League of Women Voters Presents Forum on Lead Poisoning March 6

Milwaukee — “Lead Issues in Milwaukee – Spotlight on the North Side” is the topic of a public issues forum presented by the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County on Friday, March 6, 2020. The forum, which is free and open to the public, will be at the Johnson Controls Volunteer Center, 200 West Pleasant Street, Milwaukee, from 1-3 pm, with gathering beginning at 12:30 pm.

There is no safe level of lead in the human body. Lead-based paint converted to dust is often found in and around buildings built before 1978. In addition, the Milwaukee Health Department provides data on some city properties that have lead water service lines. In some areas of the city’s North Side, one in three, four or five children tested from 2013 to 2016 was found to have lead poisoning.

“We are fortunate that so many state and local policymakers and community organizations have focused their efforts on eliminating lead poisoning. This forum will give them and the public an opportunity to share their ideas,” said Ann Batiza, co-chair of the Natural Resources committee of the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County.

This public forum will bring together state, local, and community policymakers and leaders to focus attention and resources on the part of Milwaukee where data indicate the need is greatest. Each of the panelists will indicate their priorities for the North Side and describe resources needed. Panelists will be questioned by a moderator, by each other, and by the audience.

Panelists: 

• Liz Evans – WI Dept of Health Services Lead-Safe Homes Program Manager
• Steve Elmore – WI DNR Drinking Water and Groundwater Program Director
• Ofelia Mondragon – Milwaukee Health Department Home Environmental Health Manager
• Dr. Heather Paradis – Children’s Wisconsin Medical Director of Community Services
• Jamie Ferschinger – 16th Street Community Health Centers Director of Environmental Health
• Karen Dettmer – Milwaukee Water Works Superintendent
• Helen Meier, PhD, MPH – UWM Zilber School of Public Health Assistant Professor & lead researcher
• Elisha Branch – Strong Baby Sanctuary Community organizer and aunt of affected child
• Delores Green – Renew Environmental Public Health Advocates Executive Director
• Dennis Jacobsen – COLE (Coalition On Lead Emergency) 
• Matt Stienstra – Hunger Task Force Advocacy Campaign Manager
• Tom Welcenbach – GTLO (Get The Lead Out Coalition)  GIS Professional
• Conor Williams – #Community Advocates Public Policy Institute# Economic Policy Analyst

Public officials and representatives of foundations are encouraged to attend to learn more about efforts being made where their help might be useful. The Natural Resources committee of the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County previously hosted a forum and two round table discussions on lead issues in Milwaukee.  Additional information about those events can be accessed at https://www.lwvmilwaukee.org/lead-issues-resources.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.