Voices Rising: Syracuse's Fight Against Lead Poisoning - A Documentary

Syracuse is facing a lead poisoning crisis of astounding proportions, and it is affecting our children first and foremost. It was time for residents to take action, and our cameras captured it all.

While lead paint was banned from use 40 years ago, Syracuse children are still being poisoned in their own homes at an alarming rate. There is no safe blood lead level in children and once its damage is done, it’s irreversible – damaging brain development and robbing children of the ability to reach their full potential. The LeadSafeCNY funding commitment issued by the Central New York Community Foundation has inspired a passionate surge of action to put a stop to this injustice.

In 2023, we tapped into this new energy to launch our first-ever participatory budgeting project – putting decision-making into the hands of residents. The results were nothing short of breathtaking.

About The Documentary

“Voices Rising: Syracuse’s Fight Against Lead Poisoning” is a compelling documentary highlighting the transformative power of community engagement through participatory budgeting to address the injustice of childhood lead poisoning in Syracuse. This film captures the resilience and determination of Syracuse residents as they took collective action to allocate $150,000 to a project that will move the community toward a safer future. While recognizing the need for substantial additional resources, the documentary emphasizes giving the community a voice in shaping their future and driving impactful change.

Premiere Event

The documentary premiere event was hosted at the Everson Museum of Art plaza on Friday, September 6, 2024. Photos of the premiere event can be found here.

*Photos provided by Light to the Darkness Photography.

Photo Gallery