H3SD “Cooler Schools, Healthy Kids” Break-out Session: It was an impactful presentation
September 2, 2026
by Dr. Plastic Picker
This is what I posted on my personal facebook and social media
“This was the honor of my lifetime, to meet Yahushua Robinson’s mother and sister. In August 2023, a 12-year-old student, Yahushua Robinson, suffered a fatal heat-related illness during a PE class held in extreme temperatures. California Senate Bill 1248 (SB 1248), also known as Yahushua’s Law, was introduced to prevent tragedies like this. At H3SD 2026, I co-presented with a powerful panel of like minded women and mothers on the importance on “Cooler Schools, Healthy Kids.” This was a call to action, and the four of us from AAP San Diego, Scripps So Cal Heat Hub, Green Schoolyards of America and Christina Laster from Stanford are committed to work together to make sure this does not happen to another child. Yahushua Robinson’s mom told us that she felt loved and supported at H3SD, and hopeful. We all brought our daughters to this breakout session, and we all connected. Wanted to share this meaningful moment.”
There are many moments from H3SD 2026 that I will remember. Joy, irritations, relief and exhaustion. This year was a harder summit for me, for various reasons and I’m committed to making sure the team works well together next cycle and that we iron out the frictions that happened. But overall, the team did amazing and the most important part is that the entire summit happened. And through many different break-out sessions and moments through the summit, we inspired and motivated each other to continue the different climate projects that we are responsible for.
For me, meeting this group of speakers was crucial for my work. I have to thank Nan Renner from Scripps So Cal Heat Hub for keeping us all together. My part was very short, and it was a montage presentation with some powerful speakers. But we delivered that session, and the most important part is that a family that had a young boy die of heat stroke and channeled that event into something productive (legislative action) were brought into the H3SD fold. It was an honor to meet Yaushua Robinson’s family. They were there at the summit with his picture, to remind us that he was here with us and that he is no longer here. This death was preventable and we need to prevent it, and also try to continue to address global heating.
So rather than just pontificating, I have things to do. I will reply to an email chain that is on my work email. We will set up a meeting with some people from Stanford and the AAP California. I need to myself read up on stuff, to make sure I fully understand the policy landscape. I need to loop in one of the UCSD graduates who is applying to medical school this next cycle. This will be her project.
I also need to write two letters of recommendations before I fly out on Friday to Boston.
I didn’t blog about it, but our daughter left for college and had an interesting and good transition to Harvard. Her first class is today. I miss her quite a bit. But I’m lucky that I had her at home for me for so long, and now she has to go to college! But I get many text and pictures throughout the day. I get to check her LIVE 360 to see where she is. And my daughter got to meet and hug Yaushua’s older sister at the session. All of the speakers’ daughters were there and got to see their mothers try to make the world safer for kids during extreme heat event. I am so grateful this happened, and for the advocacy work that I still need to do!