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Preserving Our Past, Powering Our Future: Celebrating the Fresh Voices for Clean Air Oral History Project



In the fight for clean air in Allegheny County, history is one of our most potent resources.


The stories of those who lived through the industrial eras of our past, and the activists who stood up to fight for our right to breathe, provide the context and urgency that continue to inspire our work today.


Through our Fresh Voices for Clean Air project, we’ve seen firsthand that there is no better way to protect our future than by handing the microphone to the generation that will inherit it.


Bridging the Generational Divide

We’re so proud of our Fresh Voices program because it’s an essential intergenerational bridge.


By pairing local high school students with a diverse array of community members—from long-time residents who remember our worst skies to seasoned environmental advocates—we are creating a living, breathing archive of our region’s environmental journey. 


For the students, this is a hands-on masterclass in for the essential skills of modern advocacy:


  • Media Literacy & Production: From interviewing and filming to editing and photography, they are learning how to translate complex environmental issues into compelling stories.

  • Historical Context: By listening to firsthand accounts of our region's industrial history, they gain a deeper understanding of why current regulatory oversight—like that at the Clairton and Edgar Thomson Works—remains so vital.

  • Community Connection: They are learning that effective advocacy is absolutely about data and permits - but it’s also about empathy, listening, and connecting with the lived experiences of friends and neighbors.


Training the Next Generation of Environmental Leaders

Why is this partnership between GASP and local students so critical? Because the environmental challenges facing our region are complex, long-term, and ever-evolving.

To meet them, we need a pipeline of engaged, informed, and passionate citizens ready to take up the mantle.


When we invest in student education, yes, we are teaching them about PM2.5 and Title V permits. But we are also empowering them to turn their passion into action.


“We are showing them that their voices have weight and that they have the power to influence the health and future of their communities,” GASP Project and Education Manager Laura Kuster said. “The students involved in this program for the last two years did incredible work, uncovering narratives that might otherwise be lost to time.”


GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell agreed.


“They are the next generation of environmental air quality heroes, and it is a privilege for us at GASP to support them as they hone their skills, find their voices, and help us all see our mission through a fresh, necessary lens,” he said.


We were so proud this week to host an event celebrating their work - and we thank everyone who came out to join us in lauding their projects.


 

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