BREATHE LA Launches Pollution & Solutions Salon Series Tomorrow

June 18, 2008
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Julia Robinson Shimizu, (323) 935-8050x233 or jrobinsonshimizu@breathela.org
Salon Series Contact – (818) 720-7181 or Edward@HeadingtonMedia.com

Los Angles City Council Member Janice Hahn Commends BREATHE LA on the Launch of its New Salon Series

Los Angeles—BREATHE California of Los Angeles County (BREATHE LA) has been “protecting the ‘Breath of Life’” for over a century and furthers its mission of promoting clean air and healthy lungs with the launch of the BREATHE LA Pollution & Solutions Salon Series tomorrow in San Pedro. This comes on the heels of celebrating “BREATHE LA Day” in Los Angeles (last May 9th) during Clean Air month. Los Angeles Council Member Janice Hahn will offer welcoming remarks at the first salon, “Greening the Ports: Clean Air Within Our Lifetime?” on June 19th at the Crowne Plaza hotel in her district.

“BREATHE LA has long been a part of Los Angeles’ environmental history and I am pleased they are stepping up their commitment with the launch of the Pollution & Solutions Salon Series,” said Councilwoman Janice Hahn. “This is an opportunity for the Harbor community to come and learn about the steps we are taking to clean up our Port.”

The Pollution & Solutions Salon Series is a new and engaging discussion of clean air, the environment and healthy living. Six salons will be held throughout 2008, each one exploring a different issue or aspect of the environment and how it affects residents, consumers, businesses and other stakeholders. Each one is free, open to the public and a diversity of opinion, leadership, work experience and background is welcomed. A report of findings from the series will be released in December 2008.

“’Clean Air Month’ has always been an important part of our operations and outreach,” said BREATHE LA President and CEO, Enrique Chiock. “It’s especially exciting to have had our own day of recognition here in Los Angeles last month and then launch the Pollution & Solutions Salon Series tomorrow. We appreciate the support from Councilmember Janice Hahn, the Port of Los Angeles and others, and look forward to a robust discussion.”

BREATHE LA Pollution & Solutions Salon Series

“Greening the Ports: Clean Air Within Our Lifetime?”

June 19, 2008 – 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Crown Plaza Hotel in San Pedro

Welcome Speaker: Los Angeles City Council Member Janice Hahn (inroduced by BREATHE LA President & CEO Enrique Chiock)

Panelists: Molly Peterson, KPCC (Moderator); Dr. Ralph Appy, Port of Los Angeles; Dr. Robert Kanter, Port of Long Beach, Tom Politeo, Sierra Club and Jesse Marquez, Coalition For A Safe Environment

Responders: Pat Etem, BREATHE LA and Long Beach resident; and Romel Pascual, Associate Director. for Environment – Office of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; Bianca Román, Office of Long Beach Vice Mayor Bonnie Lowenthal; and Stephanie Stone, Coro Southern California and San Pedro resident

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About BREATHE LA:

BREATHE California of Los Angeles County (BREATHE LA) is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to the future of clean air and healthy lungs in Los Angeles County. BREATHE LA was established in 1903 and has over a century of accomplishments. First established to fight then-epidemic Tuberculosis, BREATHE LA has long been a leader in efforts to improve air quality and lung health in Los Angeles. Now part of BREATHE California, a statewide organization, BREATHE LA is dedicated to service in our local communities. For more information, visit http://www.breathela.org/ or www.MySpace.com/bclac.

BREATHE LA Programs:

BREATHE LA O24U environmental educational program is provided to low income inner city children ages 8-14 years, in air pollution impacted areas of Los Angeles County. BREATHE LA O24U curriculum topics include air pollution and environmental changes, health effects of air pollution, toxic indoor environments, and the use of alternate fuels and renewable energy. Each topic includes fun hands on activities that educate and empower children to make changes for clean air by incorporating Reduce, Recycle and Reuse habits into their everyday lives and encouraging them to be advocates for clean air within their homes and communities.

4-U-N-I Smoking Cessation Program for Teens is a Beverly Hills High School – BREATHE LA partnership founded by students. The first Beverly Hills High School Chapter of 4-U-N-I (text lingo = For You And I) is a student-led, BREATHE LA supported, teen-to-teen quit smoking program designed to inspire, support and assist youth to quit smoking. 4-U-N-I students are working to establish a peer mentoring project and have created a series of animated PSAs highlighting the dangers of smoking that were unveiled on World No Tobacco Day, May 31, 2008 at BodyWorlds3 at the California Science Museum.

BREATHE LA Asthma Lung Power asthma management program educates and empowers children to control their asthma. The program is taught during school breaks in spring, summer and winter. BREATHE LA Asthma Lung Power program allows children, caregivers and family members to understand asthma. Through fun exercises and family-friendly “homework” activities, the program empowers children and families to take charge of asthma as the best way to control it.

BREATHE LA TUBERCULOSIS (TB) PROGRAM coordinates the efforts of the TB Planning Council and Tuberculosis Coalition of Los Angeles County. Funded by a grant from the L.A. County Department of Public Health, the program led a highly successful World TB Day Forum in March 2008. The TB program outreaches to community groups to strengthen and increase membership in the L.A. County TB Coalition, with a mission to raise awareness of TB in hopes of one day eliminating this preventable disease in Los Angeles County.

BREATHE LA Center for Healthy Lungs is leading the way, through research, to improve quality of life for those who suffer from lung disease. BREATHE LA Center for Healthy Lungs research projects seek: early diagnosis, cutting edge technologies, advanced treatments, & medications and delivery. The mission of BREATHE LA Center for Healthy Lungs is to promote lung health throughout Los Angeles County by funding research and supporting vigorous information exchanges via conferences, summits, published articles and Internet libraries. BREATHE LA Center for Healthy Lungs has funded ground-breaking research conducted by three outstanding pulmonary health professionals.