Marcus G. Rivas, Air, RCRA and Toxics Division, United States Environmental Protection Agency - Region 7, 901 N 5th Street, Kansas City, KS 66101-2907, 913.551.7669, rivas.marcus@epa.gov

There is a growing recognition that air toxics pose a significant risk to community health. Environmental justice neighborhoods in the City of St. Louis have taken a pioneering role in working for healthier air. The neighborhoods are creating innovative means that allow vulnerable populations to become more aware and empowered of what can be done to reduce air toxics through personal, community and public means. While these residents have the lowest incomes in St. Louis, they also happen to have the highest rates of asthma, lead poisoning and particulate matter in the State of Missouri. These projects have created unique, active and effective partnerships to work through extraordinary communication and behavior challenges. The Environmental Protection Agency has been working closely with the grass root organizations to resource and catalyze community change. This presentation will describe key partnerships amongst community organizers, AmeriCorps, schools, childcare providers, healthcare providers, nonprofit agencies and libraries. These and other partners have investigated and found effective means to use local assets to develop strong solutions. The partners’ efforts necessarily have integrated many facets of environmental stewardship – including waste management, personal actions, micro-enterprise, collaborative actions and soil/air/water interactive educational materials for the full spectrum of lifelong learning (Kindergarten through Adult). This presentation will describe the community’s motives, challenges and innovative solutions.

Learning Objectives:

• • Identify EPA’s three St. Louis air toxics projects & their outcomes.
  • Realize how the projects strategized around the interconnectedness of health, community and environmental issues.
  • Learn how the St. Louis projects communicate their messages and actions.
  • Explore unique tools & techniques developed by St. Louis partners to address concerns regarding air quality.
  • Gain access to resources that can be used in one’s own community to educate communities about health and air toxics.

Keywords: Air Pollutants, Environmental Health

Related Web page: www.stlcap.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.