Our Collaborative Research Team

• University of California, Davis: Principal Investigator Dr. Clare Cannon (Environmental Sociology) and Co-PI Dr. Tony Wexler (Air Quality Research Center). Graduate Student Researchers: Alejandro (Alex) Sanchez, MS and Michaela Anang, JD.
• University of California, Irvine: Co-PI Dr. Mike Méndez (Environmental Policy and Planning)
• University of California, San Diego: Co-PI Dr. Camila Alvarez (Public Health and Community Engagement)

Community Partners

Throughout the research, we partner with community-based organizations (CBOs) to address their concerns around air pollution. Below is a list of our community partners for this project:

• United Latinos (South Sacramento)
  • United Latinos is a Sacramento-based nonprofit organization committed to building power for the poor and marginalized. We seek to address equity issues by encouraging solutions which include those who historically haven’t had a seat at the table. Our mission is to guide civic leadership, improve quality of life, empower our communities, and create change through advocacy, education, and civic engagement. Our vision is full Latino participation in education, civic, and electoral processes.
• Rise South City (San Bruno)

  • ​Rise South City is committed to creating dialogues with our frontline communities about climate change & social equity issues and to learn about the different intersectional systems that underpin it and help develop local solutions for transformational reform. We promote community resilience, economic equity, and climate stability.

• Citizen Air Monitoring Network (Vallejo)
  • The Citizen Air Monitoring Network – Vallejo (VCAMN) started in September of 2016. We started our effort in response to the Phillips 66 Oil Spill incident in Rodeo that sent more than 100 people to the emergency rooms in Vallejo.
  • VCAMN established more than 25 air monitoring sites around Vallejo to date. These air monitors provide real-time measurement of particulate matter (PM) as indicators of air quality. PM carries a strong connection to heart and lung diseases, including asthma and lung cancer.
  • As an independent entity for approximately four years, we have an important presence in the community. We serve as the air monitoring community experts. We are present at community events. We foster civic engagement. We are creating an active social network focused on air monitoring. And we collaborate with others to educate the community on air quality.