This semester, Jadyn and I will be working with Dr. Motley to help spread awareness about the dangers of lead poisoning. This is a much larger scale project than the work we have conducted previously, and so I am very excited to be shedding light on such an important issue. This project has two main components: the first component is educating residents of the Delaware County area about the dangers of lead poisoning. I will be visiting elementary schools where I will be explaining the danger of lead poisoning to parents of young children (young children are most vulnerable to the effects of lead poisoning). The second component involves distributing fresh produce and cleaning supplies to families to not only ensure that residents are eating foods rich in Vitamin C and iron (which are known to prevent lead absorption in the body), but also cleaning their homes on a regular basis to prevent tracking lead into the house. We have been reviewing grants to purchase these items as well as reaching out to grocery stores to see whether certain organizations would be willing to provide us with food donations for the events. Already, I have witnessed the generosity of these grocery stores, and it reminds me that it takes a village to bring about social change.
One goal that I have set for myself is to continue to build relationships with those from the Chester community. Already, I feel that I have met amazing people who are determined to bring about positive change to their local community. I hope to continue to build strong relationships with people like Dr. Motley or other Health Educated members and continue to impact the lives of those around me. One challenge that I anticipate is being able to educate parents about the danger of lead poisoning in an effective manner that will cause them to implement real change into their everyday lives. I hope that I can spread awareness about this issue in an effective and educational way without sounding condescending. I am happy with the work I have done thus far, and am excited to continue this work in the coming months.