Smita Kalokhe News Reporter

October 3, 2009
GRAND RAPIDS—
They brought Hollywood's star power to West Michigan when residents in Paw Paw and Fennville got help from Erin Brockovich to fight ground water contamination. Tonight, they took their case to a less high-profile group, but one that could be equally helpful.

Two local community activists, Diana Stump and Kari Crayton, spoke at this year's International College of Integrative Medicine's conference, held at the Amway Grand Hotel. The women told their story, years of drinking water that is believed to be tainted, to doctors from around the world. Their message tonight: despite Erin Brockovich's high profile name being attached to their case, it's the doctors who are a person's first defense against toxins. They pushed for doctors to get out into the community and speak in plain terms.. not medical jargon.

"It doesn't matter if you have a PH.D., B.S. or M.D. behind your name. We're all in this together. it's not just and individual problem, it's a community problem and a world problem," says Stump.