Groundwork Ohio River Valley guiding planning process and advocating for change
Climate Action June 5, 2024
As part of Groundwork Ohio River Valley’s Climate Safe Neighborhoods work, the community action group in the Lower Price Hill neighborhood (Cincinnati, OH) voiced concerns about poor air quality affecting their health. In response, Groundwork ORV organized the “Connecting Air Quality to Citizen Climate Advocacy & Action” project, a comprehensive plan to measure air quality differences across several communities. Groundwork ORV trained youth leaders and residents to use personal and outdoor air quality monitors and educated trainees about the health consequences of air pollution. They outfitted bikes with air quality sensors so their Green Team – a paid environmental leadership and stewardship program for high school students – could measure variations in particulate matter in their neighborhoods. Green Team participants even built their own air quality sensors in a hands-on workshop. The data they collected over 12 months contributed to the development of the 2023 Green Cincinnati plan. And, Groundwork ORV is currently using data from the air quality monitors to advocate for funding for green infrastructure projects designed to reduce air pollution.
Read more about national Groundwork Trusts efforts in combatting climate injustice and facilitation of community empowerment: