Monday, October 20th 6:00 – 7:00 pm: Join the Ecology Center and Great Lakes Lead Elimination Network (GLLEN) in celebrating National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week 2025!
Lead poisoning continues to poison children all over the country! Please join us for a FREE VIRTUAL WEBINAR focused on lead in your home and your community. Learn how you can take action to keep your home and family lead safe! Hear from parents and lawmakers on how lead has impacted them in their state, current legislation, and how you can take action!
All are welcome to register! We encourage parents, community organizers, community health workers, students, and staff in the community! This webinar is brought to you by the Ecology Center and the Great Lakes Lead Elimination Network (GLLEN) 2025 Planning Committee.
Register Here
Panelists
Parent Advocates
Betty Cantley, Parent Advocate (OH)
My name is Betty Cantley, and my 31-year-old son was lead poisoned as a baby! I have been advocating and speaking about the effects of lead lobbying in DC and Ohio. My goal is to educate other parents, Doctors, Community members, etc. Something I will do until my last breath.
I have a BA in Marketing, teaching, belong to CCOAL, GLLEN, Children Defense Fund, OHHN, Head Start, and many other organizations.
Darlene Medley, Parent Advocate (NY)
Darlene Medley is a Syracuse, NY, advocate for children's health and safety, with a specific focus on lead poisoning prevention. Her advocacy work began after her twin sons, Rashad and Devon, were diagnosed with elevated lead levels in their blood at age two. This personal experience led her to become a prominent voice in the fight against lead contamination in homes and schools.
Medley is a co-founder of the organization Families for Lead Freedom Now, where she has served as the West Branch leader. Through this group, she has organized protests, spoken at school board and city council meetings, and testified before the New York State Senate, calling for greater accountability from city officials and landlords.
Medley's efforts have focused on several key areas: Awareness and Education; Policy and Legislative Change as well as Housing Solutions.
Medley has worked to provide safe housing for families displaced by lead hazards and has personally worked to rehabilitate a donated home to serve as a "lead shelter" for families in need. This initiative, which she has called ‘Uniquely Free To Be Lead Free’, aims to provide a safe place for families while their homes are being remediated or while they search for new housing.
Medley's advocacy is rooted in her family's experience and her determination to prevent other children from suffering the same fate as her sons. She has become a powerful figure in the Syracuse community, advocating tirelessly for the protection of children and demanding that city leaders take decisive action to address the ongoing lead crisis.
Lawmakers
Assembly Member Rivera (NY)
Jonathan D. Rivera is the Assembly member for New York State’s 149th Assembly District, representing parts of the cities of Buffalo and Lackawanna, the town of Hamburg including the villages of Blasdell and Hamburg, and the hamlet of Lake View.
He is a life-long resident of Buffalo, where he resides with his daughter, Ana. Growing up as the son of a police officer and teacher aide, his family demonstrated the value and honor of serving the community.
Jon is a proud graduate of the Buffalo Public Schools, where he went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from Buffalo State College in Business Administration. He has also earned a master’s degree in political management from George Washington University.
Jon began his own public service career in the office of Congressman Brian Higgins, where he represented the Congressman in the community, and advocated for constituent needs in Washington.
Jon then turned his career to the private sector, where he worked for HSBC Bank. There, he quickly became a Licensed Sales Professional (LSP). In this role, he managed multiple branches.After growing a career in banking, Jon sought a return to public service and accepted a position in the office of the Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz as the liaison to the County Legislature. After a few years, Jon was promoted the Special Assistant to the Commissioner of Public Works in Erie County.
As a volunteer, Jon has been an active member of the community, serving as the board chair of Open Buffalo, a board member of the Massachusetts Avenue Project and Hispanics United of Buffalo, as well as Chair of the Erie County Commission of New Americans.
Jon has served in the New York State Assembly since 2021 and has spent his time in office championing issues related to lead poisoning and housing reforms, refugee resettlement, education investment, waterfront issues, and tourism. As of 2025, he is the Chair of the Administrative Regulations Review Committee and the Chair of the Subcommittee on Regional Tourism Development.
