Environmental Health

Our work is focused on migrants in the US, but that work necessarily encompasses borders that are thousands of miles away. This week’s Five on Friday takes us around the world and into our own backyard to explore the cultures and policies that shape the day-to-day life of migrants.

Proud to be in America? Yes! Last week, in a statement regarding the Supreme Court decision requiring states to recognize same-sex marriage, President Obama said, “Today should give us hope that, on the many issues on which we grapple, many painfully, real change is possible. Shifts in hearts and minds [are] possible.” Change for the better is a real possibility, here in the United States -- even if sometimes it feels far off. This is true for many of the issues that we hold dear to our hearts.

Let’s celebrate! Three out of five of our Five on Friday selections are clear wins for migrants workers and immigrants in the US, leading to greater workplace protections and better access to health care for many people in this country. 

In the countdown to the finalization of the Agricultural Worker Protection Standard, what farmworkers and migrant clinicians want to share with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is what it’s like to be exposed to pesticides as a child and retaliated against as an adult for seeking medical help when exposed to pesticides.

Our “Five on Friday” blog posts are always a joyous reminder of how many organizations are working toward the same goals: health justice, a voice for marginalized populations like the mobile poor, rights for farmworkers… It’s thrilling to hear what other organizations are up to, and how we can lean on each other to grow our movement stronger. Plus, it’s Friday -- that’s a joyous thing, too, for those of us on a five-day work week.

[Editor’s Note: Last month, Kerry Brennan, MCN’s Environmental and Occupational Health Program Associate, joined Amy Liebman, Director of Environmental and Occupational Health, and Dr. Ed Zuroweste, MCN’s Chief Medical Officer, for a training at Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida, in Immokalee.

As we approach the end of May, we know that many health centers’ migrant programs are kicking into full gear. Perhaps you need a moment’s rest after a busy week? Or maybe you would like to catch up on the goings-on in the world of health justice for mobile populations? Check out the top five suggested readings from our staff at MCN. 

[Editor’s Note: Happy Birthday, Migrant Clinicians Network! To celebrate our 30th anniversary this month, we are highlighting one clinician each day who has been honored in 30 Clinicians Making a Difference​​​, in which we profile the work of 30 diverse migrant clinicians from across the country and abroad.]

[Editor’s Note: Happy Birthday, Migrant Clinicians Network! To celebrate our 30th anniversary this month, we are highlighting one clinician each day who has been honored in 30 Clinicians Making a Difference​​​, in which we profile the work of 30 diverse migrant clinicians from across the country and abroad.]