Pb (Prospering backyards) is a project that uses the power of art, science, and community to address the severe case of lead contamination in the soil caused by Exide Technologies in areas of East Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, Vernon, Commerce, Maywood, Huntington Park, and Bell.

This is a collaborative scientific research between community scientists from the affected community, artists, activists, and scientists, to develop an alternative method for reducing lead exposure in contaminated backyards while considering the health of the soil and the environment.

Objectives:

• Taking action: To research and propose concrete actions to reduce lead exposure using natural and low-cost materials that we can apply to our own backyards.

• Capacity building: To create a community that helps other community members to learn more about lead contamination and how to protect our families.

• Facilitate lead stabilization while waiting for the government cleanup: We want to propose an alternative, especially for families whose properties are not on the priority list.

• Holistic approach: Respect for the land. The solutions need to be safe for humans and safe for the environment. That is why we are considering soil health and the microbial communities that live there too.

• Open source: To be able to share this process and develop a DIY soil healing kit free and open to the public.

• Collaboration: To partner with other initiatives and organizations that already are working to inform, research, or want to remediate the contaminated area.