Brightline Defense, an environmental justice nonprofit organization, was awarded $300,000 from the Community Air Grants program to support the Brightline Air Quality Monitoring Program. This community-driven program that will install, collect, and analyze data from 15 stationary air quality sensors in heavily populated, low-income communities throughout Eastern San Francisco. The data these sensors collect are publicly available and can be used to help shape programs and policies to create cleaner air in these communities.

During the implementation of the program, Brightline Defense has focused on building the capacity of two local organizations, the Community Youth Center and Central City SRO (Single-Room Occupancy) Collaborative. Through its partnership with Community Youth Center, Brightline Defense has engaged directly with ten youth leaders across San Francisco to have them help carry out air quality education and outreach initiatives. Through this program, youth leaders have created and shared “Introduction to Air Quality” pamphlets, educational booklets, and videos on air quality monitoring that have exceeded 7,000 views, with audiences in Eastern San Francisco.

“Because of the orange sky, I really feel that the knowledge of air quality is really important,” said youth leader and high school student Qiu Mei Fan. “People are facing the air quality problem differently.”

Brightline Defense is also working directly with 15 Central City SRO Collaborative leaders to understand and address urban environmental justice issues within SRO buildings. Through outreach and community engagement, this partnership has helped thousands of low-income SRO residents take steps to protect themselves and their neighbors from air pollution.

“I know from living in the SRO and from doing my outreach that air quality is a major issue,” Reggie Reed, a tenant organizer with the Central City SRO Collaborative.

To learn more, check out this short video describing Brightline Defenses air quality monitoring program.