ABOUT THE FILM:

At only 9 months old, Cooper was diagnosed with elevated lead levels. The construction site below his family’s apartment contaminated their apartment with lead dust, causing him to become extremely ill. The effects of the elevated lead levels have been devastating to his health and development. For the past two years, Cooper has been working with various organizations on The Roadmap to End Lead Poisoning, a comprehensive plan to enact new laws and target loopholes. But there is one bill that has not passed: The Lead Paint Right to Know Act. Senator Breslin has stated that this bill could be the single most important piece of legislation in the fight against childhood lead poisoning. This bill is very personal for Cooper, because if this bill was in place sixteen years ago, it could have prevented his lead exposure, and he never would have gotten sick.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKER:

Cooper Burkett is a rising senior in the film program at PPAS high school in New York City, where he has been honing his skills in directing, editing, writing, acting, and producing. When he is not busy creating films with his classmates, Cooper has been working on his documentary about his advocacy work to end childhood lead poisoning. With his family in tow, Cooper has made many trips to Albany lobbying for the passage of legislation and works to persuade lawmakers to support the proposed bills. In 2023, three of these bills were passed!