use natural pumpkins for their jack-o’-lan- terns (e.g., displaying them 6 ft up o the ground, displaying them in a window, bring- ing them indoors at the end of the evening). They issued a press release with these ideas and it was picked up and carried by three local TV stations. Acting as an advisor instead of a regulator will have significant returns as we celebrate ourselves. NEHA is actively claiming space in print and other media to advocate for the profes- sion. You can also advocate for the profes- sion by using your scientific knowledge and writing an article for your local newspaper to educate the community about environmental health, celebrate your environmental health successes, and guide positive behaviors among your communities. The other thing you can do is host an edu- cational forum on a timely environmental health concern that needs to be addressed. Ask for time on the agenda of your legislative or supervisory boards and present on that subject, where you will have a broader com- munity impact.
Alternatively, host an open house for the community, with all your scientific test- ing equipment on display. Let visitors touch them, explain what they are used for, discuss how the data are gathered from the tests, and highlight how the data are used to prevent disease and injury. Yes, be the scientist not the regulator. Share your knowledge. Your public will respect you for it, and you can build relationships and create support with- out asking for it. Lastly, celebrate yourself. Put out a ban- ner proclaiming Environmental Health Day, recognize each other, give the deserved pat on the back to each other, hold a breakfast or luncheon (potluck or catered), and laugh and enjoy yourselves in the knowledge that you have done a good job. Be proud of who you are and let us join together in celebrating World Environmental Health Day on September 26 by letting your light shine and claiming your space! I end my column with the lyrics from We Are the World , written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie in 1985:
“There’s a choice we’re making We’re saving our own lives It’s true we’ll make a better day Just you and me”
lramdin@neha.org
References National Environmental Health Association. (2021, June 17). Environmental health professionals: Your unseen army of protec- tors [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/ oLF_KS_IwkA Placer County. (2019, January 18). Meet Placer County Environmental Health [Video]. You- Tube. https://youtu.be/Pp6SYFhQbHc Ryan, B.J., Swienton, R., Harris, C., & James, J.J. (2021). Environmental health work- force—Essential for interdisciplinary solu- tions to the COVID-19 pandemic. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , 15 (2), e1–e3. https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp. 2020.242
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September 2025 • Journal of Environmental Health
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