Hi Syracuse!

Welcome to the I-81 Community Health Impact Assessment! We are a team of community leaders, health organizations, and residents committed to understanding how the I-81 teardown and the aftermath will affect our community.  The Central New York Children’s Environmental Health Center will take the lead on this project, and will be supported by several partner organizations, including the evaluation group TRX Development Solutions and the Occupational and Environmental Health Workgroup of the I-81 Big Table: Legal Services of Central New York, New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), Families for Lead Freedom Now, Onondaga County Health Department, and the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT).

As we plan for the I-81 viaduct teardown, we are focusing on several important areas to ensure the project benefits the community.

  1. Built Environment and Health Impacts. We will address lead contamination, air quality, traffic flows, pedestrian safety, and access to parks and community spaces. We aim to promote healthy environments by improving access to schools, healthcare, businesses, and vital community resources.
  2. Community and Population Health. We will prioritize the needs of our community’s most vulnerable members, by assessing the impacts on children, older adults (55+), people with disabilities, and other groups. We’ll ensure access to key community services, especially for marginalized groups, and support affected residents to remain in their community.
  3. Restorative Justice. We will prioritize the needs of residents that have a historical relationship to the neighborhood. The removal of the I-81 viaduct is an opportunity to address past environmental injustices and socio-economic imbalances caused by the original construction. The project aims to create opportunities for current residents, recognizing the historical harm and helping to not repeat past mistakes.

This Community Health Impact Assessment aims to support the community through these changes and ensure the teardown leads to improved health, stability, and opportunities for everyone. To achieve this goal, community engagement will be key throughout this process, so we hope to connect with you, your neighbors, community resources, and all that have roots in the area.

Sign up here if you want to learn more about the project and keep up with any updates!



Community Associate: Position Announcement

Title: Community Associate

Period: November 2024 – May 2025

Location: Syracuse, NY 

To Apply: Contact Olivia Malvasi at 315-464-4137 or email MalvasiO@upstate.edu and ephou@trxdevelopment.com.
Please indicate your interest and fit for the position. The deadline for applications is November 8, 2024. 

Position Description

The Central New York Children’s Environmental Health Center seeks Syracuse residents and community members living or working in the vicinity of the Interstate-81 (I-81) viaduct tear-down project to apply for the part-time role of Community Associate. This is a paid position for a total of $10,375 over the course of 7 months. Adults aged 18+ years old are eligible to apply. 

The Community Associate (CA) will work on a health impact assessment that will identify the health needs in the community and how they relate to the deconstruction of the I-81 viaduct and the construction of the new community grid. The CA will play a key role in building paths for community engagement with the assessment project. The role will entail visiting the areas most affected by the I-81 viaduct teardown project and completing a community mapping project, speaking with residents and inviting their participation in surveys and focus groups, and serving as a local resource for community insight.



Time and Capacity Requirements

The CA role will be engaged from November 2024 – May 2025, for approximately 25 hours/month. 

Community Engagement

  • Approximately 5 hours/week
  • Work times will vary to be able to interact with different residents, some after 5PM and Saturday hours required
  • Some physical capacity to walk around area required

Meetings 

  • 7 meetings, 2 hours/month
  • The meetings will be held remotely over the Zoom online teleconferencing platform

Research or Other Work

  • 3 hours/month 

Compensation

  • $10,375 over the course of 7 months, to be paid monthly

Olivia Malvasi, MPH
Syracuse Program Manager
Central New York Children’s Environmental Health Center
SUNY Upstate Medical University
Malvasio@upstate.edu

315-464-4137

The Central New York Children’s Environmental Health Center is located at SUNY Upstate Medical University and covers the NY counties Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis. Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, and St. Lawrence. This center is part of The New York State Children’s Environmental Health Centers, whose mission is to prevent, diagnose, and treat environmentally related conditions for families across New York State. 

Erin Hou, MPH
Evaluator
TRX Development Solutions
ephou@trxdevelopment.com 

929-352-1703

TRX Development Solutions is a private consultancy based in Brooklyn, New York, that the Central New York Children’s Environmental Health Center has contracted to provide management, research, and facilitation services for this project.