Project Highlight: Harnessing Community Science for Cleaner Air and Healthier Futures in Lewis Place, St. Louis

Spearheaded by Dr. Pamela Talley, Executive Director of Lewis Place Historical Preservation, Inc., the community joined the Thriving Earth Exchange (TEX) program to better understand and address environmental risks tied to ongoing industrial development—particularly the construction of the Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Center (AMICSTL) near residential homes.

While economic development is welcome in many communities, the placement of AMICSTL—an industrial-scale facility—so close to where families live, breathe, and raise children raised serious concerns about increased exposure to pollutants. Residents in Lewis Place were already burdened by the legacy of lead, asbestos, and other environmental stressors. This new development reinforced the urgency for locally controlled environmental monitoring and advocacy.

Since beginning their TEX journey, the Lewis Place team has reached 69% completion on their air quality monitoring project. They recently obtained a real-time air quality device and are actively collecting data from various points across the neighborhood. Once analyzed, this data will serve as the foundation for community education, policy engagement, and targeted health interventions.

But the project goes beyond technology. It’s about building people power. The team, in conjunction with Fountain Park, an adjacent neighborhood, an AmeriCorps volunteer and faith leaders from a coalition of 13 churches, is also engaging local youth in environmental education and advocacy—sowing seeds of stewardship and sustainability for generations to come.

Lewis Place’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and reclaiming agency. By equipping residents with the tools and knowledge to protect their air and health, this community is proving that justice starts at the grassroots.