Thousands of Michigan children are lead poisoned each year and nothing is done about it… because no one even knows it’s happening. Not even their families know because their children haven’t been tested — and families don’t even know that they should be tested. In 2019, more than 4,000 children in Michigan were identified as […]
Author Archives: Melissa Cooper Sargent
Melissa Cooper Sargent lives with her family on Detroit’s eastside. She has worked for over 20 years educating the public about toxics in our everyday environments and advocating for the elimination of such chemicals. In addition to her role as Environmental Health Advocate at the Ecology Center, Ms. Sargent co-chairs Wayne State University’s Center for Urban Responses to Environmental Stressor’s Community Advisory Board. Ms. Sargent has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and Environment and is currently a graduate student working on her Master’s of Science in Environmental Science degree from the University of Michigan, Dearborn.
The Ecology Center, founded in 1970, works for healthy people and a healthy planet. Along with other programs, the organization works on and advocates for lead issues throughout the state and the region. The Ecology Center founded the Great Lakes Lead Elimination Network, has researched and published reports detailing the Cost of Lead and Remediation, and most recently facilitated a nine month long Lead Impacted Families Training to help those affected by lead exposure have better access to resources and have the tools to advocate for their families.