As a part of the "Promoting Healthy Homes in Syracuse" USEPA grant, the Partnership, Syracuse United Neighbors, L& M Training Center, and Onondaga Environmental Institute* raises public awareness about the risks to healthy homes. Exposure to lead paint, mold, pests, radon, and asbestos can make our families and homes sick. Additionally, inefficient energy use can be wasteful and costly.

This April,we visited the Refugee Assistance Center, commonly referred to as Bob's School, to educate students about unhealthy homes. Bob's School, located in Syracuse's North side, helps refugees from around the world acclimate to life in the United States. The language barriers posed a unique and exciting challenge for educators.

To overcome these barriers and better engage students, we presented information as a "Show and Tell." Pictures of peeling lead paint, mold on walls, cockroaches, radon maps, and asbestos piping coupled with prop demonstrations helped students easily identify the elements that make a home unhealthy.We worked alongside translators from Bob's School who were able to relay our message to students who were less proficient in English. During the event, the Healthy Homes brochure, which includes quick tips and resources, was distributed to every student. And L&M Training had students sign up for the jobs training course offered through the grant. 

We were very impressd and would like to thank all the students and teachers at Bob's School for their participation and willingness to engage as we continue to promote healthy homes in Syracuse!  

*Onondaga Environmental Institute (OEI), POC's fiscal sponsor, recieved finanacial support from the EPA under grant agreement EQ-96298712