About
MissionTeens Turning Green is a student led movement devoted to education and advocacy around environmentally and socially responsible choices for individuals, schools, and communities. We seek to promote global sustainability by identifying and eliminating toxic exposures that permeate our lives and threaten public and environmental health. What began in the Bay Area in 2005 now has a presence at elementary, middle and high schools, universities, and student organizations across the country, as well as a strong virtual platform and media presence. The TTG chapters lead grassroots efforts that aim to raise awareness, encourage behavior change, and lobby for policy that will lessen local and global impact.
Programs Teens Turning Green: Lifestyles Creates awareness about toxic exposures and sustainable practices through in daily lives through educational outreach events, and advocacy actions to protect health and the environment.
Investigates toxic exposures in schools and takes action to eliminate those exposures and implement healthy, greener alternatives.
Teens Turning Green: Community Launches specific initiatives in partnerships with community leadership and residents to care for communities.
Campaign Recap
Our StoryIn 2002 it was revealed that Marin County breast cancer rates had risen analarming 60% in eight years. When asked what was being done, the response wasthere wasn’t enough funding to do the necessary studies. Shortly thereafter, JudiShils formed the Marin Cancer Project (currently known as Search for the Cause)to explore potential causes, seek answers and work to eliminate them. Knowingthat environmental toxins are one of the leading causes of disease, cancer,birth defects, asthma, and reproductive harm, she worked to help informcitizens how to reduce exposure in their own lives, knowing that if we rallytogether for change, change is possible. In 2005, inspired by a group of teens who wanted to examine the toxic exposures intheir lives that might potentially contribute to cancer and other healthrelated concerns, Teens for Safe Cosmetics was founded as a program of Searchfor the Cause. The teens began organizing, growing in sheer numbers aroundthis issue, to educate others about the potential harmful exposures. Teen campaign members played a key role inthe passage of SB484, The California Safe Cosmetics Act in October of 2005.Thanks to their 11th hour lobbying efforts in Sacramento, California's Governorsigned the bill, on tap for veto into law. The Bill required Department of Public Health to develop anonline reporting system, and requires cosmetics manufacturers, packers, anddistributors to submit information on carcinogens and reproductive hazards tothe system and disclose such information to the consumer.
Teens realized that they wanted to broaden the scope to all areas of ateen'slife that potentially exposes them to harmful chemicals in their homes,schoolsand communities, and changed the name to Teens Turning Green. Newchapters of Teens Turning Green expanded from coast to coast with newmembers joining weekly. Shortly thereafter, Teens Turning Green: Schools was launched in the Spring of 2008, as a program of Teens Turing Green, harnessing the inquisitive nature ofteens to investigate their schools and find the greener alternatives availableto replace toxic products and build sustainable practices.
We hope that no matter where your interests lie, you can join our campaign and begin your journey of Turning Green.
|