Brightline Defense Project

Cycle 10 of our Construction Sector Bridge Program had the opportunity to experience virtual reality job training thanks to Swinerton! This workforce development program led by Brightline alongside Community Youth Center of San Francisco A. Philip Randolph Institute and Mission Hiring Hall aims to introduce transitional age youth to the construction industry and eventually connect them to union jobs in the trades. Listen to Da'Vion Enis talk about what this program means to him: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP5F-dIEKhM

This past Monday was a big day for panels! Monday afternoon, community leaders came together at the California Energy Commission’s EPIC Panel to discuss bringing clean energy solutions to their communities. Later, Meiling Gao of Join Clarity, gave a presentation on air quality science to Stanford University's Urban Sustainability class and community partners. 5 students from this class are supporting the Brightline air quality monitoring program, and we will introduce their work soon! Finally, Monday evening, community leaders including our very own Eddie Ahn were hosted by UC Berkeley's Student Environmental Resource Center - SERC at UC Berkeley to discuss getting involved in the fight against social, racial, and environmental justice as part of #EarthJusticeMonth

ICYMI: New proposed work-from-home mandate from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) would require office-based employers to have 60% of their employees work from home on any given day, reports Ciara Long of San Francisco Public Press. Concerns about equity and this strategy voiced by Metropolitan Transportation Commissioners Nick Josefowitz, and Eddie Ahn, Supervisor Warren Slocum, SF Mayor London Breed and San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo Read more: https://www.sfpublicpress.org/bay-area-leaders-reject-prop/

At the California Energy Commission EPIC Symposium starting Monday, 10/19, join Brightline, Dolores Huerta Foundation, GRID Alternatives, Pacoima Beautiful for a panel on local environmental justice leaders bringing clean energy solutions to frontline communities. Governor Gavin Newsom to deliver keynote address on how EPIC, California’s premier clean energy research and development program, has driven $2.2 billion in private investment, created jobs, and advanced equity. Free registration link below:

In celebration of Earth Justice Month, Brightline will be joining the Envisioning Environmental Equality panel on October 19th alongside California Environmental Justice Alliance and Museum of Tomorrow - MoT. This event is hosted by Student Environmental Resource Center - SERC at UC Berkeley via Zoom. Register for the event at: https://www.facebook.com/events/3279109458852953

For California Clean Air Day, a community event in Bayview-Hunters Point at the Florence Fang Community Farm: monolingual seniors as well as youth of FACESSF joined to explore the garden and talk air quality!

With the recent fires in the Bay Area, getting real-time AQI data in specific SF communities is challenging. Brightline Defense Project and CYC have teamed up t...o provide free access to AQI data in certain communities through a solar powered air quality monitor. Use the QR code to access the map and please fill out the survey to help improve data collection that can affect policy changes. See more

The Construction Sector Bridge Program is currently recruiting! This is a great opportunity for SF residents ages 17-21 interested in learning more about the construction industry and benefits of a construction career pathway. The program also serves as a pipeline into CityBuild Academy Students will receive a free hoodie and $100 stipend for program completion and CityBuild application. Sign up at: tinyurl.com/Cycle10CSB... . . Community Youth Center of San Francisco Mission Hiring Hall APRI - A Phillip Randolph Institute San Francisco See more

Come celebrate Clean Air Day with us at the Florence Fang Community Farm on Friday, October 9 at 10 AM. We'll be talking about air pollution, starting your own garden, and more ways to keep the air clean! You can also check out your local air quality through Brightline's Air Quality Monitoring Program at: tinyurl.com/brightlineAQ Join us in taking the California Clean Air Day Pledge at CleanAirDay.org! Coalition for Clean Air Bay Area Air Quality Management District Clarity Movement

Brightline, City and County of Denver Government Department of Public Health, Blue Forest Conservation, Coalition for Clean Air, and Clarity Movement talk about air quality and wildfires in this webinar for California Clean Air Day: https://youtu.be/uqq2818dfok #CaliforniaCleanAirDay

Our program coordinator Daniela finished the last set of air quality sensor installations with staff from Community Youth Center of San Francisco and CCSROC! You can see the Air Quality Index (AQI) readings at tinyurl.com/brightlineAQ The air quality has spiked to Unhealthy Levels across the Bay Area as of 10/2/20.

Air quality sensor installations continue at rec centers of San Francisco Recreation and Park Department as well as street corners in South of Market and the Tenderloin - more to be done this week!

California fires 'slowly picking up again, as air quality worsens (air quality map available at tinyurl.com/brightlineAQ): https://www.sfchronicle.com//California-s-biggest-wildfire

Thank you to our community and technical partners for their support in getting our air quality sensor network up and running! Community Youth Center of San Francisco, Central City SRO Collaborative, Clarity Movement - Our work to date is discussed in detail on the California Climate Investments and California Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Justice Blog.