A small group of committed citizens can change the world
Roberta Hazen Aaronson honored as a Lead Poisoning Prevention Hero after 25 years of advocacy
Roberta Hazen Aarondon, left, Mario Hilario, and Laura Brion, at the 25th anniversary of the Childhood Lead Action Project.
WARWICK – The celebration of 25 years of “getting the lead out” by the Childhood Lead Action Project also honored Roberta Hazen Aaronson, the founding executive director of the nonprofit, as a “Lead Poisoning Prevention Hero.”
Aaronson, who retired this year after a quarter century of advocacy, has been a vigilant champion of eliminating the “fully 100 percent preventable disease” of lead poisoning, as Mario Hilario, the weekend sunrise anchor at WJAR NBC 10 and master of ceremonies, described the scourge.
More than 100 people attended the gathering, held on Nov. 16 in the atrium at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Laura Brion, the new executive director at the Childhood Lead Action Project, spoke briefly, as did Bruce Phillips, the board co-chair.
The a cappella group, Brown’s Tones of Brown University, performed, as did Dave Laros of Music To My Ears.
Knitting together support
In 2017, there were 18 funders supporting the work of the Childhood Lead Action Project, from the Carter Family Charitable Trust to Ben & Jerry’s Foundation, from the U.S. EPA to the R.I. Office of the Attorney General, from LISC and its work with the Health Equity Zone in Pawtucket and Central Falls to the ONE Neighborhood Builders Health Equity Zone in Olneyville.
