Groundwork Lawrence Healthy Living through Cleaners and Personal Care Products

Project Details

Year: 2011
Location: Lawrence
Project Manager: Rose Gonzalez, Deputy Director
Partners: Lawrence Community Works, Mayors Health Task Force, Toxics Use Reduction Institute

Overview

Project leaders of Groundwork Lawrence planned to educate 300 community members, including youths, on toxics found in household cleaners and personal care products. They conducted workshops, distributed materials about safer products and worked with the TURI Laboratory on the effectiveness of cleaners made with common household ingredients.

Results

The workshops were very well received, reaching 650 community members with their valuable information and free samples.  This outreach was completed through 11 workshops, 3 information sessions, a well-attended "Fiesta de Salud, Health Fair", and other community meetings. Connecting with the community members has created additional outreach.  The meeting on June 25th was a follow up to a June 4th meeting, at which they gave 12 healthy living baskets to participants as door prizes and provided brochures to all interested attendees.  On June 25th, they met with their Senior Center to gather input on way to improve North Common, a neighborhood in Lawrence.  Left over samples were given out during this meeting.  Groundwork Lawrence wishes to continue providing Healthy Living Workshops, specifically reaching other city residents.  They also exploring a train-the-trainer model to provide training to community leaders, specifically those in Methuen and Lowell, on the vital workshop information.