CleanEarth4Kids.org Mission

•Our CleanEarth4Kids.org mission is to protect children’s health & future, clean air and water, public health, environmental justice, public lands, wildlife, wetlands, streams, rivers, oceans, ecosystems, forests, trees, climate, healthy soils & food, nontoxic playgrounds, parks and green spaces, schools, and organic gardens. We work to stop toxic chemicals, pesticides, PFAS, plastics, lead, mercury… hazardous waste and pollution. We fight for children and families, workers, seniors, wildlife, and our environment.

•Environmental, racial, social, climate, educational justice and JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) are at the heart of our organization.

•Our Teams:
1. Climate Action, Renewable Energy, Sustainability
2. Public Lands, Wildlife, Parks, Planting Trees & Gardens
3. Clean Air #KidsBreatheHere
4. #WaterIsLife #ProtectWater
5. Stop Toxic Pesticides & Chemicals
6. Zero Waste, Reduce Plastics

•CleanEarth4Kids.org: Empower, Educate, Communicate, Collaborate, Listen, Build, Create, Model, Refine, Problem Solve, Reflect, Grow, Share, Honor, Work for Change.

•We do not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or military status in any of our activities or operations. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment.

•We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit and we do not accept funding from any organization associated with the fossil fuel, chemical or pesticide industry or any person or company that is not mission-aligned.

•CleanEarth4Kids.org does not sell, promote or endorse any product, service or business or individuals selling or advertising a product.

•We do not take money from fossil fuel, chemical, pesticide companies or any person, business or organization that is not mission aligned.

•We do not allow our name, logo, likeness, work, images, etc. to be used as an endorsement, advertisement, or to support any business, product or service or make any health claims.

Our Founder

Hi. My name is Suzanne M. Hume. I am a teacher, reading specialist and advocate for children’s health, clean air, clean water, non-toxic lands and educational opportunities for students and communities. I founded CleanEarth4Kids.org because I know that positive changes can happen through passion, creativity, connection, collaboration, understanding, speaking with decision makers and representatives on a local, state and federal level.

My life changed when pesticide exposure burned my lungs and made it difficult for me to speak. My voice returned and my lungs are healing, but in the process I had to move from my home, leaving others in my community behind. I knew that I must work for change and build awareness and find a way to protect air, water and lands from pesticides and other dangerous chemicals that are poisoning our people and wildlife.

The US only bans 21 pesticides. China bans 54 and the EU bans 195. The US only bans 11 chemicals in personal care products while the EU bans over 2,400.

After my lungs were burned, I became acutely aware of air pollution. Smoke from a nearby fire pit knocked me to the ground- twice. Burning 10 pounds of wood in 1 hour has the same cancer causing PAHs as 6,000 packs of cigarettes.

Car exhaust burns my lungs. When I researched the dangers of car exhaust, I was shocked. 1 minute of idling has more carbon monoxide than 3 packs of cigarettes and contains many toxic chemicals and greenhouse gases.

The US must adopt the WHO air quality guidelines to protect our air and health.

Why didn’t I know this as a teacher? How do we protect our children’s air, water and where they live and play? How can we build awareness of racial, social, climate and environmental justice? We must all work for change to make a better world for our children!

I am proud to work with fellow board members, John Bottorff, Jay Klopfenstein, Yusef Miller and Vanessa Forsythe, as well as our consultants, volunteers, interns and our Youth Board.