Abstract
Abstract
Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Westlawn is the largest low-income, public housing development in the state. It faces a wide range of environmental risks: poor air quality, chemical releases, lead exposure hazards, and poor water quality. The Westlawn Partnership for a Healthier Environment is the recipient of two U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) cooperative agreements, which aim to improve the environmental health of Westlawn. The Westlawn Partnership joined together community stakeholders to form a broad-based coalition dedicated to reducing toxics in the neighborhood. This partnership includes public health professionals, business leaders, K–16 schools, non-profit organizations, community residents, and others. Major accomplishments of the Westlawn Partnership include: a) development of a community environmental health priority list for action, b) development of a community health worker role specifically designed to address environmental exposures and health, c) additional funding for a variety of environmental programs, d) integration of environmental health into nursing curriculum, and e) advocating for environmentally healthy neighborhoods. Programs such as these can facilitate a wide range of environmental health improvement activities in urban, low-income areas, which ultimately, support environmental justice.
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