Reflections of an NEA RA Expo Newbie
Armed with my best booth smile, comfortable shoes and 1,000 lip balms to give away, I set out for Denver to get caught up in the pre- Representative Assembly (RA) energy I had been hearing about since joining the organization six months ago. I was excited to see the setting for the RA and to get the chance to meet some of the members we serve.
I was not disappointed.
The vibe, the energy, THE BUZZ I had been hearing about– it was all there. People were truly excited to be there, which is at the heart of any successful event. It was so great to talk to so many members from across the country. Working at headquarters, I don’t get that opportunity often enough, so I made-up for lost time in the Expo’s Hall of Health and Safety.
You told me about the concerns you have about health issues in your schools. You told me how much you love the students you work with. You told your stories, shared your frustrations, asked great questions, and made myself and the rest of the NEA Health Information Network’s team proud to work with and for members like you! Passionate, dedicated, smart, funny people who work so hard to make each day better for the students you serve. In my book, America cannot ask for anything better than that.
So thanks for all that you do, and thanks for the Denver memories! The NEAHIN team looks forward to seeing you all next summer in Orlando. And don’t worry, we’ll bring the lip balm.
Bethe
Associate Executive Director
Third Graders Celebrate World Water Day by Improving the Safety of Haiti’s Drinking Water
On Friday, March 21, the third grade science class of Washington DC’s Ludlow-Taylor Elementary, led by their teacher, Ms. Amanda Oberski, set out to walk six blocks from their Capitol Hill school to the offices of the American Chemistry Council (ACC). ACC is a trade association of U.S. chemical producers. The students had been invited to celebrate World Water Day (officially Saturday, March 22) at ACC offices by being treated to a hands-on presentation by International Action (IA), a non-government organization that is working to improve the safety of Haiti’s drinking water.
ACC’s relationship with Ludlow-Taylor Elementary started in 2011 with the “Everybody Wins!” program, in which ACC staff visit the neighborhood school on a regular basis to mentor students in reading. On Friday it was time for the students to visit their mentors’ workplace, and the subjects were science and public health. Sitting in large yellow swivel chairs in a 10th floor conference room overlooking the city, the students learned that in Haiti, children like themselves are often sickened by their drinking water, preventing them from attending school or playing with their friends.
Neighbors and Partners
When ACC’s Information Technology Department made audio contact with IA’s Jeffrey Sejour in a rural area of Haiti, the students listened carefully while Mr. Sejour responded to their questions, including, “What makes water dangerous?” and “How do you know when water is safe to drink?” A hands-on activity led by IA’s Jennifer Young and Brandon Roberts showed the students how a chemical indicator is used to test for the presence of a low, protective level of chlorine in drinking water.
Midway through the morning event, ACC President and CEO Mr. Cal Dooley arrived to speak to the students about the life-saving benefits of chlorine disinfectants in drinking water, a technology that he said has been available in the U.S. for over 100 years. He presented a check for $5,000 to International Action on behalf of the third graders. Mr. Dooley concluded that our three organizations, ACC, IA, and Ludlow-Taylor Elementary, are now truly partners in helping the people of Haiti. With hugs and smiles, the third graders donned their coats, collected small gift bags and walked the six blocks back to Ludlow-Taylor Elementary.
Mary F. Ostrowski, works on chlorine disinfection issues at the American Chemistry Council, Washington, DC.
About International Action
International Action is fighting waterborne diseases in Haiti by chlorinating the country’s drinking water. ACC, whose members produce chlorine-based disinfectants that destroy the germs responsible for cholera, typhoid fever and other waterborne illnesses, has been an IA partner since 2010. In January of that year a devastating earthquake destroyed lives and property, and intensified the challenge of finding safe drinking water, especially after cholera appeared.
Education Matters to Your Life Expectancy
Americans without a high school diploma are living sicker, shorter lives than ever before, and since the ’90s, life expectancy has decreased for people without a high school education.
A report from the Virginia Commonwealth University Center on Society and Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation reveals one more reason why the work of educators is of such crucial importance to the next generation.
The new policy brief and video explains the connection between better health and education. For example, people with less education face a serious health disadvantage, such as:
- Living shorter lives- In the United States, 25-year-olds without a high school diploma can expect to die nine years sooner than college graduates.
- Living with greater illness – By 2011, the prevalence of diabetes had reached 15 percent for adults without a high school education, compared with 7 percent for college graduates.
The bottom line is that education matters more now than ever. Learn more about the Education and Health Initiative and the video and policy brief released on the Center’s website.