BREATHE LA June Newsletter: Embracing Change & Moving Forward Thank you for reading, to unsubscribe please see below. Experiencing A "Virtual" Summer in Southern California Marc My Words: Letter from President and CEO It is very exciting that summer is almost here. Businesses are starting to re-open and we are beginning to glimpse a world after COVID-19. However, that does not mean that the crisis is even close to being over. As many workplaces and public venues are opening up, it is more important than ever to take extra precautions to stay safe. I don’t know about you but I am more ready for summer than I’ve ever been. It will be nice to spend time outdoors with my family, riding bikes, drawing with chalk on the sidewalk, and having picnics in the yard. We’ll be paying close attention to the weather forecasts for high temperatures, as asthma symptoms can increase when the air gets hot. We learned some great tips on how to recognize and prevent these symptoms at May’s virtual Lung Power™ workshop, attended by many families directly affected by asthma. While it has been new for us, our virtual programming has been a huge success so far. Last month we hosted a virtual Young Professionals happy hour and a Breathe Easier and Save Energy Webinar (with more to come!). It has not been easy to adapt to these unusual times, but I am proud of how our team has risen to the occasion and adapted to continue educating the public under the circumstances. On another important note, I wanted to express our support for the Black community. People of color in the United States are disproportionately affected by lung disease and other consequences of air pollution and have been hit harder by COVID-19. At BREATHE LA, we intentionally develop our programming with this knowledge, and aim to provide resources to combat the effect of institutionalized racism on lung health. Our organization condemns the acts of violence toward Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and countless others wounded or killed through acts of racism. We are committed to fighting hatred and bigotry. As always, continue visiting our website, breathela.org, for more info on our current programs and initiatives. You can continue to support our efforts by following BREATHE LA on social media at @BREATHELAC and me at @mcarrel. Stay safe and be well. In Health, Marc Carrel President & CEO DIY Corner: Clean Air Practices from BREATHE LA Easy & Fun Ways to Help LA County Breathe Easier As our staff works to reduce air pollution and the summer brings warmer temperatures and a higher risk of ground-level ozone, we put together a list of simple acts that can have a positive impact in improving Los Angeles air quality during the summer months. Gather your loved ones and go over the below tips: 1. Walk or Ride Your Bike: Walk or ride your bicycle to places you would normally drive your car. Get some fresh air and save some gas. 2. Take Public Transit: Utilize alternate modes of transportation. Consider taking the train, bus or shared scooters, as long as you can follow appropriate social distancing protocols. 3. Avoid Idling: Try to avoid the drive-thru to order your food, coffee or prescriptions by going in. This helps reduce exhaust emissions. 4. Fix Up Your Home While Getting Fresh Air: Sweep your driveway, patio, sidewalk or deck instead of using a leaf blower to save some energy. Get some exercise and breathe in fresh air while enjoying the summer season. Our BREATHE LA website and social media channels are the best places to keep up with all things clean air. For additional information and resources on how to keep our air cleaner, visit our website at breathela.org. BREATHE LA Virtual Programs Update: COVID-19 Community Q&A ATTN Southern California Community: BREATHE LA will be presenting a Community Q&A about COVID-19 on Thursday, June 18th, @ 12pm PT via our Facebook Live, giving you the chance to ask all your COVID-19 questions while we stay at home. Along with our BREATHE LA Health Educators, Reza Ronaghi, MD, Pulmonologist of UCLA Medical Center and Monica Molina, Communications Director at the City of Los Angeles, will be LIVE to give you the latest information on coronavirus during this pandemic. To attend, simply visit Facebook.com/breathelac and join in when we go live on 6/18 @ 12pm. See you there then! Our Community Partners: Los Angeles Department of Water and Power This summer, BREATHE LA is joining the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to educate local communities with energy efficiency tips to make homes in SoCal more sustainable! Our BREATHE LA Health Educators will be partnering with community center sites across LADWP’s Los Angeles service area. We invite everyone to join us so we can connect LADWP’s incentive programs, services and resources straight to your home. June 12th @ 11 AM -- Webinar link here June 17th @ 11 AM (English and Spanish) -- Webinar link here June 23rd @ 11 AM (English and Spanish) -- Webinar link here All participants who join any of the above webinars will receive a free LED lightbulb kit (with sign-up)! Special thanks to our community partners: Al Wooten Jr. Heritage Center, All Peoples Community Center, Anderson Munger Family YMCA and Providence Little Company of Mary Wellness & Activity Center Support Virtual Education to LA County BREATHE LA is serving those who need it most now online BREATHE LA needs your help more than ever now as we traverse these difficult times and modify our programs. Click here now to donate now and make a difference immediately in advancing our clean air and lung health work! Give now to make an impact immediately, through one of the below steps: Online here By mail at: BREATHE California of Los Angeles County, 5858 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 300, Los Angeles, CA 90036 By phone at: (323) 935-8050 ext. 247 (with a credit card) Give The Gift of Lung Health & Clean Air ‌ ‌ ‌ Breathe California of Los Angeles County | 5858 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 300, Los Angeles, CA 90036 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | About Constant Contact Sent by [email protected] in collaboration with Try email marketing for free today!