old son and her husband to cancer, she founded and serves as President of Kids for Saving Earth. A founding board member of HCHW she has worked to protect the Earth and its children. Tessa is also is a board member of Beyond Pesticides, a Community Partner with The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and served on federal advisory board for the EPA's Children's Health Office.

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Jeffrey Hollender

CEO, Seventh Generation, Inc.

"While our name talks about the next seven generations, for most parents it's the next generation that matters the most. It's why we've teamed up with organizations like the Healthy Child to make sure our kids can lead safe and healthy lives."

Jeffrey Hollender is president and Chief Inspired Protagonist of Seventh Generation, Jeffrey Hollender is a well-respected leader in the socially and environmentally responsible communities. Currently Hollender serves on the Board of Directors of The Green Guide Institute and the Advisory Boards of the Chlorine Free Products Association and Healthy Child Healthy World. What Matters Most: Jeffrey Hollender and his wife Sheila have three children, Meika, 18; Alexander, 16; and Chiara, 11. The Hollenders live in Charlotte, Vermont.

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Emily Ion

Communications and Public Relations Associate

As Communications Associate at Healthy Child Healthy World, Emily fuses her interest in media, marketing, and outreach with her passion for improving the health and well-being of children. She holds a degree in International Communications from the American University of Paris, and has extensive work experience as a mentor and tutor for children of various ages. She is committed to lifetime learning and exploring all sides of creativity through words, music and design. Her other passions include romance languages, travel, doing yoga, and listening to Stevie Wonder.

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Dr. Harvey Karp

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics - U.C.L.A. School of Medicine / The Happiest Baby, Inc.

Over a century ago, naturalist John Muir noted, "When we try to pick out anything by itself we find that it is bound fast by a thousand invisible cords that cannot be broken, to everything in the universe." We certainly see this today with our increasing awareness that the gas we burn in cars is linked to killer hurricanes in Louisiana and polar bear deaths in the distant Arctic.

What about our children’s health? Today, 1/166 American children suffer from autism…learning problems have increased…there is an epidemic of asthma. And more young adults are developing illnesses like breast cancer and Parkinson’s disease.

Could these be linked to the tiny daily doses of pesticides, plasticizers and pollutants to which we are all exposed? The answer is, we don’t know. But we cannot wait. We have reasons to be concerned...and to act.

Chemicals are not people. They are not innocent until proven guilty. In fact, it is just the opposite…they must be proven safe before they are allowed in our food, air and water. Yet, over 90% of industrial chemicals have never been tested for their effect on the developing brain and immune system.

Over the past 50 years, we repeatedly learned the harsh lesson that traces of chemicals can cause devastating effects to the environment…and to our health (e.g. the health destroying effects of tobacco smoke; the brain withering effects of lead in gasoline and paint; the epidemic of skin cancer caused by the hole in our ozone layer).

And as each day goes by, it becomes more and more clear that it is impossible to have healthy children in an unhealthy world.

Children are more vulnerable to toxins for two reasons: 1) Like new plants, their young brains and bodies are more fragile, more sensitive to damage and 2) Pound per pound, children are more eat/drink/breath more chemicals than adults (they constantly put objects in their mouths and they inhale twice as much air; eat 5 times more grapes and drink 15 times more apple juice than do adults).

Can we make a difference? You bet!

The availability of organic food and nontoxic cleansers is skyrocketing. Ten years ago, HC-HW helped persuade Congress to pass a sweeping new law requiring pesticides be proven safe for young children (the prior regulation was set to protect 160 lb. men). Since then, 1/3 of all pesticides have been shown to be unsafe and yanked from the shelves.

Each generation has its responsibilities and today the responsibility for protecting children from these dangers falls on our shoulders. If we do not do it …who will?


Please join us!

Dr. Karp has been a practicing pediatrician and child development specialist for 30 years and is an assistant professor of pediatrics at the UCLA School of Medicine in Los Angeles. He has been a spokesperson on children’s environmental health for the American Academy of Pediatrics, NRDC and Physicians for Social Responsibility. He has served as an advisor to the California Department of Health Services and the California Medical Association. He is also on the advisory board of Parents Magazine and is the creator of the landmark parenting books/DVDs "The Happiest Baby on the Block" and "The Happiest Toddler on the Block."

