Exciting Things to Come!
Your Monthly Update From Lead-Free NJ
June 28, 2022
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Thank you for subscribing to Lead-Free NJ (LFNJ)’s monthly newsletter! Our newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the collaborative’s work and what is going on throughout the state regarding issues you’re passionate about, including protecting children from lead poisoning and equitable lead policy change. Most importantly, the newsletter will provide you with opportunities to work with us to #GetTheLeadOut.
We know that so many emails come into your inbox, but we hope you’ll take advantage of the opportunity to stay connected!
Ready to take the next step and join as a member? You can join as an individual, authorized representative of an organization, or BOTH!
It’s FREE and easy to sign up.
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In Case You Missed It:
Lead-Free NJ Membership Meeting Recap
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Watch the video of the May 5 meeting to learn about local advocacy efforts by our LFNJ community hubs and how they are taking action.
With our communities determined to remove lead from the environment and potential opportunities in place to fund their efforts, this is an important moment for lead-free advocates to join in and support the work of communities. You can sign on to assist LFNJ hubs with their efforts by becoming a LFNJ member and selecting the hubs you would like to join. |
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Our LFNJ Hubs—Making a Difference
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LFNJ currently has three Community Hubs, or local grassroots organizations that help define and advance the LFNJ collaborative’s yearly objectives and long-term goals. Each Community Hub participates in the statewide collaborative but also convenes to coordinate local efforts, strategize on solutions, and raise awareness about lead exposure among residents. Community Hubs’ specific plans are tailored to the needs of their distinct communities in Newark, Paterson, and Trenton. We hope to add a fourth hub in South Jersey in the near future! If your organization is in South Jersey and you are interested in LFNJ, or if you have a recommendation for a future South Jersey Hub, please contact LFNJ Program Manager Heather Sorge. |
Huge Success! First Trenton Community Day and Watershed Event (East Trenton Collaborative LFNJ Hub)
The East Trenton Collaborative (ETC) held the first annual Trenton Community Day on May 21. The day was a huge success, with a community day and watershed cleanup that also included an opportunity to visit the historic library open for all to see, with free books and furniture; as well as opportunities to make planters; enjoy free food, music, and the T-Rex game truck; and to visit Boomer, the Trenton Thunder mascot.
There were over 100 people in attendance to clean up the creek and receive important information about stormwater, as well as where lead may be found in their communities and how to address it. Everyone from the mayor of Trenton to children in the community learned about our stormwater drains and outflow pipes into the creek. Organizations including Isles, New Jersey Future, Trenton Health Team, the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, the Watershed Institute, Lead-Free NJ, and ETC were available to provide information and resources to residents and to answer questions regarding how to address lead issues in their homes.
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LFNJ and NJF tabling at Trenton Community Day.
Photo Credit: Michele Glassburg
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Making Progress at Paterson Habitat for Humanity
Our Paterson Hub participated in, tabled at, and supported the Paterson Center for United Methodist Aid to the Community (CUMAC) event on Saturday, June 18. CUMAC’s mission is to fight hunger and its root causes through a holistic, trauma-informed approach that provides groceries and basic necessities to families and individuals in need.
The Paterson Hub continues to address the needs of the more than 300 Paterson children who were found to have lead poisoning last year. The Paterson hub’s work includes requests to work with St. Joseph’s University Medical Center on educating those already affected by lead poisoning and door-to-door outreach sharing information about the dangers of lead exposure and testing for those who may not be aware of the risks. To find out more information about the Paterson Hub and their efforts, contact Unique Bacote. |
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Unique Bacote, Paterson Habitat for Humanity tabling at the Paterson CUMAC Event.
Photo Credit: Unique Bacote
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Homes For All Newark: Community Engagement & Newark Residents Survey Continues
In May, Heather Sorge, the LFNJ program manager, joined Homes for All Newark at the Intrinsic Cafe in Newark to hand out information, meet with residents, and discuss future steps regarding how to get the lead out of Newark. You can join Homes for All Newark at their next monthly membership meeting! All are welcome to attend! Email Homes for All Newark for their virtual meeting information. |
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All this material is available on our website here, so make sure to share the knowledge. Thank you to Bridget Hill (HFAN, far left), Kevin Cenac (HFAN, standing left), Heather Sorge (LFNJ), Syd Chan (HFAN) & Tanisha Garner (HFAN, standing right), for a great event! |
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Homes for All Newark continues its work on the Newark Homes Lead Survey. If you are a Newark resident or Newark residents you know are concerned about lead issues in the home and other residential quality of life issues in the city of Newark, please take (and/or share) the Homes for All Newark survey through the QR code below or through this link: https://forms.gle/xCMADS5LF167ZNj16. |
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Welcome Newark Water Coalition, Our New LFNJ Newark Hub!
We would like to welcome Newark Water Coalition (NWC) who will be assuming the role as the LFNJ Newark Hub. The survey currently being completed by Homes for All Newark will be used to help identify residents for NWC’s project. This summer, NWC will work to test 300 homes for lead in paint, water, soil, and dust and work to create a public database. This project is being completed in conjunction with Rutgers University, the University of Berkley and LFNJ. NWC is looking for volunteers to help complete this project. Contact Anthony Diaz for more information.
