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2024 Environmental Justice Conference |
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This Saturday, October 19, the West Jefferson County Community Task Force (WJCCTF) will host the 2024 Environmental Justice Conference. The Theme of this 8th Annual Conference is “Environmental Health: Knowledge Is Power”.
The conference will include discussion on the Rubbertown Air Toxics and Health Assessment (RATHA) project and other topics of environmental interest, as well as an Environmental Roundtable.
The Environmental Justice Conference is free to attend in person or online. Breakfast and lunch will be provided for those attending at the University Club.
When:
Saturday, October 19th, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. (Doors open at 8:30 a.m.)
Where:
University Club of Louisville, 200 E Brandeis Avenue, Louisville, KY 40208 or online
Community members can attend in person or online. All are encouraged to register through the link below, but those attending online must register to receive the attendance link.
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Rubbertown Air Toxics & Health Assessment Project
The Rubbertown Air Toxics & Health Assessment (RATHA) project seeks to examine and address the health impacts of toxic air pollution in west Louisville with a focus on the neighborhoods around the Rubbertown industrial area.
During the project, local partners will study air pollution in west Louisville using air monitoring and wastewater sampling. The findings will be used to develop a risk assessment, inform policy recommendations to help reduce public exposure to toxic air pollution, and to create tools that will help medical practitioners account for air pollution exposure at the point of care. Throughout the project, the West Jefferson County Community Task Force (WJCCTF) will lead community engagement through advocacy, outreach, and regular public meetings.
Project Partners & Roles:
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The Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District (APCD) will provide project and grant management, conduct the updated air monitoring study at sites throughout west Louisville, and support community outreach work throughout the project.
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The West Jefferson County Community (WJCCTF) will focus on community engagement by hosting public meetings, conducting outreach, and acting as a community voice throughout the project. WJCCTF will also provide feedback to researchers and develop policy recommendations based on the air monitoring and health risk assessment findings.
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The Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute at the University of Louisville (Envirome) will conduct a first-of-its-kind wastewater sampling pilot project of human metabolic markers of pollution exposure in west Louisville, use the findings from RATHA and other air monitoring and emissions data to complete a health risk assessment, and develop a Health Impact Evaluation Tool (HIET) to help medical practitioners account for air pollution exposure at the point of care.
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Park DuValle Community Health Centers (PDCHC) will work with closely with Envirome to develop and implement the HIET, use project findings to train Community Health Workers on health issues related to air pollution exposure, and will provide their expertise to turn the findings of RATHA into practical health interventions for the community.
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Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness (LMPHW) will participate and provide their expertise in community meetings and workshops, share their health equity data and expertise to further inform policy recommendations and project goals, and incorporate study findings into their existing public health programs and resources.
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