Bright Cities
Little by little amounts to a lot. Cities can use our resources to build a brighter future for babies—one city at a time.
From 2016 to 2024, the Bright Cities program presented cities with funding to integrate neurotoxic exposure reductions into their sustainability, health, and resilience planning —which builds communities that are safe for babies’ brains. HBBF provided funding and technical support to projects in more than 40 U.S. cities, including nap mat replacements, pop up events, community gardens, pesticide-free turf maintenance, and more.
From those projects, we built a repository of resources, guides, and toolkits to support cities through selection and funding, implementation, and completion of projects that reduce neurotoxic exposures in the community, and make cities safer for residents of all ages.
The Role of Cities
Cities have a critical role to play in reducing neurotoxic exposures for pregnant women and babies, and for the community at large.
Cities are able to implement change more quickly and decisively than state or national governments—making them vital partners in protecting babies’ developing brains.
We worked with cities to create exposure reduction programs that harmonized with their existing priorities, so that the work of protecting babies’ brains becomes part of day-to-day business.
All babies—regardless of their genetic code or their zip code—deserve to live in neighborhoods that are free from toxic chemicals. Together, we built cities that proactively ensure healthier babies and brighter futures.
The Inequitable Impact
Babies of color are disproportionately impacted, particularly by lead exposures in homes, and water and air pollution in their communities.
A review by the Journal of the American Medical Association demonstrated that exposure to air pollutants increased risk of preterm birth by an average of 11.5%. Moreover, of the 10 reviewed studies which considered race in their analyses, 8 found that Black mothers were at an increased risk for preterm births.
The Bright Cities program committed to addressing the systemic racism of neurotoxic exposures, and intentionally directing funding and resources to improve the lives of babies of color and their families.
Harmful neurotoxic chemicals are all around us. But targeted steps can significantly reduce exposures—and cities play a key role in making those steps happen.
Bright Cities Testimonial: Salem, MA
How Salem MA Provided Thousands of Pounds of Organic Food to Local Families
Become a Bright City
Little by little amounts to a lot. Cities can use our resources to build a brighter future for babies—one city at a time.
Since 2016, HBBF has provided funding and technical support to projects in more than 40 U.S. cities, including nap mat replacements, pop up events, community gardens, pesticide-free turf maintenance, and more.
As experts in the field, we built a repository of resources, guides, and toolkits to support cities through selection and funding, implementation, and completion of projects that reduce neurotoxic exposures in the community, and make cities safer for residents of all ages.
Bright Cities
Our tailored work in these cities has made an impact for more than 5,000 children
Take Action
Cities have the opportunity to create equitable, sustainable change.
Whether you’re a mayor, a sustainability director, or part of a community-based organization, you have a role to play in making your city safer for its smallest residents. Learn more about you can leverage our resources to make an impact for residents.
The Resources You Need
Playbook for Children's Health
