After receiving the Maternal & Infant Health Visionary Award from Anthem for their commitment to lead testing, the NAACP in Indianapolis is amplifying its mission to protect families from lead exposure. Through community-led initiatives and free testing services, the organization helps residents identify hidden dangers in their homes, paving the way for healthier, safer neighborhoods.
Garry Holland, former chair of the education board for the Indianapolis NAACP and leader of the lead program, is leading the charge to ensure that neighborhoods like Martindale Brightwood are recognized and citizens stay informed.
Holland’s mission began when he was at Ignite Academy several years ago, mentoring young men. One day, as he was leaving, he saw a young girl with something yellow in her mouth. He realized she was sliding down the wall, scraping paint into her mouth and eating it.
“If she was doing it at school, she was probably doing it at home,” Holland said. “Then we later felt that all of the kindergarten and first graders needed to get lead tested, and we went to IPS at the time and got a resolution through the board, through the school board, to have all children tested in all of their elementary schools.”
Following the testing of the walls, Holland moved onto the soil, then the drinking water.
“The water report was alarming,” Holland said. “The water coming out of the fountains and the sinks… it was like straight poison coming out of some.”
Holland and his team then partnered with the IU Science School of Physical Therapy to understand how lead can affect a child’s behavior and how classrooms can work to understand the signs and symptoms of a child exposed to lead.
Blood testing is a key tool for providers in checking for lead exposure, which is how Holland became connected to Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
“Anthem had sessions dealing with immunization, community baby showers, but we were testing with the community baby showers, expecting mothers,” Holland said. “If a mother has elevated levels of lead in her body, it could pass through. It could break through the blood barrier wall of the umbilical cord.”
The Community Baby Showers are held by Anthem to help expecting mothers who may not have access to the resources she may need prior to giving birth. Through these baby showers, the NAACP’s lead program worked with the Marion County Health Department for on-site testing for pregnant mothers and children under 2 years old.
“Lead exposure disproportionately affects communities of color, making this collaboration even more vital,” said Nicki Gilbert, marketing manager for Anthem.
Through these efforts, Holland and the NAACP received the Maternal & Infant Health Visionary Award in honor of Dr. Chaniece Wallace. Wallace, a Black pediatrics doctor, died from postpartum complications following the death of her first child. Wallace’s death and the Anthem award in her honor signify the disproportionate Black maternal mortality rates and recognize work that strives to improve them.
The award comes with a $1,000 donation, which Holland says will expand their lead testing efforts and their efforts in the classroom.
“It’s a matter of being able to service the people,” Holland said.
Holland’s work continues to be at the forefront of legislative rulings and the work on a larger scale is beginning to take shape in the local communities.
On Oct. 8, the Biden-Harris Administration issued a rule requiring drinking water systems across the country to identify and replace lead pipes within 10 years. The proposed Environmental Protection Agency’s rule will also require more rigorous testing of drinking water.
In Martindale Brightwood, this issue is at the forefront of the community’s mind. Many homes in the area were built before 1950 with lead pipes. While the water inside the pipes is safe to drink, the service lines are designated to be repaired, a project Citizens has already begun.
Citizens begin lead replacement in Martindale Brightwood – Indianapolis Recorder
“Martindale Brightwood is one of many neighborhoods that will soon see construction crews proactively replacing lead service lines block by block,” said Mark Jacob, vice president of capital programs and engineering at Citizens. “It goes without saying that full replacement of our customers’ lead service lines at no additional cost to them is the surest way to help our neighbors reduce their exposure to lead.”
For more information about Anthem’s community baby showers, visit mss.athem.com/in/member-resource/community-support. For more information about the Indianapolis chapter of NAACP and their work, visit indynaacp.org. To learn more about free lead testing, visit marionhealth.org/provider_pb_poisoning_info.
This reporting is made possible by a grant from the Indianapolis African-American Quality of Life Initiative, empowering our community with essential health insights. https://iaaqli.org/
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
