The purpose of this competitively selected grant is to conduct ambient air monitoring of pollutants of greatest concern in communities with environmental and health outcome disparities stemming from…

The purpose of this competitively selected grant is to conduct ambient air monitoring of pollutants of greatest concern in communities with environmental and health outcome disparities stemming from pollution and the corona virus disease of 2019 (covid-19) pandemic. The lubbock environmental action project (leap) for communities is a partnership between lubbock compact (a local 501C3) and DR. Karin ardon-dryer to install and maintain a network of 40 air quality sensors over 3 years. This project investigates the potential causes for documented health disparities in target neighborhoods, empowering these residents with the data needed to better advocate for their own health in a century-long struggle for environmental justice (EJ).activities:these funds will be used to support community and local efforts to monitor their own air quality and to promote air quality monitoring partnerships between communities and tribal, state, and local governments that: leverage existing air quality expertise, expand use of community monitoring groups and other approaches that give the community a voice in the monitoring of the air quality, and build a foundation of trusting relationships and enhanced understanding from which sustainable solutions to community air pollution problems can be found. Specifically, the recipient will: #9679; install 40 clarity node-s sensors and reference sensor #9679; negotiate access agreements w/ residents to install sensors #9679; provide public access to real-time environmental data #9679; install, calibrate, and maintain sensors #9679; hold quarterly reporting meetings with public #9679; engagement with local schools to support women and persons of color aspiring to enter into technical fields (will discuss with schools if awarded) #9679; community outreach at neighborhood association meetings #9679; social media engagement #9679; making technical data understandable and usable for target audiencesubrecipient:principal investigator (PI) (0.5 month) per texas tech university (TTU) requirement for karin ardon-dryer (KAD) (TTU subaward) $14,091.00 doctor of philosophy (PH.d) student reseacher coordinator (0.5 month) per TTU requirement (TTU subaward) $87,163.00 graduate student tuition and fees per TTU requirement (TTU subaward) $30,337.30 PI (0.5 month) per TTU requirement for KAD (fringe benefit, TTU subaward) $4,558.30 PH.d student reseacher coordinator (0.5 month) per TTU requirement (fringe benefit, TTU subaward) $19,208.00OUTCOMES:the outputs for this project are as follows: #9679; deployment of a particulate matter (PM) sensor network in strategic areas of lubbock, focusing on underserved EJ communities. #9679; creation of a near real-time air quality dashboard that will report the measured PM from the sensor network to promote public awareness and create actionable reporting. #9679; identification and characterization of particulate matter through filtration subsequent to identification of 'hotspots' across the sensor network. #9679; cultivation of existing partnerships with community-based organizations (and development of others) to facilitate the distribution and dissemination of data collected from the project's sensor network. #9679; training community members on both logging observational data and how/when to report observations to the texas commission on environmental quality (tceq). #9679; development of quarterly and annual progress reports for the project and a final report at its conclusion, all for public distribution. Outcomes: short-term outcomes (developing knowledge) identification of PM concentrations throughout the city of lubbock, TX. Increasing awareness of potential health hazards posed by PM. Increased access to real-time and cumulative information as a result of deployment of sensor network. Increased engagement in citizen science and public advocacy. Intermediate outcomes (developing behavioral changes) loca