April 2025

MARC MY WORDS: April Wraps Public Health and the Environment Together

Since 1970, Americans have honored and celebrated our planet each year by commemorating Earth Day on April 22nd. Yet, over the past decade, this time to reflect on the importance of our planet and take action to protect it has expanded and now the entire month of April is observed as Earth Month.

Interestingly, April also includes Public Health Week, which recognizes the contributions of public health workers and highlights issues that are important to improving the health of Americans. However, while we highlight them in April, both of these subjects matter every day of the year, and both are integrally connected to each other, and to other vital issues that cross over in many ways.

Public health isn’t just about hospitals or vaccines, and Earth Month isn’t just about recycling. At Breathe Southern California, we know these two subjects are deeply connected — because the health of our environment links directly to the health of our communities. Air pollution doesn’t stay in the sky. It settles in our lungs, our soil, our water, and throughout our neighborhoods, — especially in underserved communities which face disproportionate exposure to dirty air, unhealthy living situations, and a lack of access to quality healthcare. 

We also know that climate change and environmental degradation aren’t just environmental issues…they’re public health emergencies. When people ask me about Breathe SoCal, I often explain that we don’t consider ourselves an environmental group or a health provider. We see ourselves as an environmental health organization because we are focused on improving our environment, not for the sake of the environment itself, but to improve public health.  

Connected to this is the concept of ‘social determinants of health.’  These determinants are the conditions of the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age. Social determinants of health have a major impact on people’s health, well-being, and quality of life, because the conditions of those environments affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks...

These include:

• Safe housing, transportation, and neighborhoods
• Education, job opportunities, and income
• Access to nutritious foods and physical activity opportunities
• Discrimination and violence
• Polluted air and water
• Language and literacy skills

Just promoting healthy choices won't eliminate these and other disparities. Instead, we need to take action to improve the conditions of people's environments. 

At Breathe Southern California we’re highlighting Public Health Week and Earth Month to reinforcing a simple truth: Clean air is not a privilege — it’s a public right. From providing lung screenings throughout our region and advocating for clean transportation, to sharing valuable insight at town halls and holding monthly community events where volunteers work on projects to improve our environment, Breathe SoCal is working at the intersection of environmental justice and health equity all while making the air we breathe in Southern California healthier

Throughout April we’ve been connecting with communities throughout LA and Orange counties, and across the Inland Empire. We’re out and about sharing information, gathering feedback, and generating change. Because when we protect our planet, we protect our people. So, you see, environmental health and public health are really one in the same.

Healthy lungs and a healthy environment are the driving force behind all that Breathe SoCal does and your support is an essential part of our continuing work. To join us or to volunteer, check out our community events calendar at breathesocal.org and to help us continue these efforts, please consider donating today. 

In health,

Marc Carrel

President & CEO

When it comes to highlighting the incredible work some of our team is spearheading, come over to instagram to find out more about these passionate and devoted powerhouses, Jaqueline Vazquez and Silvia Segura. They are building healthier, greener, and more resilient communities, everyday. Go team!

From Research Forums to community gardens, our spring calendar is packed with opportunities to breathe easier together.

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