Neighbors for Clean Air

Breathe Oregon NCA continued to partner with Northwest Environmental Defense Fund and Portland State University Researchers to identify effective strategies to watchdog industrial facilities in Oregon. The collaboration with science and legal experts expanded to strengthen community participation and advocacy by resourcing communities with technical and legal expertise needed to improve advocacy effectiveness. NCA participation in multiple rulemaking and advisory committees at the state and federal level provided multiple opportunities to engage with technical, legal, and governmental experts and helped inform strategy.

Youth Advocacy These projects were designed to empower and inspire youth through the development of a highschool air quality curriculum and the introduction of 90 students to local and state air quality issues and potential policy solutions where youth were encouraged to reflect and share their experiences and concerns. NCA held its second Camp AQ, a four-day summer camp focused on connecting youth to non-profit partners advocating for environmental justice and scientists providing STEM-based experiential opportunities to understand air quality monitoring. NCA also invested significant energy into its partnership with the Blueprint Foundation, supporting the Foundations Change is in the Air Program, a clean energy career development and community-based science program that supports a youth-led initiative to monitor air quality and address the health impacts of climate-related air pollution emissions in the Portland Metropolitan area.

Strategic Partnerships NCA prioritized its commitment to key partners through intentional engagement in coalition spaces that advance air quality policies focused on centering frontline communities. Efforts included coordinating multiple partnerships including participation in an alliance to ensure equitable and sustainable I-5 bridge replacement, the installation of over 15 new PurpleAir monitors in North Portland and East County, and supporting a local neighborhood-led effort to raise awareness and generate action concerning development of a freight warehouse. NCA was also invited to participate in Multnomah Countys climate justice planning process, the ODEQs community air action planning project, and support equitable outreach concerning climate pollution reductions. Programming also included community education and engagement through summer tabling and outreach and presentations at neighborhood association meetings.