Enhancing Community AQ Monitoring in Underserved Black & Hispanic Communities in Orange County, FL
An ARP Enhanced Air Quality Monitoring Grant Goal of the GrantMeetings, Trainings and WorkshopsThe goal of our project is to create a Community Air Quality Advisory Council composed of representatives from underserved communities in Orange County, FL that is informed by Community Science Air Quality Monitoring.
The proposed project will engage people who live, work or worship in underserved communities in meaningful Community Science and Civic Engagement activity: 1) Measurement of air pollutants in underserved diverse communities with heavily traveled roads and fossil fuel infrastructure and 2) Council formation and data reporting to the public and to local government.
Work to be performed includes administrative and education activities, formation and governance of a Community Air Quality Advisory Council, establishment of a Community Science Air Quality monitoring network and reporting of high quality defensible data on the concentrations of particulate matter (2.5 microns and smaller), ozone and nitrogen dioxide.
The presence of high quality air pollution monitors that communicate meaningful real time data to an online account that informs a community council and residents is the foundation for a future where 5G and 6G broadband will enable residents to view air pollutant and weather information that they have identified as important in their community.
Coalition of 100 Black Women of Central Florida
is in the FDEP Plan
Click on the image to enlarge.
2025 Community Monitor Sites
.
Welcome
Enhanced AQ Monitoring Grant
Project collaborators met to share a project overview.
Mapping Workshop
Residents Map Proposed Sites
Participants learned about monitor siting requirements and then proposed sites where they thought monitors could be placed.
Confirming Secured Sites Can Meet Siting Requirements
Team Building and Getting Commitments for Secure Sites
The project timeline and the monitor siting and installation requirements in the draft Quality Assurance Project Plan will be covered. Possible edits and additions will be discussed. The presentation will be followed by a tour of proposed sites that residents reported can be secured, and the Federal Reference Method monitoring station where the project monitors may be collocated prior to being placed at the community selected sites. Participants will report their observations on surveys of the sites under consideration.
The EPA Community Air Quality Advisory Formative Meeting at the Callahan Neighborhood Center
The first formal meeting of representatives of the collaborating neighborhoods met for an update on the project and began the process of creating the framework for the formation of the Council.
Event Photo Galleries
Gallery for the December 2, 2023 EPA Enhanced Air Quality Community Meeting and Tour
Photos by Martha Hartgering
Project Manager Lawanna Gelzer, Project Manager and President, Coalition of 100 Black Women of Central Florida opens the program
Assistant Project Manager and Co-Rector of Christ the King Episcopal Church Rev Dr Jose Rodriguez speaks
Project Quality Assurance Manager, VP of Health Initiatives Foundation, Inc and Dir. UU Justice Florida Jan Booher Presents an Overview of Monitor Placement and Project Design
From Left to Right Jan Booher, Henry Mendoza, Rev Dr Jose Rodriguez, L’Ason, Lawanna Gelzer, Fidel Mendoza, Sylvia Mendoza and and members of the Christ the King Team
Gallery for the November 7, 2024 EPA Enhanced Air Quality Monitoring Aeroqual Training for Field Operations Supervisors Aston Mack and Henry Mendoza and the Engineers and Educators Team
Instructor: Erik Mallory, Aeroqual Technical Assistance, The J.J. Wilbur Company, Inc. and Wilbur Technical Services, LLC
Aeroqual Hands on Training Q & A
The Engineers and Educators Team and their Field Operations Supervisors during a Q & A
Aeroqual Hands on Training
Engineers and Educators Team Members Secure the Particle Inlet Tube to an AQS-1 Monitor cabinet
Hands on Aeroqual Training – Attaching Inlets
Unseated O-ring in the Foreground. Attaching the Particle Inlet to the Aeroqual Cabinet in the background.
Aeroqual Hands on Training
Field Operations Supervisor Aston Mack Making Adjustments in the Aeroqual Monitoring Cabinet
Gallery for the November 10, 2024 EPA Enhanced Air Quality Monitoring Aeroqual Training for the Engineers and Educators Team that will be responsible for monitor maintenance.
Instructor: Field Operations Supervisor Aston Mack
Participants: Field Operations Supervisor Henry Mendoza and Engineers and Educators Team Members: Silvia Mendoza, Ervin Asencio and Jhon F. Gamboa
Each trainee performed these tasks under supervision: Flow check on the gas inlet, adjustment of the bypass valve, Flow check on the particle monitor, and Leak check verification.
Reporting Adjustments Made in the Field
Field Operations Supervisor Aston Mack shares the online Field Operations Reporting Form with Field Operations Supervisor Henry Mendoza and the Engineers and Educators Team
Gas Inlet Flow Rate Measurements
Field Operations Supervisor Henry Mendoza
Opening the Door to Work on Components of the Monitor
Engineers and Educators team member Jhon Gamboa
Use of the Flowmeter
Engineers and Educators Team member Ervin Asencio with the Alicat Whisper Flowmeter
Gallery for the January 4, 2025 EPA Enhanced Air Quality Monitoring: Community Scientists Roles and Responsibilities with an Introduction to Data Review
Instructor: Field Operations Supervisor Aston Mack, Interpreter: Field Operations Supervisor Henry Mendoza, Engineers and Educators Team Member Silvia Mendoza, and Community Scientists
Commuity Scientists Training Flyer – jANUARY 4, 2025
Field Operations Supervisor Henry Mendoza and Engineers and Educators Team Member Silvia Mendoza at the January 4th Community Scientists Training
Community Scientists with Project Manager Lawanna Gelzer at the January 4, 2025 Training
Wendi Hammond at the January 4th Community Scientists Training
Trainings, Workshops and Meetings
Community Scientists
Upcoming Trainings:
February TBD: Health Impacts of Air Pollution at Ms Betty Resilience Hub
TBD: Air Pollution Basics
February TBD: Quality Assurance Project Plan and Standard Operating Procedures Adherence, Virtual
Past Trainings:
May 18 and 19, 2023: Community Mapping Workshop at Beardall Senior Center Presentation Community Mapping Report
December 2, 2023: Monitor Siting and Installation with Tour at Monitor Siting Survey: English Spanish Photo Gallery
January 4, 2025 (10am – 2pm with lunch provided) Community Scientist Training Workshop: Roles and Responsibilities at the Ms Betty Resilience Hub (835 W Washington St., Orlando, FL 32801). Presentation Photo Gallery
Environmental Engineers and Educators
Upcoming Trainings:
January 25, 2025 (10am – 2pm with lunch provided) Engineers and Educators: Roles and Responsibilities at the Ms Betty Resilience Hub (835 W Washington St., Orlando, FL 32801)
February TBD Health Impacts of Air Pollution at Ms Betty Resilience Hub
TBD Air Pollution Basics
February TBD Quality Assurance Project Plan and Standard Operating Procedures Adherence, Virtual
Past Trainings:
September 14th and October 27th, 2024 Operations Pre-Training. Presentation
September 27th and October 27th, 2024 Monitor Siting and What’s in the Box? Presentation
November 7, 2024 Aeroqual Hands-on Monitor Setup and Installation Workshop at Callahan Neighborhood Center Gallery
November 10, 2024 Hands-On Aeroqual Training for the Engineers and Educators Team Gallery
December 9, 2024: Flow Check via Alicat
Community Air Quality Advisory Council
Upcoming Meetings
TBD Community Air Quality Advisory Council Meeting
TBD March 2025 First Data Report for Review
TBD – Representation and Data Reporting
TBD – Dialogue with Local Government
Past Meetings
July 11, 2024 Community Air Quality Advisory Council Organizational Meeting
Return to Top of Page
Contact
Ms Betty Resilience Hub and Learning Center
Address
825 W Washington St
Orlando, FL 32805
Webpage designed by Heron Bridge Education, LLC
With generous support from EPA ARP AQ Enhanced Monitoring Grant #5X02D45423
Updated 2.10.2025