Who are we?
We are a team comprised of the Temple University Office of Sustainability staff, Fox Chase Cancer Center researchers, and Temple University student researchers. Additionally, we are partnered with Philly Community Wireless.
What is the project?
Act on Air seeks to address health disparities and neighborhood quality of life issues in North Philadelphia by investigating the critical connection between air quality and health outcomes, empowering residents with data, and promoting air quality solutions through community engagement, advocacy, and targeted public health interventions.
Residents are engaged as researchers and advocates, developing a shared understanding of the problem and focusing our collective resources on solution generation.
How is it funded?
Temple University Office of Sustainability was awarded the Second Nature Catalyst Grant for the assembly of an action-research working group, the purchase of risk identification and mitigation toolkits, technical support for toolkit recipients, and undergraduate fellows. Read more about the grant and the other recipients here.
What is your role?
You are invited to join a network of resiliency hubs and community scientists. We are offering community organizations risk identification and mitigation toolkits that include an air monitor and indoor HEPA air filter.
What is the ask?
We ask that you install the air monitor on the exterior of your facility, connect it to your non-institutional Wi-Fi, and place the filter in a space where folks gather. We ask that a leader in your community checks in your air monitor using PurpleAir, and upon learning how to read the data, take the action and advocacy steps outlined in the toolkit whenever something is out of the ordinary.
PurpleAir makes sensors that empower communities who collect hyper-local, real-time, air quality data and share it with the public. Their sensors are affordable tools to measure particle pollution (PM2.5).
What are the benefits?
You’ll get a free high quality air filter! Plus, a network of fellow concerned neighbors, and a means to understand and respond to air quality issues in your community – a healthier, happier Philly.
How can I get involved?
Contact us at actonair@temple.edu for more information about becoming involved in the project! We are currently looking for community organizations to host air sensors on their buildings in North Central Philadelphia.