Our cities are divided by race and pollution.
Join us to fight for clean air for all.
DAR Board and Staff 2024 Joppa Heath Study results presentation
Downwinders is a group seeking deep social change through the prism of air pollution: who's exposed to it, why, and how to best reduce it. This concern makes us confront issues of racial and income equity, participatory decision-making, disparity in public health protections, and land-use planning. It's made us into citizen scientists as well as zoning experts. We see cleaner air not just a goal by itself, but connected to a host of other democratic, grassroots changes that can increase individual and community sovereignty.
The most important tool we have is the region's only staff devoted to coming to the aid of DFW residents who are fighting for their neighborhood's health. When a community finds out they've been targeted by a polluter and discovers no government agency will help them and better-known environmental groups don't have the local resources to come to their aid, Downwinders is there to fill the gap. When government meetings take place during the workday to decide a community's fate Downwinders makes sure to show-up. When a "done deal" between polluters and officials needs to get undone by citizens, Downwinders leads the fight. Our reputation is about being persistent and getting good things done against big odds. After 30 years of successes ranging from Midlothian cement plants to Frisco lead smelters to Dallas's Shingle Mountain, we're known as one of the most successful and resourceful grassroots groups in Texas.
TCEQ Public Meeting on a Joppa concrete batch plantProtest in Fort Worth outside the Mayor's State of the City addressGAFs Gotta Go Campaign press conference outside Dallas City Hall demanding action
Our Needs
We need your help in making sure our staff are fully funded and our operating budget is big enough to be able to provide the kind of assistance necessary to come to the aid of distressed neighborhoods. This includes at a minimum:
- $25,000 in Operational Funds: Help us pay rent and keep the lights on!
- $75,000 in Program Expenses: Education, Organizing and Advocacy program
- $200,000 in Staffing: For our Executive Director, Organizers and Development roles
West Dallas health study results meetingEarth Day Campaign launch 2024GAF zoning change public meeting