Cleveland Spotlights Lead Poisoning Prevention with Citywide Events and Landmark Illuminations
Published on October 22, 2024
Source: City of Cleveland
According to the city's news release, Cleveland and the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition are highlighting the danger of lead exposure with a week of events dedicated to education and prevention. The week runs from Sunday to Saturday and aligns with National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week.
Highlighting the efforts, Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts. According to the City of Cleveland, "We are fortunate in the City of Cleveland to have great partners, like the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition and Cleveland Public Library, working with us to end childhood lead poisoning," and noted the active engagement with Cleveland City Council to enhance lead safety programs for children's wellbeing, these words, a reflection of his administration's dedication to the city's youth and their safety at home and in public spaces.
As part of the initiative, various venues and landmarks, including Cleveland City Hall and the Terminal Tower, will be illuminated with green lights to raise consciousness about lead poisoning risks, inviting nearby businesses to join the gesture. This move stands as a symbol of solidarity in the plight against lead toxicity, for which children are the most vulnerable targets.
In her commitment to the safety and health of Cleveland's families, Kim Foreman, CEO of Environmental Health Watch and chair of the Coalition's Community Engagement Committee, emphasized, "The Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition believes that no child should be poisoned by lead," stated by the City of Cleveland, as she articulated the need for collaborative work and community involvement to create a safer environment for Cleveland's children and the Lead Safe Resource Center's pledge to support and offer resources to those intent on being part of the city's remediation and fortification against lead hazards.
Events include an educational Lead 101 session paired with a healthy cooking demonstration, a community conversation for finding answers and engaging with local leaders, a sign-making party rallying public creativity in preparation for the Lead Poisoning Prevention Walk & Rally, and the Lead Screening and Testing Commission's virtual meeting to discuss strategies to enhance screening and testing rates for early detection; these accomplishments are a testament to the city's proactive and collective response to combatting lead poisoning.
The week caps off with the 4th Annual Lead Poisoning Prevention Walk and Rally on Saturday, October 26, where residents, community advocates, and city officials will join hands to walk the talk against lead poisoning, followed by a rally loaded with family-friendly activities at The New Eastside Market, for which free parking and online registration are available, Cleveland's concerted effort to turn knowledge into action can be witnessed in the collective step of its people, marching for a cause that anchors in the heart of community safety and future prosperity.
Full details on the week's activities and resources provided by the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition can be found by visiting their official website, a repository of knowledge and guidance for families and individuals seeking to know more and do moreâbecause the end of lead poisoning begins with awareness and ends with action.
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