About Us

The Green Schools Initiative was founded in 2004 by parent-environmentalists who were shocked by how un-environmental their kids’ schools were and mobilized to improve the environmental health and ecological sustainability of schools in the U.S. We believe it is essential to protect children’s health – at school and in the world beyond school – and we work to catalyze and support “green” actions by kids, teachers, parents, and policymakers to:

* Eliminate toxics
* Use resources sustainably
* Create green spaces and buildings
* Serve healthy food, and teach stewardship

We are working to leverage the schools sector to transform the school environment – and the markets that supply schools – to improve health and sustainability. Using the Precautionary Principle as our policy foundation, we are advocating that school boards and state policymakers develop comprehensive action plans and build the local capacity to implement these plans.  We are starting our efforts with schools throughout California; we collaborate with and support organizations and individuals in other states and nationally.

Deborah Moore, a mother and environmental scientist, is Executive Director of the Green Schools Initiative. She has twenty years of experience working with environment and social justice organizations in the U.S. and internationally. She spent fourteen years working with Environmental Defense protecting rivers and water quality and promoting water conservation.

Betsy Bigelow-Teller is our Communications Coordinator. She manages the website and edits the the bi-monthly electronic newsletter to members. Betsy has worked in development and communications for environmental and educational organizations for twenty years.

The Green Schools Initiative is a mostly volunteer effort, relying on dedicated parents, teachers, staff, and School Board members to implement green school programs in their own communities.  We provide training, support, and advocacy to leverage their efforts.

MAKE A DONATION: The Green Schools Initiative is a project of Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs, a 501c3 non-profit organization registered as a public charity, which provides non-profit status and fiscal administration (www.saveourplanet.org). Donations are fully tax-deductible.

To make a donation by check: make check payable to Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs, and write Green Schools Initiative in the Memo Line; send to:

Green Schools Initiative
c/o Earth Island Institute, Suite 460
The Brower Center
2150 Allston Way
Berkeley, CA, 94704

To make a donation by credit card, click on the Donate Now button here or above.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE: There are many other ways you can support us. We rely on local volunteers to take action in their own school communities. Contact us to find out ways of investing in our work, volunteering, and taking action locally.

CONTACT:
email: info@greenschools.net
phone/fax: 510-525-1026

ADVISORY BOARD:
David Chatfield, Californians for Pesticide Reform; Jack Chin*, Funders Forum on Environment and Education; Sharon Danks, EcoSchool Design; Rochelle Davis, Healthy Schools Campaign; Larry Fahn, Sierra Club; Belann Giaretto, Pacific Primary School; Randy Hayes, International Forum on Globalization; Josh Karliner*, Green Schools Initiative Co-Founder, and Health Care Without Harm; Mindy Landmark, Ethnic Health Institute; Josh Langethal, Landscape Architect/Planner; Tracy Lerman, Public Citizen; Jeff Mendelsohn, New Leaf Paper Inc.; Deborah Moore*, Executive Director; Lisa Preschel, Occidental Arts and Ecology Center School Garden Program; Carolyn Raffensperger, Science and Environmental Health Network; Solomon Rivera, Californians for Justice; Dr. Toni Stein, California Department of Health Services, Indoor Air Quality Section; Craig Strang, Lawrence Hall of Science; Mark Thomas*, Environmental Educator; David Weir, Stanford University.
* = Executive Committee

ABOUT OUR STRATEGY
The Green Schools Initiative has a powerful long-term vision that is based on six strategic goals that we hope to achieve during the next two years. Learn more about our strategy under "Our Strategy."

ABOUT THE REPORT
DATE PUBLISHED: February 2005

AUTHOR:
Joshua Karliner, founding director of the Green Schools Initiative, is now the International Team Coordinator for Health Care Without Harm, an international coalition of more than 400 groups in 52 countries working to "green" the health care industry. He has worked with numerous environmental and human rights organizations over the years and is author of two books on global environmental politics.

This report was reviewed by the Green Schools Initiative Executive Committee as well as the following individuals. We thank them for their very helpful time, effort and input, yet take full responsibility for any errors this report contains:
Claire Barnett, China Brotsky, Tammy Damon, Rochelle Davis, Jim Ford, Forrest Gee, Tamar Hurwitz, Anupama Joshi, Tom Lent, Nancy Myers, Yomi Noibi, Anne Rabe, Debbie Rafael, Gary Ruskin, Katie Silberman .

SUPPORT FOR OUR WORK AND THIS PUBLICATION PROVIDED BY:
The Lawson Valentine Foundation; the Max and Anna Levinson Foundation; the Sam and Mary Mills Fund of the East Bay Community Foundation; Anonymous Trust; California Wellness Foundation; the Rudolph Steiner Foundation; Allan and Marion Hunt-Badiner, China Brotsky, Jack Chin, Deborah Moore, Jennie Oppenheimer, Nick Wilton.

EDITORIAL SUPPORT:
Deborah Moore and Adela Karliner

COMMUNICATIONS:
Betsy Bigelow-Teller

CHILDREN’S ART:
Synergy School Sun Room, Sofia Karliner & Mariah Dawson

DESIGN:
Lina Hoshino, Tactile Pictures www.tactilepix.com

WEB SITE DEVELOPMENT:
Tactile Pictures www.tactilepix.com

SPECIAL THANKS TO:
David Weir, Misa Koketsu, Zenobia Barlow, Sharon Danks, Mark Lindeman, Victor Wallis, Peter Gabel, Maria Rogers Pascual.