SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — As part of National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, the LeadSafeCNY Coalition hosted a event for professionals who work on older homes with lead paint. That included local construction companies and independent contractors.
Jessica Vinciguerra, Onondaga County director of lead operations, stressed the urgency of the issue.
“The fact that we are in 2025 and kids are still getting poisoned by lead is just unacceptable,” Vinciguerra said. “Events like this really show you that we have a lot of community partners that are working towards the same goals.”
As of July 31, nearly 350 children across the county had elevated lead levels in their blood. Darrell Buckingham, senior program officer at the Central New York Community Foundation, explained that his organization aims to fill funding gaps in prevention efforts.
“Figure out where the gaps are. Where can we fit in?” Buckingham said. “Is there another organization we can partner with to come up with the proper funding?”
Many of the homes targeted by the initiative were built before 1978, making work risky even for trained and certified professionals.
LaToya Jones, director of the LeadSafeCNY Coalition, said lead prevention should be an ongoing priority
“Lead should be a conversation every day. Things that impact our children should be a conversation every day,” Jones said.
The event showed collaboration between community organizations and contractors to protect children and residents from the dangers of lead.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Contractor resource and networking fair highlights lead safety in older homes
Rickie Potts: Today, marked Day 5 of National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week. Our Andrew Della Piana is live outside CNY Philanthropy Center to discuss what was brought up in today’s session.
Andrew Della Piana: Hey, thanks so much, Rickie. Back half of National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week here in the city of Syracuse and around the country as well. I went to a networking event here at the Central New York Philanthropy Center where I got to talk with a couple of contracters about what this week means.
Jessica Vinciguerra: The fact that we are in 2025 and kids are still getting poisoned by lead is just unacceptable. Events like this really show you that we have a lot of community partners that are working towards the same goals.
Della Piana: That was Onondaga County Director of Lead Operations, Jessica Vinciguerra. It’s the fifth day of National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week. The LeadSafeCNY Coalition held a networking event for professionals who work on older homes with lead paint, including local construction companies and independent contractors.
Vinciguerra: Make sure that the local workforce is aware of the risks of lead within the home they are working in and the occupants that live there. Also, when they are on job sites.
Della Piana: As of July 31, nearly 350 children across the county had been found to have elevated led levels in their blood. That’s where the Central New York Community Foundation comes in. Senior Program Officer Darrell Buckingham says their goal in prevention is to be the right piece in the budget puzzle.
Darrell Buckingham: Figure out where the gaps are. Where can we fit in? Is there another organization we can partner with to come up with the proper funding?
Della Piana: Many of the homes were built before 1978, making the work in houses risky even with proper training and certifications. However, LeadSafeCNY Coalition Director LaToya Jones believes that lead poisoning prevention shouldn’t be limited to just seven days a year.
LaToya Jones: Lead should be a conversation every day. Things that impact our children should be a conversation every day.
Della Piana: Jones is completely right, around 10% of kids tested in the city of Syracuse had elevated amounts of led in their blood. A change she said is desperately needed, not only here in Syarcuse, but around the country as well. Reporting in downtown, Andrew Della Piana, NCC News.