Dear CEH Community,

As you know, I was honored to take the helm at CEH mid-way through 2022, expanding on my life’s work developing leaders to achieve great heights. At CEH, I have drawn from my experience as President and CEO of the East Oakland Youth Development Center (EOYDC), a national youth development model I ran for 27 years.

My first awakening to toxic chemicals and corporate bullies was the Juul phenomenon, where I saw that company advertising to youth in East Oakland, trying to get kids hooked on nicotine and other toxics. When I found out CEH was responsible for negotiating the first court-enforceable agreement restricting Juul’s ability to market their vape pens to teens, I knew CEH was a major champion for public health.

As I dive deeper into CEH’s work, I am impressed by the high caliber of subject matter expertise on our staff. I see deep alignment in our environmental justice partnerships and my own experiences with the thousands of children who came through EOYDC and the cumulative impacts Black and Brown communities face whether in Oakland, Detroit, Eastern North Carolina, or across the United States.