NWC kicked off the project on June 11 in collaboration with Rutgers University’s Community Science Training Day. The event provided residents with knowledge on how to collect samples from soil, water, paint, and dust to test for lead.
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Newark Water Coalition: Weekly Food Distribution
Our Newark Hub works hard to ensure that Newark residents not only have access to clean water, but also healthy food. Contact Newark Water Coalition (NWC) for more information on this weekly distribution program. |
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Newark residents receive healthy food at the weekly NWC food distribution program.
Photo Credit: Anthony Diaz, NWC
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We hope you’ll take a minute to:
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Share any personal stories of your experiences with lead exposure as we work to help people better understand the devastating effects of lead exposure and the need for change.
- Check out our community organizing toolkit, which provides practical advice and guidance not only for lead-free organizers, but for anyone looking to create lasting policy change in their community.
Stay Connected With LFNJ on Social Media
Are you following us on social media yet? Get up-to-date information from Lead-Free NJ even faster on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Take a minute to hit that follow button!
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Highlights & Opportunities |
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New Jersey Planning and Redevelopment Conference |
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The 2022 NJ Planning and Redevelopment Conference was held virtually on June 14–15 and in person on June 16 at the Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick.
NJPRC22 featured 36 sessions, a virtual and in-person exhibit area, and ways to connect with fellow attendees as it brought together bold ideas, innovative solutions, proven concepts, and best practices for creating better, more inclusive, and equitable places where people live, work, and play.
We were pleased to offer the session: Lead by Example: Equitably Addressing the Toxic Lead Issues in Your Town, which you can view here.
The presence of lead in New Jersey—whether in drinking water, paint, or soil—is one of many environmental justice issues that disproportionately affects low-income communities and communities of color. This session covered how lead affects New Jersesyans and where it comes from. Panelists discussed what local governments must do to address the issue, including understanding new state mandates for lead pipe replacement and lead paint inspections and remediation. The session highlighted local solutions, success stories, and partners, as well as helpful resources that will help you equitably address lead in your community. For more information on how to address lead in your community, contact Heather Sorge. |
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Jersey Water Works In Person Annual Membership Meeting: Register Now! |
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Join us for the first in-person Jersey Water Works Membership Meeting since 2019. Don’t miss the chance to collaborate with other water leaders, advocates, and decision makers during this pivotal time of funding opportunities and legislative changes for water infrastructure. Jersey Water Works believes that collaboration is the only way to advance forward-thinking strategies.
For the last seven years, the annual Membership Meeting has allowed participants to connect, share updates, and advance the conversation about New Jersey’s water infrastructure. Water infrastructure transformation is complicated and systemic solutions take time and investment. Your perspective is essential to the conversation. Share your ideas by engaging in conversations, asking questions, and having one-on-one conversations with your peers. Register to attend here, seating is limited.
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Spanish Version LFNJ Factsheet Now Available!
We are pleased to now offer our LFNJ one pager in Spanish and are in the process of having it translated into different languages as well. Please visit our factsheets and reports page to view this factsheet and additional resources.
La hoja de datos de LFNJ está disponible en Español!
Nos complace ofrecer nuestro volante de LFNJ en Espanol y estamos en el proceso de traducirla a otros idiomas. Por favor visite nuestra página de datos y reportes para ver esta hoja de datos y otros recursos. |
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Lead-Free NJ Monthly Blog: June
Summer Fun Days and Lead
Summer is for fun! Open your windows and let the sunshine, warmth, and breezes blow, but remember: lead is not only found in water pipes. It can also be found in the air. Read more in our June blog post here. |
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Job Opportunities
Lead-Free NJ Job Opportunity: JOB ALERT!
New Jersey Future is actively looking for a Community Organizer. The community organizer works to ensure that New Jersey Future's campaigns are centered around the needs and perspectives of directly-affected communities. A creative, flexible, self-directed, team-oriented person who is willing to learn will be successful in this position. Read and apply here.
Do you have a lead-free event, opportunity, or highlight you'd like to share? Email Heather Sorge with the details and get it featured in the next newsletter!
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Lead-Related Bills to Watch:
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S280 - Requires DOE and DCF to establish online reporting systems for schools and child care centers to report lead testing results.
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A799 - Allows gross income tax deduction for amounts paid for removal of lead, asbestos, sodium, chloride, and other contaminants from taxpayer's property. Community Development and Affairs
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A659 - Authorizes common law public nuisance suits regarding lead paint under State law; exempts Attorney General from certain aspects of public nuisance claims when pursuing lead paint actions.
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A1892 - Allows municipalities to establish loan programs to fund replacement of lead service lines.
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A2416 - Requires financial institution that has foreclosed on property to remove water service lines that contain lead.
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A3712 - Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; requires inspection of residential rental units for lead drinking water hazards.
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The Mission of Lead-Free NJ
About 4,000 children in NJ are lead-poisoned every year. Many of these children reside in low-income communities and/or communities of color and are most at risk because investments have not been made to remove lead from its most common sources—paint, water, and soil. Lead-Free NJ is a collaborative made up of neighbors, friends, families, faith leaders, professionals, and elected officials working together to #GetTheLeadOut.
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Staff Contact Information |
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Heather Sorge, Program Manager
New Jersey Future
908-310-7874
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