Commonweal

Filing Period

Jul 1, 2011 to Jun 30, 2012

Signed

Nov 5, 2012

Return Version

2011v1.2

Gross Receipts

$10,904,453

Mission

Major Activities

Activity 2

The collaborative on health and the environment (che) - founded in 2002, che members include over 4,000 partners in 48 states and 45 countries who serve a wide range of populations. Che translates and disseminates emerging environmental health science for different audiences, serves as a highly respected convener of colleagues in various fields, organizes monthly conference calls on relevant topics with leading researchers and develops scientific consensus statements, white papers and fact sheets. In addition, che facilitates 12 strategic working and discussion groups, including asthma, autism, breast cancer, cancer, electromagnetic fields, fertility and reproductive health, healthy aging and cumulative stressors, integrative health, learning and developmental disabilities, mental health, neurodegenerative diseases and obesity and diabetes. Children's environmental health, fetal origin of adult disease and climate change are also priority areas. Elise miller serves as the director of che. Environmental health primary prevention training program (ehpptp) - launched in 2010, the commonweal ehpptp is an initiative of che. Since its inception, commonweal has hosted six multi-day trainings, four of which focused specifically on the science concerning the environment and breast cancer, and one each have focused on reproductive health and healthy aging. These trainings bring the expertise of che in science translation to consumers and health advocates in such key strategic positions as educators, policy analysts and grant reviewers. Many lay advocates and professionals addressing environmental health concerns find themselves in leadership positions without a sufficient grasp of how to articulate the science behind their work. There are many key opportunities where advocates can influence important appropriations and policy decisions and increasing the capacity of these advocates to articulate concerns based on science strengthens their effectiveness. Davis baltz and heather sarantis are the training coordinators.

Activity 3

The commonweal cancer help program (cchp) - founded in 1985, cchp is perhaps the most respected residential support program for people with cancer and their significant others in the united states. Bill moyers featured cchp in his award-winning pbs series, "healing and the mind." cchp provides a weeklong program of support groups, yoga, meditation, relaxation, massage, healing arts, primarily vegetarian whole foods cooking, individual counseling and explorations of choices in healing, therapy, and if needed, facing dying and death. Cchp regularly and reliably transforms the lives of participants in lasting and profound ways. It changes the experience of living-and sometimes dying-with cancer. Commonweal currently offers six cchp retreats each year, which does not meet demand. The waiting list is often a year long. To help with and extend into this area of need, in 2011, cchp began offering one-day programs in the bay area. Evaluations have been strong and participation has been very good. Some of the alumni from the cchp attend the one-day programs and some of those that attend the one-day programs come to the weeklong program. To expand the cultural and geographic reach, cchp began to work with a group in texas in 2011. This group held a planning retreat at commonweal and created program documents. Sadly, one of the group leaders died suddenly and tragically in july 2011. Cchp has put its efforts there on hold. Work with cchp has led to the founding of other organizations critical to cchp, including the jenifer altman foundation, the barbara smith fund and smith center for healing and the arts. Arlene allsman serves as the coordinator of cchp.

Filer

EIN

94-2366094