How Detroiters can take action on air quality

The next training in the City of Detroit’s course to educate residents about air quality is Sept. 2 at Farwell Recreation Center in District 3. 

The free two-hour course is part of a quarterly series the city launched earlier this year in partnership with the Green Door Initiative to offer air quality training in each council district. The workshop will educate residents on the Clean Air Act, how to participate in air quality hearings, advocate to local representatives and submit public comments on air quality issues using provided templates.

The latest round of training sessions come as the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America this week ranked Detroit the second worst city to live in with asthma, a condition that can be caused or worsened by air pollution. 

Workshops held earlier this year featured two themes focusing on air quality basics, and different air quality dashboards for residents to use. Participants also learn how to use the Environmental Protection Agency’s toxics release inventory, which provides information on places releasing emissions. In Detroit, this includes various steel, asphalt, energy, and manufacturing plants. 

Jolani Perez, engagement and training lead at Green Door, said “wildfires are probably the biggest things everyone brings up,” but that residents also express concern about all the polluting industries in Detroit. 

In July, wildfire smoke left Detroit with the worst air quality on record since recordkeeping began in 1999. Wildfire smoke has regularly put Detroit in the top cities across the world with the worst air quality in recent years. 

The training sessions are presented by Green Door staff with officials from the city’s air quality division Benjamin Kunstman and Julie Rose in attendance to answer questions from the city side, such as how to use the Improve Detroit app and questions about Detroit’s fugitive dust ordinance. The workshops are a component of an EPA enhanced air monitoring grant awarded to the City of Detroit’s Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department. 

Next quarter’s theme will be focused on “targeted information to engage local officials and support policies for clean air,” according to Perez.

Below is the full schedule for each of the districts.