<h3><a href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/iStock_000018320281Medium-Hands-Raised-e1380815404656.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-365" alt="Hands Raised" src="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/iStock_000018320281Medium-Hands-Raised-e1380815404656.jpg" width="499" height="290" /></a></h3>
<h2>Catalyze Change in Your Community</h2>
You can catalyze change that will make your community a safer place.  Affecting community-wide policies in schools and parks can have a huge impact on limiting the use of toxic pesticides. Take a look at the steps below to learn how you can help reduce pesticide use in your neighborhoods and public spaces.

Continue reading for: <a href="#Blog">Connect to Our Blog</a>, <a href="#Campaign">Start a Campaign to Promote Sustainable Lawn and Landscape Care in Your Community</a>, <a href="#Engage">Engage Politically</a>, <a href="#SC">Promote Healthy Schools and Childcares</a>, <a href="#Park">Bring "A Natural Park is a Healthy Park" to Your Community</a>, <a name="Blog"></a> <a href="#Public">Ensure Public Buildings and Properties are Healthy Places for the Community</a>
<h3>Connect to Our Blog</h3>
Community activists are working across the nation to reduce the health and environmental effects of pesticide use and making a real impact. Stay informed by connecting <a name="Campaign"></a> to <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"><span><a title="Blog" href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/blog/">our blog</a><span><span>.</span></span></span></span>
<h3>Start a Campaign to Promote Sustainable Lawn and Landscape Care in Your Community</h3>
We’ve created the <a href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-The-Activists-Toolkit.pdf">Activist’s Toolkit</a>, with support from <a title="Patagonia Becoming a Responsible Company" href="http://www.patagonia.com/us/patagonia.go?assetid=2329" target="_blank">Patagonia</a>, an easy-to-use resource to help inspire you, the local activist, to catalyze change in your own community. The guide covers many of the basic tools for building a campaign that can influence decision makers, generate media coverage, and reach out to community members through social media. Help your community minimize the harmful environmental effects of conventional lawncare:
<ul>
	<li>Nationwide, turf grass is estimated to cover over 40 million acres, an area three times larger than the amount dedicated to corn.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
	<li>Conventionally maintained lawns and landscapes use many of our precious resources, as large amounts of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and water are necessary for maintenance.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
	<li>These practices degrade local waterways, pollute the air, harm pets and wildlife, contribute to climate change, and threaten human health.</li>
</ul>
<a name="Engage"></a>
<a href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-The-Activists-Toolkit.pdf"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-93" alt="Activists_Toolkit_Webheader" src="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Activists_Toolkit_Webheader.jpg" width="860" height="215" /></a>
<h3>Engage Politically</h3>
Organizations and coalitions across the country are working to pass laws and policies to protect us from exposure to pesticides and other toxic chemicals. To learn more about these campaigns and how you can contribute, click the links below.
<ul>
	<li>Midwest Pesticide Action Center works to <a href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/what-we-do/advancing-toxic-free-policies/">advance toxic-free policies</a> in Chicago and the Midwest.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
	<li>Sign up to receive action alerts from <a href="http://action.beyondpesticides.org/signup_page/actionalerts" target="_blank">Beyond Pesticides</a>.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
	<li>Take action with <a href="http://www.panna.org/get-involved/action-center" target="_blank">Pesticide Action Network of North America</a>.</li>
</ul>
<a name="SC"></a>
<ul>
	<li>Take action with the <a href="http://www.ewg.org/take-action" target="_blank">Environmental Working Group</a>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Promote Healthy Schools and Childcares</h3>
Children face higher risks from exposure to pesticides than adults exposed at the same level. It is important to ensure your child’s school or childcare is following best practices and state laws which limit the use of pesticides.

For in-depth information, please see our <a  class="more" title="All Resources" href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/what-you-can-do/all-resources/">resources page</a>.
<ul>
	<li>Midwest Pesticide Action Center has developed a comprehensive guide to help administration in to implement <a href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Resource-Guide-for-IPM-in-Schools-and-Childcares.pdf">Integrated Pest Management</a>. Contact us at <a href="mailto:general@pesticideaction.org" target="_blank">general@pesticideaction.org </a>for information on how to use this resource.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
	<li>In Illinois, Integrated Pest Management is required by law in public schools and licensed childcare facilities. Schools must either report an Integrated Pest Management  plan to the Illinois Department of Public Health or send a representative to receive Integrated Pest Management training.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
	<li>As a parent or guardian, you can be notified when pesticides are to be applied on school grounds. School districts can either notify you by adding you to a registry of parents who have signed up for notifications, or provide written notification through correspondence regularly published by the school district.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
	<li>We encourage you to ask your school if they maintain a registry and if they are in compliance with the state law requiring Integrated Pest Management. Visit our<a name="Park"></a> <a title="Advancing Toxic-Free Policies" href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/what-we-do/advancing-toxic-free-policies/" target="_blank">policy page</a> to learn more.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Bring "A Natural Park is a Healthy Park" to Your Community</h3>
<a href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/MPAC-Healthy-Parks-Campaign-1.jpg"><img class="alignright" alt="Healthy Parks Campaign Chicago" src="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/MPAC-Healthy-Parks-Campaign-1-245x300.jpg" width="245" height="300" /></a>

Midwest Pesticide Action Center launched the “<a href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Healthy-Parks-Campaign.pdf">A Natural Park is a Healthy Park</a>” campaign to alter park management practices and to promote sustainably managed parks as a healthy place for children and pets without exposure to toxic chemicals.
<ul>
	<li>If you would like to learn how to incorporate sustainable practices into your parks, feel free to contact us via <a href="mailto:general@pesticideaction.org" target="_blank">general@pesticideaction.org</a>.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
	<li>If your park district already sustainably manages its parks and you would like community members to know about these healthy practices, consider working with Midwest Pesticide Action Center to bring this campaign to your community</li>
</ul>
Visit our<a name="Public"></a> “<a title="Maintaining Healthy Parks" href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/what-we-do/maintaining-healthy-parks/">A Natural Park is a Healthy Park</a>” page for more information.
<h3>Ensure Public Buildings and Properties are Healthy Places for the Community.</h3>
Municipalities play a large role in our lives and the spaces in which we interact, managing large facilities and parks that the public uses every day. As a municipal official, you can use our “<a href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Municipal-Pesticide-Reduction-Toolkit.pdf">Municipal Pesticide </a><a href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Municipal-Pesticide-Reduction-Toolkit.pdf">Reduction Toolkit</a>” to make your buildings and property healthy places for the community.

The guide provides sample Integrated Pest Management contracts, monitoring plans, and tips for reducing pesticide use in a cost-effective way.

Contact us for a copy today: <a href="mailto:general@pesticideaction.org" target="_blank">general@pesticideaction.org</a>
<h3>Resources</h3>
Midwest Pesticide Action Center has developed a number of resources to help you make real change in your community, including promoting natural landscape care, talking to decision-makers about policy decisions, and encouraging school administration to adopt responsible procedures to protect the health of our children. <a class="more" title="View all Resources" href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/what-you-can-do/all-resources/">Learn More</a>