MAAP Coalition Meeting: Understanding Air Quality: Insights from the Healthy Air Network

On October 2, 2024, the MAAP Coalition hosted a valuable session focused on local air quality issues, their impact on public health, and strategies to improve our environment. This meeting provided participants with insights into regional trends and findings, specifically from Western Massachusetts. 

The session featured expert presentations from Sarita Hudson of the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts, Billy Spitzer from the Hitchcock Center for the Environment, and Destiny Gonzalez from Health Resources in Action. They shared critical data from their ongoing work, offering a closer look at air quality challenges and their direct effects on public health. 

Presenters discussed key strategies for improving air quality at the community level, empowering participants with practical knowledge to tackle these issues locally. Attendees walked away with a deeper understanding of how air pollution impacts public health and how communities can collaborate to make meaningful changes for cleaner, healthier environments.