PAWTUCKET – The Childhood Lead Action Project held its annual fundraiser on Thursday, Nov. 15, at the Hope Artiste Village, honoring its community heroes, including: the Pawtucket Zoning, Code Enforcement and Planning departments, Jalen Hayre and his mother, Joanna Ravell, and Milagros Ramos.

The emcee for the event was Mario Hilario, and sponsors included: Motley Rice, Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, Bank RI, RI Realtors, the R.I. Department of Health, Thornton Law Firm, Sara Shea McConnell, Rhode Island AFL-CIO, Lifespan, Coastway Community Bank, Rhode Island Association for Justice, Deluca and Weizenbaum Attorneys at Law, RIFT, and Painters and Allied Trades International Union.

Jalen Ramos, who was a victim of lead poisoning as a child, provided the inspirational lift for the evening.

“I didn’t let negativity get into my dreams,” he told the crowd of nearly 100 who attended the celebration. “Don’t give up on your dreams.”