Coit Road Farmers Market hosted one of Food Strong’s Care-A-Van events for food and nutrition information on July 13. This event partnered with Soil SHOP, a United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program, and Cleveland Lead Advocates for Safe Housing (CLASH). Free soil screenings for lead by Soil SHOP were available to residents who came with soil samples in tow, and information on how to reduce lead exposure for children and families was provided by CLASH.
The event featured several sources of literature and other resources to help families navigate lead safety and ways to effectively mitigate potential issues, as well as safety around air quality, pesticide use and steps to reduce exposure to harmful substances.
One thing that stood out to me was the presence of sunflower seeds on the tables for guests to take and plant in their garden. I was told by staff and volunteers that sunflowers help to remove lead from soil. After some research I found that sunflowers do in fact remove toxins and heavy metals, like lead, in soil through a process of phytoremediation. The hazardous substances then remain stored in the fatty tissues of its stems and leaves.
Spencer Wells, a community organizer and treasurer for CLASH was present, and told me a bit of history on the organization and its efforts.
“CLASH was established in 2016, and we tried like crazy to get the city of Cleveland to pass a law that requires homes to be tested for lead, and we were unsuccessful,” Wells said. “We got a petition drive together in 2019, and gathered enough signatures to get it on the ballot, and the council passed the law before it was able to appear on the ballot.”
Wells was referring to the 2019 Cleveland City Council ruling to pass the Lead Safe Certification law, which aimed to address child lead poisoning. As many as 90 percent of homes and residential buildings in Cleveland were built before 1978 (The Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the use of lead in house paint in 1978.)
“It’s been 5 years trying to get this law implemented. That is what began our advocacy for safe housing, but we also do a lot of outreach work and make efforts on awareness of lead safety,” Wells said.
“This is what I fought for. My son died from lead poisoning in 2007. By the time he was 12, he had diabetes, by 14 he had a liver condition, by 16 he had kidney disease, and by 18 he had an enlarged heart. Lead did this to him, I noticed symptoms of lead poisoning in him as a child, and advocated to get him tested and all children in CMHA housing tested as well,” said Rev. Darrick L. Wade Sr., minister and community activist. .
Wade’s eldest son, Demetrius Lamar Wade, passed due to complications of lead poisoning on Sept. 15, 2007.
“I’ve been doing advocacy and community work since 1992. I’ve watched children turn into adults who are suffering from symptoms and complications of lead poisoning,” Wade said.
Wade began his advocacy work in 1992 after his son tested positive for high lead levels at 9 years old.
Wade spoke passionately about the behavioral symptoms of lead poisoning and how it is affecting children in schools. The behavioral changes in children of his community is what motivated him to do mass testing and raise awareness on lead poisoning symptoms.
CLASH’s website features more information on this Lead Crime Hypothesis, the association in childhood lead exposure and adolescent/adult involvement in anti-social behavior. Research was conducted and published by Maria Jose Talayero Schettino, et al.
Studies by Case Western Reserve University suggest that Cleveland has high percentages of children with elevated levels of lead in their bodies. Youth are affected the most by lead poisoning, as it impacts their anatomical development, and their social and academic development. Some 12 to 13 percent of our children have elevated levels of lead within Cleveland, with some neighborhoods having percentages as high as 25.
“Many children within CMSD are misguided and due to the learning and cognitive effects of lead poisoning, they fall behind in their studies and face ridicule, so they turn to maladaptive behaviors to regain a sense of control,” Wade said.
Jeff, another volunteer helping with voter registration and lead safety awareness, mentioned that undiagnosed lead poisoning symptoms in adults can lead to domestic violence cases, where people are unsuspectingly partnered to individuals with lead poisoning, and they end up on the receiving end of erratic and dangerous behavior.
How to attend a soil testing event
Soil S.H.O.P (screening, health, outreach and partnership), a federal program providing free soil testing of outdoor play areas to identify toxic substances, was present with EPA staff to run instant reports on soil samples using an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) instrument.
There will be two more soil testing events this summer:
- Aug. 10 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at God’s Vision Foundation Family Day at Stella Walsh Rec. Center, 7345 Broadway Ave.
- Aug. 24 from 10 a.m. to 1p.m. at Concerned Citizens Community Council, 13611 Kinsman.
You must prepare your sample ahead of time and have it ready, but the directions are simple.
1. Identify your sampling areas, like gardens or play areas.
2. For a garden: collect five samples, scooped about 6-8 inches deep and place in a clean container. For a play area: collect five samples, scooped from the top 2 inches, place in a clean container.
3. Mix the soil in each sample well, removing debris like pebbles, rocks and plant roots. Let the sample air dry
4. Bring one to two cups in a clean one quart Ziploc bag, labeling each bag with the source/location of the soil.
FoodStrong and CLASH
Food Strong’s mission utilizes locally sourced food to empower, educate and cultivate health. It prioritzes giving a community tangible ways to feel a sense of ownership in their work through partnerships and outreach. Care-A-Vans are the perfect vehicle to enact this change and empowerment through education, conversation and sources of power for residents, officials said.
“Our partnership with CLASH has been established for a while now, as we support their mission and we support theirs. We all are fighting social injustices and the consequences that residents have to deal with.” said Heather McCormick, community outreach and engagement manager with Food Strong.
“CLASH is a part of our Care-A-Van program that aims to share resources and information with underserved communities to bring a sense of care and support to the people we serve,” she added.
Care-A-Van events are hosted every second Saturday at Coit Road Farmers Market. That’s where the FoodStrong and CLASH collaboration grew into providing free soil testing kits from the EPA and SoilSHOP.
I watched many residents and guests grabbing pamphlets, flyers and other materials about lead safety, and engaging with staff and personnel from CLASH and Food Strong.
“It takes a village to pool together our resources and provide meaningful nutrition, health and safety resources to help improve the communities of Cleveland,” McCormick said.
As far as upcoming plans for Food Strong to continue their community engagement and service, the next Care-A-Van will be Aug. 10, focusing on providing young students with school supplies. “We’ll be giving away fully stocked backpacks and other free resources for families and children, it’s all really great,” McCormick said.
In speaking to Heather, her passion for this work was bursting through the phone, as she enthusiastically invited me to this next Care-A-Van.
“I love East Cleveland and want to help residents as best as possible,” McCormick said.
FoodStrong is hosting a their annual gala this fall, on Sept. 11 to support their continued work and celebrate champions of community service. Strawberry Field Forever will be hosted at Veranda at Lago (1091 W. 10th Street Cleveland Ohio) and themed around fresh food and a Beatles cover band. More information here.
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