Creating Healthy Communities: Get the Lead Out

Thu, May 10, 2018
8:30 AM – 4:00 PM EDT

The Westin Convention Center, Pittsburgh
1000 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Women for a Healthy Environment, in partnership with the Institute of Politics, is hosting "Creating Healthy Communities: Get the Lead Out," a one-day conference focused on the single issue of lead. Lead is a neurotoxin and it has been determined by science that no amount of lead exposure should be considered safe. The healthy communities conference will seek to identify ways that communities can work together to address the hazard of lead in homes, schools and early learning centers. The day-long event will feature national experts on the issue and interactive working groups will be solutions oriented. The conference will be an opportunity to listen, learn and make your voice heard. Presented by the Highmark Foundation.

Keynote Speakers

Bruce Lanphear, M.PH, M.D. Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Frasier University

Dr. Lanphear is a leading researcher examining the efficacy of lead hazard controls on children's blood lead levels and their risk for learning and behavioral problems. He is a principal investigator in a study examining fetal and early childhood exposures to prevalent environmental neurotoxins including lead, pesticides, mercury, alcohol, PCB's and environmental tobacco smoke. A component of the study is the investigation of the contribution of residential hazards and residential injuries to children's health. This project recently received funding to follow the original birth cohort, until the children are five years of age. This will allow follow-up for determining the efficacy of lead hazard controls on children's blood lead levels and their risk for learning and behavioral problems. Dr. Lanphear has extensive experience conducting community-based trials, including lead poisoning prevention, epidemiology of asthma, prevention of exposure to tobacco smoke and measurement of lead and allergens in housing.

Karen Weaver, Mayor of Flint, Michigan

Ms. Weaver was born and raised in Flint, Michigan, on city’s north side. She attended the University of Michigan-Flint, and graduated with her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Tougaloo College, in Tougaloo, Mississippi. She went on to get her Master’s degree from Long Island University, in Brooklyn, NY, and her PhD in clinical psychology from Michigan State University. Professionally, Dr. Karen Williams Weaver has held several leadership positions, such as Director of Behavioral Services, Mott Children’s Health Center, 2000-2010; Chief Operating Officer of Ennis Center for Children, September, 2012-March 2014.

Featured speakers

  • Jennifer Chavez, Staff Attorney, EarthJustice
  • Karen Hacker, MP, MPH, Director, Allegheny County Health Department
  • Jeffrey Howard, PhD, Associate Professor, Wayne State University
  • Dave Jacobs, PhD, CIH, National Center for Healthy Housing
  • Janet Phoenix, MD, MPH, George Washington University
  • Michael Schock, EPA Office of Research and Development Scientist
  • Eric Zgodzinski, MPH, Toledo Lucas County Health Department