Oakland faces monumental problems today: issues like gang violence, poverty, and crime. And as a major port city and industrial center for the California coast, Oakland gets its fair share of pollution. Even though few discuss the effects of the air quality, there is solid evidence that links Oakland’s industrial sector to health problems. Children in West Oakland are seven times more likely to be hospitalized for asthma than kids in the rest of California, all because of high levels of pollution. In addition, 83 percent of West Oakland residents live within close proximity to a toxic site. Imagine living near a metal refinery that sends particles in the air that burn your eyes, leave a bitter taste on your tongue, and release a retched smell that clings to your nostrils. CASS (Custom Alloy Scrap Sales) metal is within three blocks of Excel High School, of a playground, and in the midst of a residential neighborhood. The sky above its scrap yard is often thick with a cloud of metal particles that form a concoction that will lead to unforeseen health problems for nearby residents. Area residents, backed by Global Community Monitors (a non-profit), spearheaded a community campaign against the business about two years ago. Yet the city government has done nothing to force CASS to stop polluting.

I and a team from Lick-Wilmerding, my high school, are teaming up with local high school students from EXCEL, 3 blocks away from CASS, to address the problem. We are will have an impact on two sectors, education and fundraising. To educate, we are making a documentary about CASS, using the narrative of someone who lives nearby. There will be interviews with residents, air pollution expert, and students from EXCEL to give a clear picture of the issue and the people involved in the movement. The movie will be shot and edited by the Lick and EXCEL students, who come from different communities. Lick-Wilmerding is a private school in San Francisco, and EXCEL is a public school in West Oakland. Through collaboration, the students will work off each other's knowledge and expertise to make a truly thought-provoking portrayal of life in a pollution-filled area. After the film is completed, the group will publicize the finished product through media outlets. Another part of the project is fundraising. The main piece of the fundraising component is an auction of local artists' artwork. The artwork is to be sold through a week-long exhibit, which will also serve as a center for dialogue about the issue of environmental injustice itself. The documentary will be shown at the opening, and the atmosphere will push those attending to become involved and donate something, whether it be their time or their money.

There are many steps to making this project a reality. If you're interested in more details, contact me and I'd be more than happy to answer some of your questions.

These will present themselves as the project moves forward.