Our Vision

That every child can learn and develop in an environment that is safe, healthy and toxic-free.

Our Goals

  • End the purchasing of RoundUp
  • Empower communities, schools, and childcare centers to properly practice Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
  • Promote the use of safe, pesticide-free alternatives for managing pests and weeds
  • Educate community members on the health and environmental impacts of pesticide exposure

Why You Should Take the Pledge

  • If you want to work to eliminate this chemical pesticide from the marketplace. Glyphosate is a probable human carcinogen, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and it affects the neurological, endocrine, and reproductive systems.
  • If you want to protect children’s health by preventing exposure to toxic chemicals by eliminating them at the source. Children are especially vulnerable to the impacts of this environmental toxin due to their relative size and weight.
  • If you want to empower communities to use safer alternatives to protect the health of their families. Schools and childcare centers are well-positioned to act.  Pennsylvania currently requires the use of IPM, which uses non-toxic tools and techniques to reduce the use of chemical pesticides. Yet, we know many schools still struggle to manage pests on their grounds.

Take the Pledge

Good Riddance RoundUp Pledge

I am taking the Good Riddance RoundUp pledge to reduce the use of pesticides in my garden, yard, municipal parks and fields, school grounds and/or childcare center. I pledge to take action to protect children’s health by removing toxic exposure from chemicals like glyphosate in the spaces in which they live, learn, grow and play. I commit to working with my community/neighbors/school or childcare center to end the purchasing and use of RoundUp in our shared community spaces and grounds.

  • For example, "Mr. Jones' Yard", "ABC Community Garden", "XYZ Baseball Field".
  • For example, a group of neighbors, a class, environmental club, councilperson, or teacher. Please include their names if different than above.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

We Took the Pledge

Karlin Lamberto

Kara Rubio

Grounded Strategies Community Sites

Oliver’s Garden (Kris Knieriem)

Ryan Walsh

Braddock Farms (Grow Pittsburgh)

Garden Dreams Urban Farm & Nursery (Grow Pittsburgh)

Shiloh Farm (Grow Pittsburgh)

Chapkis Vegetable Garden (Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis)

Katy Albert

Dr. Lester Castro Friedlander, BA, DVM

Neumann Property (Jonathan Neumann)

Josh Caputo

Charles Drach

Barbara G.

Lindsey-Rose Flowers

Constance Garcia-Barrio (Connie’s Yards)

Brooke Michelle Barry (Barry’s Childcare Center)

Julie Mull

Pesticide Action Toolkit

We know that pesticides have been utilized for decades when it comes to managing invasive weeds, combating pests, and preventing mold in our homes, schools, and other public spaces. However, there is a growing body of evidence showing that exposure to toxic pesticides can cause both short- and long-term health risks, and children are particularly vulnerable to exposure to chemicals.

Recent research shows the use of RoundUp, a popular pesticide containing glyphosate, is becoming more and more common in schools. Glyphosate has been banned or restricted in over 30 countries worldwide since the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) release of a report that concluded glyphosate is a “probable human carcinogen” in 2015. Healthy Schools PA is striving to end this practice in PA Schools to better protect our children, teachers, and school staff.

We have compiled a Pesticide Action Toolkit to help you learn, explore, and engage in the campaign for pesticide-free schools. Feel free to download and use our free resources to educate your school community and take action!

Learn More