alisonphotoO’Brien Fellow Alison Dirr researched Milwaukee’s long-standing struggle with lead contamination, examining systemic failures in the city’s lead program alongside efforts to rebuild it. Through interviews with affected families, and analysis of policy and historical context, her reporting highlights both the urgent human toll and the broader public health implications. The series underscores how reforms could reshape outcomes for vulnerable children while confronting decades of inadequate response.

Photo by Dale Guldan/ Milwaukee Journal Sentinal

Works published to date: 

May 6, 2026

July 1, 2026