California Safe Schools Partners With Celebrated Artist Michael Bruza

California Safe Schools Partners With Celebrated Artist Michael Bruza -Preventing Pests Without Pesticides




From CALIFORNIA SAFE SCHOOLS (COALITION)
Monday, November 17, 2003

California Safe Schools Partners With Celebrated Artist Michael Bruza
Preventing Pests Without Pesticides


Los Angeles, CA - Imagination can make kids laugh, but it can also save their lives. That's why the California Safe Schools Coalition partnered with internationally celebrated artist Michael Bruza with a launch of an innovative children's safety poster campaign, aimed at reducing pests without the use of pesticides.

"I've always had an interest in creatively delivering kids' content, programming and educational materials. Partnering with CSS gives me the opportunity to directly impact and improve the well-being of thousands of kids. That means a great deal to me."

No stranger to community and educational causes, Bruza has been artistically enhancing children's content for over 10 years. Bruza's portfolio includes countless projects for Disney and Warner Bros, including his design for the Central Perk logo for the popular television show, "Friends." The enormous success of Mr. Bruza's poster projects for California Safe Schools focuses on preventing pests through school cleanliness, and actions children and adults can take to protect themselves from West Nile Virus. To date CSS has distributed over 40,000 posters to schools throughout California.

California Safe Schools is a parent driven nonprofit environmental Coalition of over forty organizations located in Southern California committed to the health and safety of children, teachers, staff, and community members who reside near school sites. California Safe Schools is nationally recognized for creating the most stringent pesticide policy for schools in the United States. This Integrated Pest Management Policy (IPM) was the first in the USA to embrace the "precautionary principle," and includes a Parents Right to Know about pesticides used in their children's schools. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) uses least-toxic methods to eradicate pests. This IPM policy has become the model for school districts and communities throughout the country.

"California Safe Schools is fortunate to have such a seasoned, multi-faceted artist as an ally. Michael's understanding of children's health, and overall environmental issues enables him to create strong messages with exceptionally brilliant illustrations. As a result our organization has been able to effectively increase outreach, and prevent illness resulting from chemical exposure linked to pesticides," said Robina Suwol, Executive Director of California Safe Schools.

Brandon Baker, Van Nuys Magnet High School student added, "Mr. Bruza's art speaks a language that appeals to kids and adults equally. He is a true original!"

"We are proud of our record of cooperative activism" stated Ashley D. Posner, Esq., California Safe Schools' Chairman and parent of two children in the Los Angeles Unified School District. "We have worked hard to bring diverse parties together in our mutual interest of caring for our children and their school environment. We appreciate the efforts of all of the school administrators, teachers, parents, kids and professionals who have put aside traditional politics and positions. Our success is shared with our entire community. We especially are grateful to Mr. Bruza for his creativity and generosity. His work is a spectacular assistant in promoting our message across our community."

California Safe Schools' work is made possible through the generosity of the California Wellness Foundation, California Endowment, William C.Bannerman Foundation, S. Mark Taper Foundation, Patagonia, Pesticide Watch Education Fund, Liberty Hill Foundation, Warner Brothers Environmental Initiatives, LA Shares, and Nuprint Graphics . CSS is committed to ensuring that all students, teachers, staff and community members who live near school sites are in a safe, toxic-free environment.

To view posters and for further information:
http://www.calisafe.org
Robina Suwol,Executive Director
California Safe Schools
818-785-5515
email: schoolipm [at] yahoo.com




For more information, contact:

ROBINA SUWOL
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CALIFORNIA SAFE SCHOOLS (COALITION)
BOX 2123
TOLUCA LAKE, CA 91610
schoolipm [at] yahoo.com