Bike around the city’s east side to monitor pollution, plant giant sequoias in Poletown, learn how to make public comments at a City Council meeting, or attend English and Spanish film screenings in recognition of national Air Quality Awareness Week.
Clear the Air, a coalition of local community and environmental justice advocacy groups, is hosting events in metro Detroit from May 1-17 in alignment with the awareness campaign established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 18 years ago. This year’s national theme is “Stay Air Aware” to share resources that increase daily air quality awareness.
The campaign comes just after the American Lung Association gave Detroit’s air quality another failing grade in its annual State of the Air report, which ranks air quality in cities nationally. This year, the city ranked 6th worst in the country for year-round particle pollution. That’s up from 2024, when Detroit ranked 13th worst nationwide. Particle pollution is linked to premature death, heart attacks, and worsened asthma.
Clear the Air’s programming will kick off with a press conference at O’Shea Park highlighting concerns from two Detroit communities over operations at the Dino-Mite Crushing and Recycling concrete crushing facility and the Kronos cement facility. Clear the Air will also be demanding that the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy implement cumulative impact assessments when permitting facilities, to account for all of the pollution these communities face.
Check out the lineup of local events below.
Clear the Air Press Conference: Air Quality Awareness Week (AQAW)
Thurs. May 1, 10 a.m.
O’Shea Park launch of AQAW activities, policy platform roll out, and highlighting two communities working against cement facility pollution, hosted by the Clear the Air Cumulative Impact Workgroup.
Tree Planting + T-shirt Printing Arboretum Detroit
Sat. May 3, 3-6 p.m.
Join Arboretum Detroit and Clear The Air in learning about how trees contribute to our air quality and help to plant dozens of Giant Sequoias and native understory trees and shrubs. This Filter Forest will be a vegetative buffer along the south end of the Arboretum’s network of parks. Participants will meet at the Neighborhood Tree Nursery at 3300 Farnsworth, dig up trees, and move to the planting location at 3371 E Warren. Ocelot Print Shop will provide t-shirt screen-printing. Register here.
Cinco De Mayo Parade – Patton Park to Clark Park via Vernor
Sun. May 4, 11a.m.
Join Clear the Air in partnership with Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision (SDEV) on a walk from Patton Park to Clark Park to distribute flyers for clean air resources and tools.
Discussion + Workshop: Organizing for air quality
Mon. May 5, 6-8 p.m.
Hear from local organizers, legal advocates, and environmental activists about the power of community-led air quality data. This conversation will prepare residents to submit a public comment on Tuesday morning. Facilitated by JustAir, Eastside Community Network. Register Here
Panelists:
- Mark Covington, Georgia St Collective/Detroit Hamtramck Coalition for Advancing Healthy Environments
- Nick Leonard, Great Lakes Environmental Law Center
- George Perdue, Schoolcraft Improvement Association
Public Comment at Detroit City Council
Tue. May 6, 9:30 a.m.
Virtual and in-person at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center. The council’s formal meeting starts at 10 a.m., but it’s best to arrive early to go through security and get your name in for comment. Transportation for those who need it will be offered at 9 a.m. from the Eastside Community Network. The City Council interaction will aim to promote the Clear the Air policy platform of cumulative impacts assessment, taking a science-based approach to pollution exposure in Detroit communities as well as the health and demographics.
“Descendant” Film Screen New Lab in Michigan Central
Wed. May 7, 5:30 p.m.
Join us for an exclusive screening of “Descendant” at New Lab in Michigan Central. The film features the Meaher family, which owns much of the heavily industrialized area surrounding Africatown. Elevated cases of cancer and illness are prevalent there, but the Africatown community persists. Residents celebrate their heritage and take command of their legacy by bringing their history to the surface. Register Here
Virtual Film Screening of Unbreathable
Wed. May 7, 6 p.m.
As part of the course Environmental and Social Justice: A Place-Based Perspective, students at Western Michigan University are hosting a free virtual screening of Unbreathable: The Fight for Healthy Air. This film delves into the history of the Clean Air Act and the ongoing fight for air quality in communities affected by environmental injustice. The screening will be followed by a discussion. Register Here
Film Screening of Unbreathable (Spanish Subtitles) Vámonos!
Thurs. May 8, 6-8 p.m.
Join us at Vámonos! – 4444 Vernor Hwy, for a film screening of Unbreathable in English with Spanish subtitles. Refreshments included. The screening will be hosted by Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision. Register Here
Public Health + Air Quality Resource Fair
Sat. May 10, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Wayne County Community College Downriver Campus
21000 Northline Rd, Taylor, MI 48180
Wayne County Health, Human, and Veteran Services will distribute mobile air quality monitors and digital inhalers for eligible Wayne County residents. Community health partners will also be on hand at this event hosted by JustAir to share more about their public health and air quality programs.
Pollution to Solutions Bike Tour
Sat. May 17, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Stoudamire/Eastside Community Network
4401 Conner, Detroit, MI 48215
Take a multi-stop bike tour with portable air monitors to observe pollution struggles in Detroit communities. The route is still being determined but will span 7-8 miles. A support van will follow the group to help with traffic management and provide respite, if needed. The ride is hosted by Clear the Air and the Eastside Community Network. Snacks and water will be provided. Register here.
Clear the Air Member Groups
Arboretum Detroit
Concerned Residents for South Dearborn
Detroit-Hamtramck Coalition for Advancing Health Environments
Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice
Eastside Community Network
Ecology Center
Engage Michigan
Georgia Street Community Collective
Great Lakes Environ Law Center
Just Air
Green Door Initiative
Michigan Climate Action Network
Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition
Michigan Environmental Council
Michigan Green Muslims
Original United Citizens of Southwest Detroit 48217
Sanctuary Farms
Scales Consulting, LLC
Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision
Southwest Detroit Community Benefits Coalition