Delray Youth Environmental Justice Group

When Delray residents step outside their homes each day, they are bombarded with stomach-turning foul odors. Even worse, it isn’t unusual for them to go to sleep and wake up to these disgusting smells within their own homes. The Delray community, only feet away from the Detroit Waste Water treatment plant, is one of the most polluted communities in the state of Michigan. Delray is a low-income community located in Southwest Detroit. It’s one of the most isolated and underserved areas in Detroit. Almost 50% of the residents are people of color and almost 50% are living below the poverty line. Delray was once an industrial center and ideal place for factory workers to live because of its proximity to work. However, what was once seemingly a benefit is now a source of dangerous air quality. Nauseating odors emanate from the waste water treatment plant & seep into Delray residents’ cars & homes, kicking out all of the fresh air. Even when their windows are closed, the stench continuously overtakes their cars & homes, clogging their windpipes, and giving them headaches. Could you imagine experiencing this daily? Several scientific studies have found that exposure to certain levels of PM (Particulate matter: a type of air pollution frequently found in urban areas with particles small enough to be inhaled into the lungs) have adverse health effects, including increased rates of hospital admission for both cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease, & in some cases premature death. Exposure to PM has also been linked to increased asthma symptoms in inner-city youth. The Delray community in particular has experienced an increase in Asthma rates, especially among the youth living there. Delray residents have exuded great effort in the fight against air pollution in their community through the filing of lawsuits, & contacting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Wayne County Air Quality Management Division (WCAQM), & the Michigan State Department of Environmental Quality: Air Quality Division (MDEQ), however they still haven’t seen the results they deserve. The Delray Youth Environmental Justice Group was created to give the youth within the Delray community a voice & to advocate for clean air, & a healthier & safer environment. For more information on the history & action taken regarding this issue, please visit: http://www.umich.edu/~snre492/Jones/delray.htm#Background & for more information on the Delray Youth Environmental Group, please contact the Delray Neighborhood House at: http://www.pecose.org/southwest-detroit-location