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Washington—State dental leaders speak to the promise and challenge of the ADA's budding public affairs initiative.

This is the third installment of a series of ADA News articles on dentists' "Top 10" concerns submitted to the ADA about their dental claims. These articles include perspectives from ADA members, National Association of Dental Plan members and the Council on Dental Benefit Programs.

The newest members of the ADA's Institute for Diversity in Leadership spent the fall of 2006 honing the details of their personal leadership projects, resulting in an array of innovative programs that benefit the communities in which they live.

Short descriptions don't do justice to the vision of the Institute for Diversity in Leadership dentists whose projects focus on key oral health needs in their communities. (For more details, contact Joe Martin at martinj@ada.org or Ext. 2597.)

Voters in three U.S. communities with optimally fluoridated water systems rejected antifluoridation ordinances at the polls last month: Boulder, Colo.; Arcata, Calif.; and Jackman and Moose River, Maine.

Geneva, Switzerland—An international expert panel last month issued a call to action to promote dental health by using fluoride to address growing disparities in dental health and the lack of progress in reducing the worldwide burden of dental caries, particularly in disadvantaged populations.

Pleasanton, Calif.—A relief effort that strives to get homeless veterans off the streets continues to grow in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Dental student leaders and members and graduates of the ADA Institute for Diversity in Leadership shared their unique experiences as underrepresented minorities and mentors at the April 26 Outreach Forum: Increasing Diversity in the Dental Profession.

Watsonville, Calif.— After a three-year legal fight by the local city council, community water fluoridation is set to come to Watsonville.

Mt. Pleasant , Mich.— By a margin of 63 percent to 37 percent, voters here opted Nov. 8 to put fluoride back in their drinking water.

Members of the ADA Institute for Diversity in Leadership class of 2004 launched 12 personal leadership projects this past year.

Since its inception, 20 dentists have completed the ADA Institute for Diversity in Leadership, a three-part program designed to enhance leadership skills of dentists who belong to racial, ethnic and/or gender backgrounds that have been historically underrepresented in leadership roles.

Escondido, Calif. — The city of Escondido scored a big fluoridation victory Aug. 17 in the San Diego County Court of Appeal.

ADA and dental public health officials hailed a study reporting gains in the nation's oral health over the last decade.

Fort Collins, Colo. — A state coalition that conducted a "vote no" campaign on a measure to discontinue community water fluoridation enjoyed a victory at the polls April 5 when the voters rejected the ballot issue by a 2-to-1 margin.