Friday, October 23, 2026 - Cleveland - The City of Cleveland and the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition will mark National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, Oct. 26-31, with educational events and opportunities leading up to the Sixth Annual Lead Walk and Rally on Saturday, Oct. 31.

The weeklong observance is a chance for individuals, organizations and local governments to come together to raise awareness about the dangers of lead hazards. This year, Cleveland’s Lead Poisoning Prevention Week will highlight the city’s Mount Pleasant neighborhood.

The following events are free and open to the public.
Community Conversation – Monday, Oct. 26, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Alexander Hamilton Recreation Center, 13200 Kinsman Road

The Coalition will present a Community Conversation to offer residents, property owners and lead-safe workers the chance to connect with community leaders and partner organizations offering resources, such as lead testing and support services.

Terminal Tower Lights up Green – Tuesday, Oct. 27, Sunset
Cleveland’s iconic landmark in Public Square will be illuminated green in recognition of Lead Poisoning Prevention Week.

Lead 101 – Wednesday, Oct. 28, 6 to 7 p.m.
Alexander Hamilton Recreation Center, 13200 Kinsman Road
The Lead Safe Resource Center will offer its Lead 101 training, presenting information on the impact of lead hazards and how to identify them.

Lead Screening and Testing Commission meeting – Thursday, Oct. 29, 8 to 9 a.m.
Virtual
The Cleveland Department of Health’s Screening and Testing Commission will meet via Zoom. Details are available at clevelandohio.gov/events. The Commission will discuss the latest updates in lead screening activities across the City, Coalition and hospital systems.

Lead Walk Sign-Making Party – Thursday, Oct. 29, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Alexander Hamilton Recreation Center, 13200 Kinsman Road
The Coalition will host a sign-making party in preparation for Saturday’s Lead Walk and Rally. All supplies will be provided.

Sixth Annual Lead Walk and Rally – Saturday, Oct. 31: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; 10:30 a.m. registration
Alexander Hamilton Recreation Center, 13200 Kinsman Road and Zelma Watson George Recreation Center, 3155 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Residents, community advocates and city leaders are invited to come together to raise awareness about the risks of lead exposure in Cleveland’s homes and childcare centers. 

The walk will set off from Alexander Hamilton Recreation Center and end at Zelma Watson George Recreation Center with a post-walk rally. Participants have the option to join only for the rally, featuring a Halloween Trunk-or-Treat, costume contest, raffles, free food, skating and other family-friendly activities. The event will also offer lead-safe resources and free on-site lead testing for children under six.

“This week is a chance to amplify the issue that is our focus every day of the year,” said Kim Foreman, Chief Executive Officer of Environmental Health Watch and member of the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition Executive Committee. “We come together for the Lead Walk and Rally to remember and reinforce that it takes all of us, working together, to reach a future where no child in our city is in danger of being poisoned in the places where they should be most safe.”

The Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition is in the process of developing its Strategic Road Map to envision its next phase, reaffirming the commitment made in 2019, when the public-private partnership came together to confront the lead poisoning crisis in Cleveland.

The City is also marking the week by taking next steps on adopting legislation to reaffirm and update the Lead Safe Certificate law that was initially passed in 2019. In addition to these events, Ordinance 1244-2026 will be heard before Cleveland City Council’s Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee Monday, Oct. 26, at 2 p.m. Further updates on the legislation will be provided by the Administration as they become available.