Zero Breast Cancer joins CHE

by Kristin Schafer, MA, Director, Collaborative for Health & Environment

We’re pleased to announce that Zero Breast Cancer (ZBC) is now a project of Commonweal's Collaborative for Health and Environment (CHE). This new partnership is rooted in our shared commitment to translating science into action in the service of health — and we’re very excited to move this work forward together.

For those who aren’t familiar with ZBC, it was founded in 1996 as Marin Breast Cancer Watch in response to high levels of the disease in northern California. For nearly three decades they’ve been a key contributor to cancer prevention efforts in California and beyond, raising awareness and creating science-based tools and resources for people of all ages.

The organization became known as Zero Breast Cancer in 2006.

Innovative tools and programs

ZBC’s work includes creative online resources geared to specific age groups and communities, including content in Chinese and Spanish. They are deeply engaged in community-based cancer prevention research, working in collaboration with UC San Francisco, Stanford, Kaiser Permanente, and the California Breast Cancer Research Program.

Programs also include coaching and survivorship support. This “whole person” approach to cancer prevention complements CHE’s focus on chemical drivers of the disease, and is closely aligned with other cancer work moving forward under the Commonweal umbrella such as CancerChoices, the Cancer Help Program, and Healing Circles.

We’re excited to incorporate this important work providing tools and information to affected individuals into CHE’s overall body of work. It will allow us to reach and engage new audiences with CHE’s ongoing efforts to highlight and address environmental drivers of cancer at a systemic level.

Stronger together

ZBC will maintain a digital presence with an independent website and social media channels; you’ll also see their work highlighted in CHE’s newsletter and featured on our website, ScienceServs, and social media channels.

ZBC’s Program & Communications Director Lianna Hartmour will continue to lead these initiatives, bringing seven years of leadership with ZBC to this work. Lianna says:

“This partnership with CHE is a great opportunity for ZBC to continue to have its crucial impact now and in the future. I’m grateful that all of our programs will continue to reach a wide audience—from young kids through survivors—to promote breast cancer risk reduction and survivor health and wellness.”

We're excited to move this work forward together, in collaboration with our partners and the CHE community! Let us know if you have any questions and keep an eye out for more details—including an overview of ZBC’s work from Lianna—in the weeks and months ahead.

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