Advisory Board Member


Robina Suwol
Executive Director of California Safe Schools (CSS)
and President of Beyond Pesticides

Robina Suwol is the Executive Director of California Safe Schools (CSS) www.calisafe.org, a nationally celebrated children's environmental health coalition, whose primary purpose is to stop the use of dangerous pesticides in public schools and keep our children safe. Suwol came to fill this position as a result of her son Nicholas'; personal experience of a pesticide exposure at his elementary school.

Since the organizations inception in 1998, Suwol has achieved national prominence as an environmental and children's health activist. She has been recognized twice by Volvo for their Volvo Hero for Life Awards, recipient of the Leading Boldly Award from the Los Angeles Children's Council, Precautionary Principle Award, EPA Region 9, 2007 Award, Green School's Award and is currently the President of Beyond Pesticides. www.beyondpesticides.org

California Safe Schools is recognized for spearheading the most stringent pesticide policy in the nation at Los Angeles Unified School District (2nd largest in the nation). The policy, called Integrated Pest Management (IPM), uses low risk methods to eliminate pest and weeds and was the first in the United States to embrace the Precautionary Principle and Right to Know about pesticides used on school campuses. Today it has become the model for school districts and communities internationally.

On October 6, 2005, Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 405 (Montanez) sponsored by California Safe Schools. This important law closes a loophole protecting more than 6 million California k-12 public school students, and hundreds of thousands of teacher's and school employees from exposure to experimental pesticides whose health effects are unknown.

Suwol's recent second finalist nod for the 5th Annual Volvo for Life Award (recognizing citizens around the country who put the needs of others ahead of their own), earned CSS a $25,000 donation for her inspired community work. An articulate and compelling speaker, Suwol gives frequent presentations on school safety to parents, students, school officials and legislators. Valley Magazine quotes Suwol, "Kids don't have lobbyists. They don't have war chests. They don't have a vote. So they depend on their parents (us) to protect them."

For more information about how you can help make important changes at your child's school visit www.calisafe.org