LEAD how this story ends is up to us

Bobbi Wilding is the Executive Director  and co-founder of Clean+Healthy, an organization dedicated to creating a just and sustainable society, in which every community and neighborhood is free of toxic chemicals. Wilding is the recipient of a 2019 Children’s Environmental Health Champion award from the NYS Children’s Environmental Health Centers. Gabrielle Gonzales is the Environmental Justice & Health Project Manager for Clean+Healthy and came to New York from Portland, Oregon. She got a BS in Environmental Sciences from Portland State University. As a Chicanx womxn, they hope to elevate populations that are often overlooked and create a fair playing field on the most basic level of a healthy environment.

Darlene is a mother of lead affected children and an activist in Syracuse, NY.

Welcome to LEAD Talks! Where communities can come together. This week we are honored to have as our guest, Assemblymember Jonathan D. Rivera. He is the Assemblymember 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. AM Rivera is the sponsor of The Lead Paint Right to Know Act, which passed the Assembly 106:to 40! 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.

After years of carrying the weight of lead, Shannon and Cooper find a path out from under the darkness and into the sunlight. LEAD: how this story ends is up to us is an audio docudrama series that tells the true story of one child, his mysterious lead poisoning, and his mother's unwavering fight to keep him safe. A true story written by Shannon Burkett. Directed by Alan Taylor. Starring Merritt Wever, Alessandro Nivola, Cynthia Nixon, and Cooper Burkett.Lead was produced by Shannon Burkett. Co-produced by Jenny Maguire. Featuring Amy Acker, Tom Butler, Dennis T. Carnegie, James Carpinello, Geneva Carr, Dann Fink, Alice Kris, Adriane Lenox, Katie O’Sullivan, Greg Pirenti, Armando Riesco, Shirley Rumierk, Thom Sesma, and Lana Young. Music by Peter Salett. “Joy In Resistance” written by Abena Koomson-Davis and performed by Resistance Revival Chorus. Casting by Alaine Alldaffer and Lisa Donadio. Sound Design by Andy Kris. Recording Engineer Krissopher Chevannes. For corresponding visuals and more information on how to protect children from lead exposure please go to endleadpoisoning.org.

As the deficits from the lead poisoning continue to intensify, Shannon looks to hold the people who hurt her son responsible.LEAD how this story ends is up to us is a true story written and produced by Shannon Burkett. Co-produced by Jenny Maguire. Directed by Alan Taylor. Starring Merritt Wever, Alessandro Nivola, Cynthia Nixon, and Cooper Burkett.Episode 4 features Eboni Booth, Sasha Eden, Kevin Kane, April Matthis, Alysia Reiner, and Mandy Siegfried. Casting by Alaine Alldaffer and Lisa Donadio. Music by Peter Salett. Sound Design by Andy Kris. Recording Engineer Krissopher Chevannes. For corresponding visuals and more information on how to protect children from lead exposure please go to endleadpoisoning.org.

As the effects of the lead starts to take its toll on Cooper, Shannon desperately tries to navigate the severity of their new reality.LEAD how this story ends is up to us is a true story written and produced by Shannon Burkett. Co-produced by Jenny Maguire. Directed by Alan Taylor. Starring Merritt Wever, Alessandro Nivola, Cynthia Nixon, and Cooper Burkett.Episode 3 features Jenny Maguire, JD Mollison, Laith Nakli, Deirdre O’Connell, Carolyn Baeumler, Zach Shaffer, and Monique Woodley. Casting by Alaine Alldaffer and Lisa Donadio. Music by Peter Salett. Sound Design by Andy Kris. Recording Engineer Krissopher Chevannes. For corresponding visuals and more information on how to protect children from lead exposure please go to endleadpoisoning.org.

As the lead takes its toll on Cooper's development, Shannon searches for answers. Desperate to get a handle on what was happening to her son, she grabs onto a life boat - nursing school. Andy tries to piece together the past to make sense of the present. LEAD how this story ends is up to us is a true story written and produced by Shannon Burkett. Co-produced by Jenny Maguire. Directed by Alan Taylor. Starring Merritt Wever, Alessandro Nivola, Cynthia Nixon, and Cooper BurkettEpisode 2 features Keith Nobbs and Frank Wood. Music by Peter Salett. Sound Design by Andy Kris. Recording Engineer Krissopher Chevannes. Casting by Alaine Alldaffer and Lisa Donadio.For corresponding visuals and more information on how to protect children from lead exposure please go to endleadpoisoning.org.

When a mysterious dust fills her apartment, Shannon, pregnant, living with her husband and their small child, was repeatedly told there was nothing in the dust. The truth begins to unravel when she gets a call from the pediatrician -  the monster deep in the walls had been unleashed and was wreaking havoc on their son.LEAD how this story ends is up to us is a true story written and produced by Shannon Burkett. Co-produced by Jenny Maguire. Directed by Alan Taylor. Starring Merritt Wever, Alessandro Nivola, Cynthia Nixon, and Cooper Burkett.  Episode 1 features Zak Orth, Jenny Maguire, Daphne Gaines, and Micheal Gaston. Music by Peter Salett. Sound Design by Andy Kris. Recording Engineer Krissopher Chevannes. Casting by Alaine Alldaffer and Lisa Donadio. For corresponding visuals and more information on how to protect children from lead exposure please go to endleadpoisoning.org.

*HOW THIS STORY ENDS IS UP TO US*LEAD: An audio docudrama series inspired by the true story of one child, his mysterious lead poisoning and his mother’s unwavering fight to keep him safe.Written and Produced by Shannon BurkettCo-Produced by Jenny MaguireDirected by Alan TaylorFEATURINGMerritt Wever (Unbelievable, Severance)Alessandro Nivola (The Brutalist, The Many Saints of Newark)Cooper Burkett (Lead Advocate, High School Student)Alysia Reiner (The Diplomat, Better Things)Cynthia Nixon (The Gilded Age, Sex and the City)After a routine check-up reveals elevated lead levels in her nine-month-old son, Shannon sets out on a quest to find the source of the exposure and keep her son safe. Finding herself powerless against the devastation lead is wreaking on her son’s body and brain, Shannon goes back to school to obtain a nursing degree. Armed with knowledge, science, and everyday angels, the family begins to unravel the mystery. True recovery and healing begin when mother and son discover the power in sharing their story, working together, and advocating to end this perfectly preventable disease.Please go to endleadpoisoning.org for corresponding photos/video and to learn more about how to reduce lead exposure in children. Cast includes: Amy Acker, Carolyn Baeumler,  Eboni Booth, Tom Butler, Dennis T. Carnegie, James Carpinello, Geneva Carr, Daphne Gaines, Sasha Eden, Dann Fink, Michael Gaston, Kevin Kane, Alice Kris, Adriane Lenox, Jenny Maguire, April Matthis, JD Mollison, Laith Nakli, Keith Nobbs, Deirdre O’Connell, Katie O’Sullivan, Zak Orth, Greg Pirenti, Armando Riesco, Shirley Rumierk, Mandy Siegfried, Tom Sesma, Zach Shaffer, Frank Wood & Lana Young