Using Digital Storytelling to Elevate Community Efforts for Cleaner Air

Digital storytelling can be a powerful way to document and share lived experiences from those who face environmental and health disparities. Digital stories — short videos narrated by those who are directly involved in or impacted by an issue — are valuable tools in support of community education, advocacy, and other actions to advance positive change.

PHI’s Tracking California program has provided technical support and other resources to the AIRE Collaborative, a network of community-based organizations leading efforts to monitor and improve air quality in their communities. In spring 2020, they worked together to incorporate digital storytelling as a way to support their efforts and build community during the pandemic. Working with the StoryCenter, a participatory digital media organization, they produced a series of videos describing their work to improve air quality in low-income communities across California. 

To highlight the videos, Tracking California created The Road to Clean Air, a StoryMap “virtual road trip” through California that highlights the stories and hometowns of the AIRE members. Together, the AIRE Stories provide a glimpse into communities that are disproportionately burdened by toxic air pollution and elevates the voices and experiences of these leaders who are engaged in air monitoring and other efforts to improve community air quality.

In the video below, “Data for Action,” David Chang of Tracking California describes the influence that growing up in San Francisco has had in bringing him to his work in support of communities working to improve their environment.

In San Ysidro, artist and community organizer Sarina Vega of Casa Familiar talks about her work in air monitoring and creating green spaces in this border community, and the plan for a community park to improve air quality, health, and wellness. See the video with Sarina, below.

Watch all of the videos in The Road to Clean Air series:

• A Better Imperial (featuring Christian Torres, Comite Civico del Valle)
• Yes: Youth Environmentally Savvy Program (featuring Nayamin Martinez, Central California Environmental Justice Network)
• Fighting for our Future (featuring Ruben Rodriguez, LEAP Institute)
• Town Business (featuring Jhamere Howard, West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project)
• Environmental Justice in San Ysidro (featuring Sarina Vega, Casa Familiar)
• Data for Action (featuring David Chang, Tracking California)

Following production of the videos, Tracking California staff provided support to AIRE members with outreach and communications planning to share and distribute each of their digital stories with target audiences, including community members, agency staff, youth, elected officials, and local media outlets. In December 2020 AIRE members held a virtual community screening event showcasing the six digital stories that AIRE members had created as part of the StoryCenter workshop. Attendees included air quality agency staff, members of Community Steering Committees for local community air monitoring projects, and elected officials.