About 1 in 11 Massachusetts residents currently suffers from asthma, and 1.5 million Massachusetts residents still lack access to local air quality data. With ongoing federal budget cuts hitting our most vulnerable communities hardest, state action is more important than ever. This was the backdrop for the annual World Asthma Day rally for clean air justice.
Last session, the Massachusetts legislature failed to pass bills championed by environmental justice advocates to increase air monitoring and clean up pollution. So, on May 6th, Clean Water Action joined neighbors, legislative champions, youth activists, and public health experts to rally in support of getting it done this session. (Missed the rally? You can still add your name to letters to the legislature urging them to pass these bills!)
This year's event took place in the vibrant community of East Boston. Eastie residents are burdened with poor air quality due to the presence of Logan International Airport in the middle of their community, as well as the highways and busy roads that dissect the neighborhoods. Emissions from airplanes, trucks and cars contribute to the health disparities seen there.
East Boston Communities Members and Roxbury Youth advocates applaud a speaker at World Asthma Day 2025 (photo credit Angela Rowlings)
But despite these environmental challenges, the rally was a show of resilience. Neighbors aren’t waiting for legislative action to support each other and their community. Attendees enjoyed free food and family-friendly games, plus welcoming resource tables staffed with local asthma care providers and advocates. Neighbors engaged with hands-on demos on how to build your own DIY air filter, how to use an inhaler correctly, and how to contact their representatives in support of clean air policies.
We were honored to hear from a powerful lineup of speakers, including:
- Dr. Shalini Shah, pediatrician at Boston Children’s Hospital
- State Representative Adrian Madaro
- Boston City Councilor Coletta Zapata
- Malden Youth Advocates: Christina Robinson-McCaskill, Sophia Chen, Taliyah Lauture, and Laura Onyejiaka
- East Boston resident and mother: Sonja Tengblad
- ECO youth advocates: Johanna and Diana
- Roxbury Environmental Empowerment Project: Vi 'Shon Ginyard and Jasiah Watkins
Our work can’t stop after the rally. We were overjoyed to stand with so many friends and allies on World Asthma Day 2025, and we will continue to stand together until there is clean air for every zip code in Massachusetts. No one should have to fight to breathe.
Take action: Send a message to your Massachusetts state legislators to support clean air legislation!
Malden Youth Advocates: Christina Robinson-McCaskill, Sophia Chen, Taliyah Lauture, and Laura Onyejiaka (photo credit Angela Rowlings)
Attendees visiting the Mothers Out Front East Boston table learned to build their own air filtration system. (Photo credit Angela Rowlings)
Boston Children’s Hospital's Pediatric Environmental Health Center provided engaging resources for the whole family (photo credit Angela Rowlings)
Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility taught an informational lesson on inhaler use (photo credit Angela Rowlings)
Cynthia Mendes, Emma Weis, Zoe Krueger and Omesa Mokaya from the Clean Water Action team helped folks contact their legislators in support of S.1584/H.2639 and S.1546/H.2427 (photo credit Angela Rowlings)
