Interview with Kara Eastman

In this interview conducted on November 15th, 2023, Kara Eastman, currently serving as President of Kara Eastman Partners and formerly CEO of Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance, delves into the multifaceted dynamics of Omaha's community response to lead remediation efforts. Throughout the conversation, Eastman shared her experiences, providing an in depth view of the challenges and successes encountered in the ongoing battle against lead contamination in the city. 

Eastman's involvement traces back to 2006 when she assumed the role of spearheading Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance. According to Eastman, the establishment of a community-driven lead poisoning prevention approach was the central goal of the Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance. "The organization started to help design a comprehensive community response to addressing lead poisoning," she noted, that recognized that lead exposure extended beyond soil contamination. It encompassed issues such as chipping paint, lead service lines, and even consumer goods as significant contributors to the problem.

Making sure that the community was actively involved was an important component of the Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance's approach. Involvement assumed a variety of forms. "We developed an AmeriCorps program where we had people from South Sudan going out and talking to people." This commitment to inclusivity was further reinforced by extensive community forums, door-to-door initiatives, and collaborations with local organizations, particularly in North and South Omaha. Yet, the journey was not without its hurdles. Eastman acknowledged the opposition OHKA experienced, including from government agencies, funders, landlords, and elected officials. Reflecting on the challenges faced, she adds, "I think anytime you're doing something that is community-based and really grounded in community, but as also a public health thing that not everybody's aware of, there's resistance."

Passionately addressing the environmental injustice tied to lead contamination, Eastman sheds light on its disproportionate impact on low-income neighborhoods. She critiques the lack of interest and investment in addressing this issue, framing it as both a racial and social justice concern. She states, "In our country, when people, the people who are predominantly impacted by something happen to be black and brown, we tend to just sort of ignore it." Eastman draws attention to the severe impacts of lead on children, emphasizing its role as a neurotoxin with adverse effects on cognitive development, learning disorders, and behavioral issues. She emphasizes the significance of preventing children from being exposed to lead at any level and calls for preventative measures, stating, "It takes the equivalent of three grains of sugar, of lead to poison a child." The possible long-term effects, which could include violent criminal activity, are the reason for this urgency.

In advocating for a holistic approach, Eastman emphasizes the necessity for comprehensive responses involving investments, education, prevention strategies, and enforcement. She critiques remediation efforts solely focused on contaminated soil, underscoring the importance of addressing all significant sources, including chipping paint and lead service lines. This comprehensive perspective highlights the interconnected nature of the issue and the need for multifaceted strategies to effectively address lead contamination in Omaha.