Dec. 13, 2022

Bisected by major Charlotte thruways and their particulate-spewing vehicle tailpipes. Home to polluting industries. Neighbor to a gravel quarry. Unprotected by local government for generations from the health effects of the unrelenting environmental onslaught.

Daisha Wall, environmental justice manager for Charlotte-based CleanAIRENC, this morning laid out the organization’s methodical collection of the air quality data needed to prove the need for change.

Founded in 2002 as Carolinas Clean Air Coalition, and with further name changes to Clean Air Carolinas in 2009 and CleanAIRE NC in 2021, the group has been working in West End Charlotte since 2016. Its statewide reach has brought some agreements by corporate and governmental emitters to reduce pollution.

Below is a video of the presentation and the Q&A that followed. The slides from the presentation may be downloaded in a PDF here. The individual slides may be viewed, in order, below the video. CleanAIRENC’s website is here.

Due to a technical issue with the Belmont Center’s Webex equipment, the first portion of  Wall’s presentation is missing from the video. Wall’s comments begin with the eighth slide. The first seven slides have been inserted in the video. About two minutes into the video, the image shifts from color to black and white. During the Q&A, when questioners did not have a microphone, the audio may be unclear. The Forum apologizes for the difficulties.

Visible in the picture at the top of this page are some wrapped presents. They were used in a holiday-themed game presented by facilitator Natheley McElrath. The next full-blown Christmas Party will be held in 2023.

Breakfast food was donated by Mary Klenz to honor the life and work of educator, school board member and longtime Forum participant Richard A. McElrath. More about that presentation will be posted elsewhere.