This may well be among the biggest moments in the fight to eliminate lead poisoning in Michigan.
Thanks to federal COVID relief funding, hundreds of millions of dollars have been dedicated to lead poisoning prevention this year and billions of dollars are still up for grabs. What's more, for the first time in recent memory, bipartisan lead legislation is gaining traction in the Michigan Legislature.
If these funds and bills become law, so many more lead poisoning incidents could be prevented, leading to happier, healthier children who excel in school, with friends and far beyond.
That makes the 12th Annual Lead Education Day all the more important. It is our chance to let lawmakers know lead poisoning is still a problem for Michiganders statewide, it is entirely preventable and there are solutions to this problem within reach.
Lead Education Day is hosted by the Michigan Alliance for Lead Safe Homes, or MIALSH. The Michigan Environmental Council is its co-creator, funder and organizer.
MIALSH is made up of physicians, nurses, housing professionals, environmental and health experts and, most crucially, everyday Michigan advocates, some of whom have been impacted by lead in their own homes.
Together, we can help make lead poisoning a history lesson, not a heartbreaking reality.