A Message From the Executive Director

I am honored and thrilled to be Washington Toxics Coalition’s new Executive Director. This is an exiting time to be leading our organization with many amazing opportunities ahead. 

Having spent more than two decades working on issues of toxic chemical exposure and disease, I have never seen a higher level of public support for this issue than I do right now. Recent polling shows this, but I’ve experienced it. 

Whether it’s a mom at my kids’ soccer games asking me if her son’s water bottle is safe or a dad questioning the chemicals in the toy his kid received at a birthday party at the roller rink, I hear people voice their concern and frustration on this issue all the time. And they want action.

It’s our job at WTC to take this concern, frustration, and support and turn it into real solutions that eliminate harmful toxic chemicals. We do that using a combination of groundbreaking research, top-notch advocacy, and in-depth grassroots organizing. But we can’t do it alone.

The policy solutions we have championed, and will continue to champion, are focused on reducing the flow of harmful chemicals into homes and the environment—protecting human health, particularly children’s health, and wildlife. 

We’ve got amazing things planned for 2012. We’re preparing to launch a new campaign to ban unnecessary cancer-causing flame retardants in children’s products, including nursing pillows and changing pads. We’ll also be publishing more research uncovering toxic chemicals in our homes and environment and we’ve got big plans for our work educating consumers on finding less toxic products.

I am confident that together, we will continue to make progress this coming year in the fight for a healthy future for our children and families.

-Laurie Valeriano