Place Matters

by Levy Schroeder, Executive Director

As I settle into my new place after relocating to North Carolina from Washington, D.C., I’m reflecting on the meaning and importance of “place”. Place is a tough thing to define; our perspectives are unique.

However differently we define “place”, I am impressed by the importance that it plays in our lives. Place shelters us, protects us, supports us and nourishes us. It anchors us to our values and influences our choices.

Place is part of our identity. Where we live has a tremendous impact on how we live: it can determine health, economic status, educational opportunity, access to resources and general well-being.

Place stretches beyond the confines of our homes. In this age of the global market, the entire world supplies us with food, fuel, clothing and technology. Place stretches across the globe and intensifies our dependence upon its resources. No place is isolated from another.

North Carolina is beautiful place. Mountains. Beaches. Shimmering lakes, and long rambling rivers. Rolling hills rich with agriculture that grows our nation’s food supply. Thriving urban areas with all the amenities any human could need. It’s a great place for families to provide a safe and healthy place for their children to live, grow, learn and play.

But for too many in this place called North Carolina, toxic chemicals and pesticides in our food, water and air degrade the quality of life we seek in this place we call home.

When one of us is made ill from exposure to dangerous, unhealthy pesticides, or one of us is excluded from the place where decisions are made about our health and safety, everyone in North Carolina suffers the consequences. This is a sad reality for this place, but we are here together because we believe this is not acceptable.

I came to Toxic Free North Carolina because I believe we can build a truly toxic-free community. I’m proud to inherit the 26-year legacy of this strong, bold organization and to lead us through the hard work ahead on the horizon.

We will work together to build upon the tireless efforts of the founders, board members and staff. We will put a premium on our sense of place, recognizing that our community is inextricably bound to our neighbors.

We will safeguard our communities by expanding our efforts to bring much needed reforms to regulation of pesticides and toxic chemicals, and we'll work to reduce our childrens’ risk of exposure where they learn and play. And we’ll keep finding ways to make work environments safer (especially for farmworkers), and to make safer, chemical-free food accessible to everyone.

It will be no easy task, and I have a hard act to follow, but I know we can do it together. I’ve got an energetic, passionate staff, board of directors, volunteers and supporters. And most importantly, I’ve got you. This is a great place to start.

Contact Levy: levy@toxicfreenc.org or (919) 348-9789

Toxic Free NC Names Levy Schroeder as Executive Director

Schroeder brings 10 years of experience in environmental justice and farmworker advocacy to Toxic Free NC

The Board of Directors for Toxic Free North Carolina has appointed Levy Schroeder as the organization’s full-time Executive Director, effective December 2, 2013.

Schroeder brings a wealth of experience to the organization in the fields of environmental justice, food equity and farmworker advocacy. She will lead Toxic Free NC’s efforts to educate North Carolinians about pesticide hazards and common-sense alternatives to toxic chemicals, to watchdog the government agencies that regulate pesticides and toxic chemicals, and to change the way our communities view and use pesticides and toxic chemicals, especially where people are at greatest risk from exposure.

“We’re so pleased to bring Levy on staff,” said Mindy Hiteshue, president of Toxic Free NC’s Board of Directors. “Levy will bring leadership and vision to our organization and will work to expand our programs and further fulfill our mission to reduce exposure to pesticides and toxic chemicals. Levy's years of experience working directly with farmworker communities and serving nonprofits at program, fundraising and leadership levels will be a great asset to our organization.”

Previously, Schroeder served as the Director of Health and Safety Programs at the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP), where she led the organization’s efforts to bring farmworker health and safety programming to its membership agencies.

“I’m excited about joining such a dynamic, passionate team, and I am looking forward to leading advocacy efforts for alternatives to pesticides and toxic chemicals in North Carolina,” says Schroeder.

Fawn Pattison, Toxic Free NC's current Executive Director, will be moving into a new role as Senior Advocate this December. In her new position, Pattison will be focused entirely on advocating for common-sense alternatives to toxic chemicals that protect our health and environment.

Twelve Wonderful Years

After twelve wonderful years as Executive Director here at Toxic Free NC, I will be stepping down at the end of 2013.  This is a big transition for us! But I am delighted to share with you that I will not be leaving the work, or Toxic Free NC. The Board of Directors has graciously created a new staff role for me focused entirely on advocacy for environmental health and justice. More than ever, I feel a tremendous urgency around the need for toxic chemical reform. Our scientific understanding of how pesticides and other toxic chemicals affect our health and development is staggering. The gap between that science, and our food and chemicals policy in the US, and here in NC, is unacceptable. Children with cancer is unacceptable. Polluted food and water – polluted breastmilk! – are simply unacceptable. These aren’t fringe beliefs. People from across the political spectrum are demanding safer products, and public policy that supports our health and safety. Our moment is now!

As a working mother with two small children, I also feel more acutely than ever the limits to my energy. As Toxic Free NC has grown, we need a Director who can focus on building and managing this dynamic organization. I am thrilled for the chance to return to my first love (well, my first professional love): Winning our advocacy campaigns.

I very much look forward to working with a new Executive Director who will bring fresh energy and approaches to leadership. I am also grateful to all of you for making Toxic Free NC such a rewarding organization of which to be a part. 

Thank you for supporting us, and for sticking with us as we bring on new leadership. Together we are building a stronger future for our health and environment in North Carolina.

In gratitude,

Fawn 

P.S.  Visit this link for the position announcement, and please send extraordinary Executive Director candidates our way!