West Modesto residents and community organizers gathered at the King-Kennedy Memorial Center for the second in a series of workshops to help residents learn how to advocate for better air quality in a county that routinely ranks as one of the worst in the state.
The event, “Breath In, Speak Out,” hosted by Valley Improvement Projects and the West Modesto Community Collaborative, reviewed strategies for how the community can speak up for itself about poor air quality in an area residents say is severely neglected.
Edgar Garibay, a project manager for VIP, led the session with a presentation on how to influence policymakers. “You have a lot of power in your community,” Garibay said. “You’re here because you’re invested and you want to see a community that is healthier.”…