» 2018 Michael Santiago – “No Safe Levels”

<script src="/jbcore/juicebox.js"></script><script>new juicebox({baseURL: "/2018_Winners/Santiago/No_Safe_Levels/",containerId: "juicebox-container",galleryWidth: "100%",galleryHeight: "100%",backgroundColor: "rgba(34,34,34,1)"});</script><div id="juicebox-container"><noscript><h1></h1><p></p><p><img src="images/1076-Troy1.jpg" title="" alt="In December of 2016 Tory Lowe, a community advocate in Milwaukee, learned that his son Troy had tested positive for lead. After Troy's diagnosis Tory, who was already spreading awareness of the lead in the water in Milwaukee, became more aggressive in spreading the message of lead in the water to his community. Tory realized there was a problem with his son when Troy would wake up in the middle of the night with stomach pains. Aside from lead poisoning affecting your stomach and liver, children develop learning difficulties and become hyperactive." /><br> In December of 2016 Tory Lowe, a community advocate in Milwaukee, learned that his son Troy had tested positive for lead. After Troy's diagnosis Tory, who was already spreading awareness of the lead in the water in Milwaukee, became more aggressive in spreading the message of lead in the water to his community. Tory realized there was a problem with his son when Troy would wake up in the middle of the night with stomach pains. Aside from lead poisoning affecting your stomach and liver, children develop learning difficulties and become hyperactive.</p><p><img src="images/1077-Troy2.jpg" title="" alt="Getting Troy to sit still had become an issue for the family. After Troy's diagnosis Tory was able to finally pinpoint where the hyperactivity was coming from." /><br> Getting Troy to sit still had become an issue for the family. After Troy's diagnosis Tory was able to finally pinpoint where the hyperactivity was coming from.</p><p><img src="images/1078-Troy3.jpg" title="" alt="Lead testing on Troy, like the majority of the children tested in Milwaukee, was done by WIC. And while Troy's level was lower than many children in Milwaukee, the Centers for Disease Control and prevention has not defined the effects of what lower levels of lead can do to kids." /><br> Lead testing on Troy, like the majority of the children tested in Milwaukee, was done by WIC. And while Troy's level was lower than many children in Milwaukee, the Centers for Disease Control and prevention has not defined the effects of what lower levels of lead can do to kids.</p><p><img src="images/1079-Troy4.jpg" title="" alt=""I know that for the rest of my life, he's going to have to be with me because of this.." Tory's wife had Troy tested him after witnessing a change in his behavior. Being a a nurse and having a nephew who had lead poisoning she knew that something was wrong. When Troy's results came back and his lead levels were at a 5.9. According to CDC there are no safe levels of lead for children." /><br> "I know that for the rest of my life, he's going to have to be with me because of this.." Tory's wife had Troy tested him after witnessing a change in his behavior. Being a a nurse and having a nephew who had lead poisoning she knew that something was wrong. When Troy's results came back and his lead levels were at a 5.9. According to CDC there are no safe levels of lead for children.</p><p><img src="images/1080-Troy5.jpg" title="" alt="Tory has amassed a social media following of over 30,000 followers from his community activism. He has learned that Facebook is the best way to directly communicate with his community." /><br> Tory has amassed a social media following of over 30,000 followers from his community activism. He has learned that Facebook is the best way to directly communicate with his community.</p><p><img src="images/1081-Troy6.jpg" title="" alt="Tory describes his son Troy as an outgoing kid who's very protective of his sisters and has " a charm like Obama." When Troy's behavior became erratic and weird, Tory had a feeling that something was wrong with his son." /><br> Tory describes his son Troy as an outgoing kid who's very protective of his sisters and has " a charm like Obama." When Troy's behavior became erratic and weird, Tory had a feeling that something was wrong with his son.</p><p><img src="images/1082-Troy7.jpg" title="" alt="Tory's kids are aware of his advocacy work and often time get fascinated by his work that Tory uses Facebook for. He says that he treats his Facebook page as a virtual newsroom. Having had a short stint at a local news station, Tory has carried on that experience to the work that he is doing now." /><br> Tory's kids are aware of his advocacy work and often time get fascinated by his work that Tory uses Facebook for. He says that he treats his Facebook page as a virtual newsroom. Having had a short stint at a local news station, Tory has carried on that experience to the work that he is doing now.</p><p><img src="images/1083-Troy8.jpg" title="" alt="Tory realized there was a problem with his son When Troy would wake up in the middle of the night with stomach pains. Aside from lead poising affecting your stomach and liver, children develop learning difficulties and become hyperactive." /><br> Tory realized there was a problem with his son When Troy would wake up in the middle of the night with stomach pains. Aside from lead poising affecting your stomach and liver, children develop learning difficulties and become hyperactive.</p></noscript></div>