FRESHAIR COLLECTIVE

DHS Minority Health Program Grant: the project addressed critical environmental justice issues exacerbated by poor air quality. It deployed an additional neighborhood-level air quality monitoring systems in targeted areas identified through comprehensive data analysis of the existing network. The expansion of this network equipped residents with real-time data on air pollutants, enabling them to make informed decisions to protect their health. Concurrently, the project developed and disseminated an evidence-based educational curriculum tailored to all age groups in the community. This curriculum covered the sources, impacts, and mitigation strategies of air pollution and was made accessible through both direct community engagement and on-demand online platforms. Additionally, the project introduced the Bad Air Badger, an innovative animatronic educational robot designed to raise awareness and engage community members effectively at various events. This tool, along with the educational programming and the first annual report summarizing air monitoring data, helped empower residents with the knowledge and advocacy tools needed to demand better environmental conditions.

This project expanded MKE FreshAir Collectives work across outdoor air quality, indoor air quality, and indoor air contaminants. It included gathering community input through a resident survey to better understand local concerns and shape future education, programming, and project development. The project also strengthened the organizations air monitoring capacity by adding a near-reference sensor and continued the distribution of indoor air contaminant testing in prioritized Milwaukee neighborhoods with historically low testing rates. Grant runs from June 25-Jul 26 and all funds will be spent.