The Central New York Community Foundation is premiering a short film produced by Black Cub Productions that documents the organization’s first participatory budgeting project, held in support of its LeadSafeCNY initiative. Residents are invited to attend the premiere event, set to be held at the Everson Museum of Art’s outdoor plaza on Friday, September 6, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. Voices Rising: Syracuse’s Fight Against Lead Poisoning is said to highlight “the transformative power of community engagement through participatory budgeting to address the injustice of childhood lead poisoning in Syracuse,” according to its website.
In 2022, the Community Foundation held its first participatory budgeting project, which is a community engagement tool that gives residents the power to decide how to allocate funding through a process of democratic deliberation and decision-making. Filming took place during the project’s nine months of convening, during which Syracuse residents, community leaders and nonprofit organizations designed solutions to increase childhood lead testing. A total of 165 resident delegates participated in the planning sessions. This culminated in a citywide one-day vote in May 2023 to determine which project would receive $150,000 in grant dollars from the Community Foundation.
“As the documentary crew, we wanted to showcase the process and power of participatory budgeting, while also allowing people who view this documentary to feel how impactful it was to be in that space, hear about the education and the history around lead poisoning, and understand the personal stories, said Eric Jackson, chief executive officer of Black Cub Productions. “Our goal was to respect that process and the space that cultivated such experiences for everyone involved.”
The documentary is set to premiere at an outdoor event on September 6, 2024 at 6:00pm at the Everson Museum of Art. Food trucks, music and information about lead poisoning will be available. The first 300 people to register online will receive a $10 food credit toward the purchase of food. The film will begin at dusk. Limited seating is available; guests are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair.
Those unable to attend the event will have an opportunity to watch the documentary from the Community Foundation’s website after September 6.
“It is our responsibility as community members to protect and nurture our children, who will carry forth the legacy of Central New York for the benefit of future generations,” said Melanie Littlejohn, Community Foundation president & CEO. “That is why we are committed to eradicating lead poisoning in Central New York and why this documentary is so important – it captures the resilience and determination of Syracuse residents as they took collective action to stop this injustice.”
Those interested in more information about the documentary or LeadSafeCNY can visit cnycf.org/voicesrising.
The Central New York Community Foundation is a public charity that turns community dollars into community change. Established in 1927, it receives contributions from donors, manages them to grow over time and then distributes funding to address the region’s greatest needs. The foundation has invested nearly $300 million in community projects that benefit Central New York. It also serves as a civic leader, convener and sponsor of strategic initiatives that foster a thriving and equitable region and address the most critical issues of our time.
