Ask a Doctor About Lead
2024 | Rhode Island Department of Health
Refugee and newcomer communities face unique risks when it comes to lead exposure — often from overlooked sources like powdered spices, ceramics, and cosmetics. In partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), Reach developed Ask A Doctor About Lead, a culturally responsive campaign to raise awareness and reduce lead exposure in Rhode Island’s most vulnerable populations.
We began with the communities themselves. Reach conducted multilingual focus groups in Arabic, Dari, Haitian Creole, Swahili, and more, using the findings to shape messaging and materials that reflect how people actually communicate and learn. We prioritized plain language, cultural context, and visual clarity — making materials as accessible as possible, even for individuals with limited literacy.
We created:
Educational print materials in 10 languages
Visual-forward designs featuring photo-based representations
Fridge magnets, flyers, posters, and 'I Speak' language cards
A Spanish-language radio ad to reach broader Latinx audiences
Custom-designed, lead-safe spice packets (turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, clove) as culturally relevant touchpoints
Campaign Impact
Ask A Doctor About Lead is now a trusted resource among Rhode Island’s refugee and immigrant communities. By grounding the campaign in cultural humility and linguistic inclusion, Reach helped RIDOH deliver life-saving health education in a way that feels familiar, affirming, and actionable. The campaign is still in circulation, with materials actively used by clinics and community partners statewide.
