ArtRage Gallery and Central Current are partnering to host a panel conversation exploring urban environmental challenges and inequalities here in Syracuse. The discussion will be centered around lead exposure and air quality as the Interstate 81 viaduct is removed and replaced.
The event will be held on Wednesday, October 15th from 5:30 to 7 pm at the ArtRage Gallery, located at 505 Hawley Ave. Admission is free, and drinks and appetizers will be served.
Drawing on similar themes, the exhibit currently on display at ArtRage is Najee Dorsey’s Poor People’s Campaign — described as “a powerful collection of work grounded in the environmental struggles of today’s impoverished communities.” More information about the exhibit and the artist can be found on the ArtRage website.
The panel will be moderated by Central Current reporters Debadrita Sur and Eddie Velazquez.
Featured Panelists:
Lanessa Owens-Chaplin, Director of the Racial Justice Center, New York Civil Liberties Union
Lanessa Owens-Chaplin is an experienced civil rights lawyer with over 10 years of public service experience. As the Director of the Racial Justice Center, she leads the effort to restore, uplift, and work alongside Black, Indigenous, and people of color through traditional and movement lawyering. Lanessa joined the NYCLU in 2018 as a member of the Education Policy Center, where she was instrumental in the education equity campaign and led the environmental racism campaign, including the I-81 Project. Lanessa’s docket prioritizes the intersections of racial justice, infrastructure equity, land use laws, restorative principles such as reparations, impacts on education, and Indigenous rights.
Oceanna Fair, Chair of Families for Lead Freedom Now!
Oceanna Fair is a passionate civic leader and lifelong resident of Syracuse’s Southside. As Chair of Families for Lead Freedom Now!, she leads a grassroots coalition of families directly impacted by childhood lead poisoning, advocating for justice, accountability, and systemic change. A retired nurse, devoted mother, and proud grandmother, Mrs. Fair brings both personal and professional insight to her advocacy. Her own family’s experience with lead poisoning fuels her unwavering commitment to ending this preventable crisis and protecting future generations. Mrs. Fair serves on several boards and committees, including the Governor’s Lead Advisory Council, the Greater Syracuse Land Bank Board, and the I-81 Big Table’s Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety Committee.
Darlene Medley, organizing member of Families for Lead Freedom Now!
Darlene Medley, an organizing member of Families for Lead Freedom and a former spokesperson, is a staunch community activist in Syracuse. She continues to be a vocal and passionate advocate for holding the city and local landlords accountable and ending the epidemic of lead poisoning that affects over ten percent of Syracuse children.
What are Current Conversations?
When we started Central Current in 2022, we made it part of our mission to engage with our local community. We’ve always focused our reporting on what matters most to Central New Yorkers. As we continue to grow our staff and our coverage, we’re also working to create new ways for our readers to connect with our team. We want to better understand which topics interest you and what information you need to know, so we can publish more meaningful stories.
To that end, Current Conversations brings you face-to-face with the people and issues shaping our city and region. These ongoing events are an opportunity to:
- Hear from local guest speakers
- Connect with other readers
- Engage with our journalists
- Learn about our reporting process
Can’t make it? A video recording of the event will be made available on our website.
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