Spending time in the communities we serve is always the best part of our week. Recently, CleanAIRE NC’s Community Science team traveled to Fayetteville, North Carolina, to check in with longtime AirKeepers in the Fairview community, a neighborhood that faces environmental challenges, particularly from heavy dust generated by nearby concrete manufacturing facilities.
Not only was our trip meant to check in on their equipment, but it was also important for us to arrive willing to listen, learn, and continue building a foundation for lasting change alongside the people who live there every day.
During our visit, we sat down with residents to review year-to-date air quality data collected from Fairview’s 9-monitor cluster network. While reviewing the numbers, one of the day’s most pivotal breakthroughs occurred.
As we examined sharp spikes in PM2.5 and PM10 (fine and coarse particulate matter that can penetrate deep into the lungs), a resident with unique knowledge of the local cement and concrete block manufacturing processes spoke up. Together, we were able to map specific concrete production schedules directly to the immediate surges in poor air quality documented by our network.
Seeing that connection was validating. For years, residents knew when the air felt heavy and unsafe. Connecting their lived experiences directly to hard data told a complete, undeniable story, especially given the facility’s concerning history of permit exceedances.
Beyond analyzing data, our team was hard at work making sure the community remains equipped with the best tools available:
Being in community with those fighting environmental challenges like particulate dust is deeply meaningful work. We are proud to share data and insights to raise awareness, but our most important task is to listen. Longtime residents hold invaluable knowledge built from years of lived experience. By learning from them and listening first, we can align our resources with what the community actually wants and needs.”
Without moments like this, communities facing systemic environmental burdens are often left wondering if anyone is listening or if anything is actually being done. Distributing monitors, working together to review air quality data, and convening as a community sends a strong message: “your voice matters, and you are not doing this alone.”
As one resident reflected during the meeting, the collective effort and rising advocacy in Fairview are truly beginning to make a tangible difference. Hope and resilience aren’t abstract concepts here; they are built every time a neighbor receives a monitor or learns how to interpret air quality data.
In the months ahead, CleanAIRE NC’s Environmental Justice program will explore partnerships with PowerUp and the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters (NCLCV) to host a public educational forum on local air quality.
The goal is to expand air quality awareness across Fayetteville, deploy more air monitors throughout the area, and ensure that the community’s collective priority remains at the center of decision-making.
To learn more about our AirKeeper program or to get involved with CleanAIRE NC’s community science initiatives, reach out to us at [email protected].
