The Community Capacity Project (CCP) applies grassroots leadership development and community organizing strategies to drive action toward environmental health goals. In 1997 the Milwaukee Health Department Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (MHD CLPPP) began funding four community-based organizations (CBOs) in high-lead poisoning neighborhoods to empower residents to participate in strategy development and policy-making. The resulting neighborhood demand for lead-safe housing and community-grown solutions have been critical to achieving lead-poisoning prevention milestones, like a community-wide primary prevention lead paint abatement law; lead paint industry litigation to fund abatement; and a highly successful voluntary lead abatement program.

The CCP is a part of a comprehensive childhood lead poisoning program that seeks to eradicate childhood lead poisoning in Milwaukee by the year 2010.

The incidence of lead poisoning in Milwaukee has declined 50% over the past five years.