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Jena King

Environmental Activist

Jena King is a founding member of C.O.A.C.H for Kids, an organization that provides medical assistance to underprivileged children. She is also on the Boards of University Elementary School (UES) and the Environmental Media Association. Jena is a philanthropist who oversees the Jena and Michael King Foundation, helping support numerous causes championing children and the environment. Jena and her husband Michael King live in Los Angeles with their two children Audrey and Teddy.

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Philip J. Landrigan, MD MSc

Ethel H. Wise Professor of Pediatrics - Chair of Community and Preventative Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine

Philip J. Landrigan, MD MSc is the Chair of the Department of Community and Preventive Medicine and Director of Environmental and Occupational Medicine at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. A national environmental health expert, Dr Landrigan has served as Senior Advisor on Children’s Health to the Administrator of the U.S. Environment Protection Agency. He is the co-author of “Raising Healthy Children in a Toxic World�?.

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Gigi Lee Chang

Plum Organics Founder

Inspired by his joy of eating and hearing my mommy friends talk about the lack of fresh baby food options, Plum Organics was born. To give parents more choices and to provide babies with better more nutritious baby food.

Using baby-approved recipes and the finest organic ingredients, our products are cooked to perfection and then flash frozen to lock in freshness and nutrients. That's why our foods retain more of their rich flavors, vibrant colors and textures.

From one parent to another, I know you will feel good about Plum Organics when you see the smile on your baby's face!

http://www.plumorganics.com/

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William McDonough

William McDonough + Partners

William McDonough is a world-renowned architect and designer and winner of three U.S. presidential awards: the Presidential Award for Sustainable Development (1996), the National Design Award (2004); and the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award (2003). Time magazine recognized him as a "Hero for the Planet" in 1999, stating that "his utopianism is grounded in a unified philosophy that - in demonstrable and practical ways - is changing the design of the world." 

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Jeremiah McNichols

Jeremiah McNichols

Jeremiah McNichols is a blogger, author, industry consultant, and consumer advocate. With his wife Jennifer, Jeremiah publishes Z Recommends, a daily parenting blog featuring product reviews, consumer research, industry reports, and information, with an emphasis on safe, educational, and entertaining toys, activities, and projects to help kids grow into intelligent consumers with sustainable lifestyles. Z Recommends' research and reviews have been cited by such sources as the Washington Post, the Environmental Working Group, the Sierra Club, U.S. News and World Report, Grist, and a wide variety of blogs and websites.

In addition to publishing Z Recommends, the blog's parent company, ZRecs, publishes the blog giveaway hub PRIZEY and the group gardening blog and garden planning tool, Gardenaut. Jeremiah is a frequent guest on the parenting podcast Jumping Monkeys and a contributor to the Wired.com blog GeekDad. Current projects include a series of audio stories for children, a novel for young adults, and a book for toddlers about vegetarianism. Jeremiah and Jennifer are also the proud parents of Z, who started it all.

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Bianca Nepales

Marketing Intern

As a Marketing Intern for Healthy Child Healthy World, Bianca promotes outreach to local communities and national connectivity via the world wide web. She works on spreading the news on the organization's latest book and educating parents about recent environmental health findings through blogs. Bianca loves good food, newspapers, and is currently pursuing a degree in Psychology at UC Berkeley.

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Matthew C. Parker

Environmental Health Program Intern

Matthew is a recent alumnus from the University of Southern California, graduating with honors with Bachelor’s of Science degree in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Studies. Matthew became interested in Healthy Child Healthy World as a result of his exposure to the nonprofit last year while working in Washington, D.C. As the Environmental Health Programs Intern, Matthew has the opportunity to utilize his passion for health and writing through contributing to the daily BLOG posts. Matthew has extensive background experience as a student researcher at USC, and, last spring, Matthew split his time between volunteering as a student researcher at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and working as a Children’s Health Intern at the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). He has decided that he wants to pursue a possible career in either health writing and marketing or continue his schooling and earn his M.D. He is currently pursuing his Master’s of Science degree in Biostatistics and Epidemiology at USC’s Keck School of Medicine. In his free time, Matthew enjoys attending concerts around Los Angeles and finding every opportunity to escape the LA smog and experience the outdoors with his friends.

