| Our Story |
Our Mission
Teens Turning Green is a national movement of teens transforming the world by investigating and eliminating toxic exposures that threaten our health and the environment. The movement focuses on exposures in daily life, on school campuses and in local communities. By advocating for policy change and educating peers and communities about healthy habits, these teens inspire us all to work toward a sustainable future.
Our goal is to inform teens about an all-encompassing eco-lifestyle through peer to peer education and outreach programs. Through national outreach events, powerful legislative advocacy in state capitols and educational forums, we have engaged thousands of teens, teachers and community members and activated them protecting their right to health. We support companies that are doing right by body and planet and partner with like-minded groups and individuals to raise awareness about potentially harmful exposures. We encourage taking the precautionary steps to reduce the burden on our bodies and lessen the global impact and advocate for the elimination of chemical exposures in our daily lives. ProgramsTeens Turning Green: Lifestyles Creates awareness about toxic exposures in daily lives through developing eco lifestyle and educational outreach events, and advocacy actions to protect health and the environment. Teens Turning Green: Schools Investigates toxic exposures in schools and takes action to eliminate those exposures and implement healthy, greener alternatives.
Turning
Green: College
College students educate peers and work together to green dorms, bookstores, the Greek system, and more to eliminate toxic exposures on campus . Campaign Recap Campaign Recap_of_2008-2009_year Campaign Recap of 2007-2008 year
Our StoryIn 2002 it was revealed that Marin County breast cancer rates had risen an alarming 60% in eight years. When asked what was being done, the response was there wasn’t enough funding to do the necessary studies. Shortly thereafter, Judi Shils formed the Marin Cancer Project (currently known as Search for the Cause) to explore potential causes, seek answers and work to eliminate them. Knowing that environmental toxins are one of the leading causes of disease, cancer, birth defects, asthma, and reproductive harm, she worked to help inform citizens how to reduce exposure in their own lives, knowing that if we rally together for change, change is possible.
Inspired by a group of teens who wanted to examine the toxic exposures in their lives that might potentially contribute to cancer and other health related concerns, Teens for Safe Cosmetics was founded as a program of Search for the Cause. The teens began organizing, growing in sheer numbers around this issue, to educate others about the potential harmful exposures and have since become a powerful force for change. The campaign expanded from coast to coast and now new chapters are springing up rapidly. Through educating their peers and the greater community they have made a difference in many people’s lives and have been instrumental in influencing chemical policy change. Teens realized that they wanted to broaden the scope to all areas of a teen's life that potentially exposes them to harmful chemicals in their homes, schools and communities, hence the name change to Teens Turning. Shortly thereafter, Teens Turning Green: Schools was launched in the Spring of 2008 harnessing the inquisitive nature of teens to investigate their schools and find the greener alternatives available to replace toxic products and practices. Teens Turning Green became the new name of the campaign, encompassing all aspects of the teen initiatives under one umbrella. The campaign focuses not only on cosmetics and personal care products, but broadens the scope to all areas of a teen's life that potentially exposes them to harmful chemicals.
We hope that no matter where your interests lie, you can join our campaign and begin your journey to Turning Green. |