Commonweal

Programs: Visual thinking strategies: (vts) is a method initiated by teacher-facilitated discussions of art images and documented to have a cascading positive effect on both teachers and students. It is perhaps the simplest way in which teachers and schools can provide students with key behaviors sought by common core standards: thinking skills that become habitual and transfer from lesson to lesson, oral and written language literacy, visual literacy, and collaborative interactions among peers.

other various programsin the fiscal year ending june 30, 2017, commonweal's other programs did a variety of work contributing to health of people and of the planet. Programs includedcommonweal biomonitoring resource center,healing circles, institute for art and healing / edge, fall gathering, healing kitchens institute, healing yoga foundation, beyond conventional cancer therapies, and center for creative community.

collaborative on health and the environment: founded in 2002, the collaborative on health and the environment (che) has over 5,000 partners - including scientists, health professionals, government agencies, health and environmental justice advocates, and other concerned citizens from over 90 countries and in all 50 us states - who are committed to addressing environmental health concerns related to chronic disease and disability. 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 developed scientific consensus statements, white papers, and fact sheets. Che currently has 16 working groups and initiatives, including asthma, autism, cancer, children's health, climate change, cumulative impacts, diabetes/obesity, electromagnetic fields, healthy aging, integrative health, learning and developmental disabilities, mental health, pandemics, reproductive health, science, and technology - and three state-based initiatives in alaska, oregon, and washington. Che also had a particularly strong working partnership with the health and environmental alliance (heal) in europe. Karen wang serves as the director of che.