State Rep. Dontavius L. Jarrells (OH)
Raised in Cleveland’s historic Hough neighborhood, Dontavius L. Jarrells saw early how disinvestment, unstable housing, underfunded schools, and limited opportunity held families back. He refused to accept those conditions as permanent. Before entering public office, he spent nearly a decade fighting for the dignity and future of Ohio’s most marginalized communities. Today, he brings that same unwavering commitment to the Statehouse, advancing bold, commonsense legislation to build an Ohio where every family has the chance to thrive.
Since his election to the Ohio House of Representatives in 2020, Rep. Jarrells has emerged as one of the state’s most effective and impactful lawmakers. With a deep commitment to bipartisan progress, he has championed transformative legislation to protect workers, expand economic opportunity, strengthen mental health services, and uphold the promise of liberty and justice for all.
At his core, Rep. Jarrells is a servant-leader. A student of the people. A man who loves without reservation, dreams with clarity, and believes with conviction that when the government works with and for the people, it becomes sacred.
This is the Ohio he is building. And it is the Ohio he knows we all deserve.
Darlene Medley, Parent Advocate (NY)
Darlene Medley is a Syracuse, NY, advocate for children's health and safety, with a specific focus on lead poisoning prevention. Her advocacy work began after her twin sons, Rashad and Devon, were diagnosed with elevated lead levels in their blood at age two. This personal experience led her to become a prominent voice in the fight against lead contamination in homes and schools.
Medley is a co-founder of the organization Families for Lead Freedom Now, where she has served as the West Branch leader. Through this group, she has organized protests, spoken at school board and city council meetings, and testified before the New York State Senate, calling for greater accountability from city officials and landlords.
Medley's efforts have focused on several key areas: Awareness and Education; Policy and Legislative Change as well as Housing Solutions.
Medley has worked to provide safe housing for families displaced by lead hazards and has personally worked to rehabilitate a donated home to serve as a "lead shelter" for families in need. This initiative, which she has called ‘Uniquely Free To Be Lead Free’, aims to provide a safe place for families while their homes are being remediated or while they search for new housing.
Medley's advocacy is rooted in her family's experience and her determination to prevent other children from suffering the same fate as her sons. She has become a powerful figure in the Syracuse community, advocating tirelessly for the protection of children and demanding that city leaders take decisive action to address the ongoing lead crisis.
State Rep. Julie Rogers (MI)
State Representative Julie M. Rogers was re-elected to her third term representing the 41st House District, which includes portions of the city of Kalamazoo, city of Portage, and Kalamazoo and Comstock townships. She has been a practicing physical therapist for over 25 years. She also served on the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners for eight years, with part of that time as board chair. Last term, Rogers was appointed to serve as chair of the House Committee on Health Policy. This term, she serves as the ranking Democrat of the Medicaid and Behavioral Health Appropriations Subcommittee as well as the ranking member of the Military and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee. She also serves on both the full Appropriations Committee and the Higher Education and Community Colleges Subcommittee.
Rogers co-chairs the Biosciences Legislative Caucus and is a co-chair of the Arts and Culture Legislative Caucus. Additionally, she has been appointed as an Assistant Democratic Caucus co-chair this term and was appointed as one of 19 nationwide 2025 Maternal Health Fellows by the National Council of State Legislatures.
Rogers grew up in Kalamazoo County and is a proud graduate of public schools. She later attended Marquette University and earned a master’s degree in physical therapy. Her 25-year career as a physical therapist has led her to become a champion of public health, serving on the National Association of Counties Health Steering Committee for seven years. Rogers’ experience as a physical therapist inspired her to advocate for auto no-fault reform, after seeing the devastating effects that forced catastrophic car accident survivors to lose their long-term care. She has been recognized for her work with a nomination to the Class of 2019 Women in Government, a national nonpartisan leadership program for women elected officials of all levels of government. Rogers lives in Kalamazoo with her husband, Dr. Ed Orloff, DPT, where they enjoy participating in community runs and triathlons. Her past service includes: Girls on the Run coach, West Michigan Cancer Center Board, Hospital Hospitality House Board, Ascension Borgess Diversity Council, Bronson Hospital Patient and Family Advisory Council, Junior League of Kalamazoo, and team leader for Adopt-A-Highway cleanup program.