Cross-community initiatives drive Baltimore's shift towards safer drinking water by removing lead contaminants.
In a bid to combat the issue of old lead pipes in Baltimore, a team from Johns Hopkins University is partnering with city officials and community members. The Johns Hopkins Health Education Training Corps is acting as ambassadors, helping to raise awareness about lead testing among their fellow students and the wider community [1].
One of the key challenges in this mission is the low initial awareness among residents about the need for lead pipe identification and the associated risks. Many residents in certain communities haven't heard about this issue [1][3]. To address this, community-based participatory research (CBPR) and outreach campaigns have been employed, engaging local residents directly through door-to-door canvassing, volunteer support, educational partnerships, and school-based initiatives [1][3].
A pilot outreach campaign in Pen Lucy, led by District 4 Councilmember Mark Conway, has shown promising results. It resulted in a tenfold increase in survey submissions within two weeks of door-knocking [1][3]. This strategy, along with partnerships with community groups and city leadership, helps boost credibility and access to residents [1][3].
School involvement is another crucial aspect of the program. Educational programs teach students about water safety, environmental justice, and health disparities, empowering them to act as ambassadors who bring lead testing awareness into their homes [1]. Hands-on learning experiences, such as tours at water treatment plants, create long-term engagement and empowerment [1].
However, challenges remain. These include access barriers, such as residents facing difficulties locating pipes in basements, lack of smartphones or digital skills to document pipes, or uncertainty about how to identify lead materials [3]. Additionally, approximately 65% of Baltimore households are rentals, and renters may have less control or awareness about lead pipes compared to homeowners [3]. Early participation in the survey was also low, with only 2.4% of residents having completed it as of July 2024 [3].
To overcome these challenges, strategies such as grassroots engagement, using trusted community voices, education tied to social justice, and empowering youth as ambassadors have been employed [3]. The program aims to empower kids to become change-makers and messengers in their own communities.
The work is funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences through a pilot grant from CHARMED center. Community partners for the program include Young, Gifted and Green, MERIT Health Leadership Academy, and the Baltimore Department of Public Works. The effort has continuing support from the Green and Healthy Homes Initiative.
References:
[1] Exum, N., et al. (2025). Community-based participatory research to address lead pipe replacement in Baltimore City: A pilot study. Environmental Health Perspectives.
[3] Exum, N., et al. (2024). Barriers and solutions to lead pipe identification in Baltimore City: A qualitative study. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice.
- The effort to replace old lead pipes in Baltimore involves partnerships between Johns Hopkins University, city officials, and community members.
- The Johns Hopkins Health Education Training Corps serves as ambassadors, promoting awareness about lead testing among students and the community.
- Low initial awareness about lead pipe identification and associated risks is a key challenge in this mission, particularly in certain communities.
- Community-based participatory research (CBPR) and outreach campaigns are employed to engage local residents directly.
- Door-to-door canvassing, volunteer support, educational partnerships, and school-based initiatives are strategies used in the outreach campaigns.
- A pilot outreach campaign in Pen Lucy showed a tenfold increase in survey submissions within two weeks of door-knocking.
- Partnerships with community groups and city leadership help boost credibility and access to residents.
- Education about water safety, environmental justice, and health disparities is taught in schools as part of the program.
- Hands-on learning experiences, such as tours at water treatment plants, create long-term engagement and empowerment.
- Access barriers, such as residents facing difficulties locating pipes in basements, lack of digital skills, or uncertainty about how to identify lead materials, present challenges.
- Approximately 65% of Baltimore households are rentals, and renters may have less control or awareness about lead pipes compared to homeowners.
- Early participation in the survey was low, with only 2.4% of residents having completed it as of July 2024.
- To overcome these challenges, grassroots engagement, using trusted community voices, education tied to social justice, and empowering youth as ambassadors have been employed.
- The program aims to empower kids to become change-makers and messengers in their own communities.
- The work is funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences through a pilot grant from CHARMED center.
- Community partners for the program include Young, Gifted and Green, MERIT Health Leadership Academy, and the Baltimore Department of Public Works.
- The effort has continuing support from the Green and Healthy Homes Initiative.
- Public health, education, and community engagement are interconnected in this program.
- Health disparities and environmental justice are important topics addressed in the educational programs.
- The program's strategies promote empowerment, engagement, and social justice.
- Fitness and exercise play a role in overall health and wellness, which are key aspects of this program.
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- Mental-health, mens-health, and women's-health are also critical areas of focus.
- Autoimmune-disorders, skin-care, and neurological-disorders are other medical conditions that require management and care.
- Nutrition and skin-conditions have impacts on health and wellness.
- Aging brings about changes in health and the need for health-and-wellness strategies.
- Weight-management plays a role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and managing health conditions.
- Cardiovascular-health is also essential for overall wellness.
- Medicare policies affect the accessibility and affordability of healthcare services.
- CBD is a compound used in some therapies and treatments for various medical conditions.
- Policy-and-legislation around health, education, and the environment have significant impacts on public health.
- Issues such as car-accidents, fires, war-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice, accidents, and fires can have significant impacts on health and wellness, demonstrating the interconnectedness of various aspects of life.
