IN DECEMBER 2016,

Reuters reported that 3,000 communities in the United States have higher rates of lead poisoning than Flint, Michigan.

The Fruitvale neighborhood of Oakland reported the highest lead poisoning levels in the Bay Area, at over 7%.

In 2017, McClymonds High School discovered lead contamination in its drinking water sources. What followed was the widespread discovery of lead contamination across Oakland and San Francisco public schools.

OAKLEAD,

A feature-length documentary (in production), explores the history of lead poisoning in Oakland, investigating environmental racism, as well as the historical and contemporary community health work.

The film highlights the history of deindustrialization and “legacy lead,” contaminated water, methods of exposure, stories of affected families, and efforts to eradicate contamination.