Executive Director/CEO of Healthy Child Healthy World
by The Cradle Staff
n his professional life, Christopher Gavigan serves as the Executive Director/CEO of Healthy Child Healthy World, a nonprofit organization that is "dedicated to protecting the health and well being of children from harmful environmental exposures."
In his personal life, his passion for a healthier future is coming into practice as he waits for the impending birth of his first child.
The Cradle:How did you first get involved with Healthy Child Healthy World?
Christopher: I came to HCHW because my background is in environmental science, and I was doing environmental education on both the private level as well as doing outdoor education fieldwork with teenagers and young adults. I was always drawn to those kids that were behaviorally challenged or emotionally challenged… and so I decided I’d go back to school and get some deeper education in child and family psychology. I always felt like there was a link between how the spaces we lived and the things we put into our bodies related to how our bodies acted, how well kids developed, and how well families really flourished.
So, in coming to Healthy Child, or coming to CHEC at the time, I felt like I found a great professional space. It linked in the credible science, because I am a science geek, with how do you deliver a message to people that they can take in and receive, and also change their behavior. I felt like that was a positive component of the organization because it was very clear, simple messaging: How do you better improve your lifestyle and better improve your family’s health? Through simple behavioral changes and simple habit changes, you really can do that, and the organization was really focused on that.
The Cradle: Did you grow up with a "green" sensibility?
Christopher: My family grew up in New York and Connecticut, and we grew up as average as everyone did. But there were some significant moments. I was always athletic, so I was always interested in nutrition. We lived in rural Connecticut, so I spent 90 percent of my time outside exploring and in the woods… so there was always that sensibility. And I loved camping and being outside with my friends.
The Cradle:How do you feel like your work with HCHW ties in with your impending fatherhood?
Christopher: Well, I think that for me as an impending father, I want the best for my child, I want the best for my family, and I want the best for my wife. So I’m always trying to improve our health and our wellbeing. I take a proactive approach with health, and I really feel like illness can be prevented if you eat well, if you sleep well, if you drink plenty of water, and if you have a happy lifestyle. I think it’s all about balance and moderation. And Healthy Child has really given me a lot of tools and resources that I’ve used personally and professionally to equip myself and my family to be better prepared for being a father, and for having a child in our home.
Everyone thinks of baby-proofing as [just] putting outlet covers on the wall and putting gates up, but baby-proofing also can be taken to the level of "How do I prevent illness and disease from my child?" A lot of illness and diseases that we’re seeing in autism, learning disabilities, behavioral disabilities, cancers, and asthma are all specifically linked to environmental triggers. And I have learned from Healthy Child about those specific hazards or threats and how to reduce it in a non-fear based, non-threatening way. And I don’t have to live in a bubble; I don’t have to turn my house upside down. What Healthy Child really advocates for is if you’re doing something good for your family, for the health of your child, you’re also doing something that’s good for the environment and for the health of the planet. So they are both interconnected. It should be easy, cost-effective, and not difficult to do.
The Cradle:In making our homes more eco-friendly before baby is born, what are the most important things parents-to-be should implement?
Christopher: What Mom and Dad should think about during pregnancy is that right now Mom is the vessel, and so how to best keep [the mother] healthy during those nine months of pregnancy is incredibly important. Eat wholesome organic foods. I also recommend a lot of moms considering what cosmetics they’re putting on their body. As we know with the placenta, what happens to Mom happens to baby. So if Mom is exposed to a potential synthetic preservative in her eyeliner, so is the baby. What you want to try to do is eliminate and/or reduce potential chemical containments to Mom. And that’s easy to do – it’s just looking on the back of your cosmetics (visit HCHW for recommendations).
Also, drinking a lot of water, not drinking caffeine, sleeping well, and doing everything a Mom wants to be doing. And, it’s also about what are you bringing into your home for your child… what you’re equipping the baby with. Think about the stuff you’re bringing into your home: Is it healthy? Is it made in China or in the United States? Is it made out of plastic, or is it made out of wood. Is it made out of glass? What Healthy Child does as a resource, it strips down all the scary stuff and just gives practical advice.
The Cradle:What have you done in your own home to prepare for your baby?
Christopher: As much as we possibly could. We got a crib that was made out of FSC certified wood – that’s wood that’s been harvested from sustainably managed forests, an organic mattress, and all organic linens. We didn’t paint the walls, but if we did, we would’ve used non-VOC paints.
A lot of making a "green" nursery is not doing much. I like to think of the green movement as not only being an awareness movement, it’s also not about green consumerism. I think stripping away from stuff that you normally would get [is important], because babies really don’t need much; it’s pretty basic for the first six months. Keeping it simple is best for baby, and for the home, and for the planet.
The Cradle: Which baby products would parents be surprised to learn might have hidden chemicals?
Christopher: Diaper creams, baby bottles, synthetic formulas, things like sippy cups and teething rings, and toys. You have to be your own personal watchdog, and support groups like us and get information from people like us who are trying to do that research for you.
The Cradle: Are there particular products or brands you plan on using for your baby?
Christopher: We’ll use Seventh Generation, Under the Nile, Naturepedic mattresses, and we’re using a new bottle line called Think Baby Bottles. They’re non-BPA baby bottles, which is great. Also, Organic Pharmacy has great stuff for babies. Another company that just came out called Hippo and Turtle, Avalon, and California Baby has great stuff. And, I love the Blabla toys.
The Cradle: HCHW seems to be growing and expanding all the time. What’s next on the horizon?
Christopher: We have a book coming out in the springtime. That’s a really big initiative for us for many reasons because lot of great voices and notable celebrity moms and dads are involved in it.
[Also] trying to bring an understanding that the environment isn’t somewhere "out there" – all of our homes are living spaces and the things we bring into our home affect our health, so [it’s important to make] the link between the products and the food we eat, especially for our children, and how that affects health, because kids are so much more vulnerable than adults. We’re trying to expand the awareness of good companies doing good things because purchasing power can change a lot of behaviors and minds about certain things.
The Cradle:What are your greatest hopes for the future of HCHW?
Christopher: To continue to be recognized in the space of health, wellness, and prevention as a great content resource, and to continue to be an advocacy group and great educator for parents and families. Continued expansion and awareness for the brand.
The Cradle:And what are your greatest hopes for your child’s future?
Christopher: So many hopes and dreams. I like to think that kids have their own spirit and sometimes parents just need to get out of the way. I just want to support my child as much as I possibly can and keep him safe and healthy. And then watch him thrive.
For over a decade, Christopher Gavigan has been dedicated to improving the lives of children and families. He began his work as an ecology and sciences professor in the Bay Area and Los Angeles, as well as founding Pinnacle Expeditions – an outdoor leadership program. As the Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director of HCHW, Christopher brings keen professional insight, diverse skills, and philanthropic principles that are guiding HCHW to a dynamic and bright future.
n his professional life, Christopher Gavigan serves as the Executive Director/CEO of Healthy Child Healthy World, a nonprofit organization that is "dedicated to protecting the health and well being of children from harmful environmental exposures."