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Dr. Andrea Rudominer M.D., M.P.H.

Pediatrician

Dr. Rudominer is a practicing pediatrician with Kaiser Permanante in San Jose, California and a passionate advocate for children’s health.

Throughout a ten-year career in healthcare, she has demonstrated a commitment to educating others and recently organized seminars on dental health, environmental health, and diabetes self-management. She is currently designing a program that will provide group doctor’s visits by conference call to parents with children of similar ages or diseases. The goal is improve healthcare by encouraging parents to share knowledge and support each other.

Dr. Rudominer is a graduate of UC Davis Medical school and UC Berkeley’s school of public health where she received an MPH in Maternal and Child Health. She trained as a resident at Stanford University’s Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital.

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Alicia Seiger

Vice President of Corporate Sales and Business Development, TerraPass

Alicia Seiger is Vice President of Corporate Sales and Business Development at TerraPass. Prior to joining TerraPass, Alicia was Director of Business Development and General Manager of Wine Clubs at Wine.com, the country’s largest online wine retailer.

Alicia is a graduate of the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where she was co-president of the Environmental Management club. After earning her MBA, Alicia spent two years as a research assistant and case writer for the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at the Stanford GSB.

Alicia has also held Senior Manager positions in sales and business development at online marketing firms Engage Technologies and Flycast Communications. Alicia hopes that TerraPass will let her harmonize her business skills with her environmental passions. She spends her free time running, biking, playing soccer, practicing yoga, and pursuing the perfect chocolate chip cookie. Alicia holds a BA in Environmental Science and Policy and Cultural Anthropology from Duke University.

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Janelle Sorensen

Senior Writer and Health Consultant

 

As the Senior Writer and Health Consultant, Janelle Sorensen is responsible for researching and writing most of the content for the organization, as well as acting as the general editor for the organization. In addition, she serves as a general consultant and strategist for programmatic, development, and networking purposes - all skills honed after years of working with a variety of environmental organizations, government offices, schools and parent groups across the country. Janelle is also a mother who loves gardening, biking, hiking, and lavishing her daughters with squishies and smoochies (i.e. hugs and kisses). Janelle is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Liberal Studies with a focus on the intersection of environmental policy, leadership, e-advocacy, and social change.

 

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Jennifer Taggart

Educational Programs Specialist

Jennifer Taggart is a passionate advocate for children’s environmental health. She is the mother of two - a 3 and 1/2 year old boy and a 1 and 1/2 year old girl. She is committed to eliminating or reducing toxins from their environment in today’s busy word, focusing on simple and practical solutions. Outside the home, Jennifer is a partner with Demetriou, Del Guercio, Springer and Francis, LLP, a Los Angeles boutique law firm where she practices environmental law, focusing on consumer product labeling and Proposition 65 compliance and litigation.

Prior to becoming an attorney, Jennifer worked as an environmental engineer for an aerospace company. She has a B.S. in Engineering Science. This technical background helps her understand the complex chemistry of today’s consumer products.

Jennifer also teaches a course entitled Smart Mama’s Green Guide: Reducing Toxins in Your Baby’s Environment. She focuses on practical advice to busy parents to reduce exposures to toxic chemicals. She recognizes that in today’s busy world, deciphering product labels and researching product ingredients can be daunting. She focuses on easy steps that can eliminate or reduce toxic chemical exposures. Her forthcoming book is designed for parents who want to reduce toxins, but need easy to implement ideas. In other words, it will educate, inform and encourage parents and caregivers to hug a tree without getting dirty.

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Leonardo Trasande, M.D.

Assistant Director, Center for Children's Health and Environment, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine

Dr. Trasande earned a Master's degree in Public Policy from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and an M.D. from Harvard Medical School. He completed a pediatrics residency at Boston Children's Hospital. During this residency, he noticed that residents rarely learned how to influence the policy-making process to improve the lives of children. As a result, he developed and established an advocacy training program for residents.

In his current work at CCHE, Dr. Trasande uses his previous advocacy experiences to influence local, state and national policy. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and he continues to practice clinically both in New York and in Boston.

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