The Air Hugger blog is written by Denny Larson, the Executive Director of Global Community Monitor.

Global Community Monitor, founded in 2001, trains and supports communities in the use of environmental monitoring tools to understand the impact of fossil fuel industry pollution on their health and the environment.

GCM’s work focuses on disempowered “fenceline” communities harmed by serious air pollution from industrial sources and whose concerns agencies and responsible corporations are ignoring.

Over the past dozen years, GCM, a project of the Tides Center, has developed and pioneered the use of “bucket brigades” (a grassroots air monitoring program) as a method for communities to document and understand the impacts of industrial pollution, to launch advocacy efforts against polluters, and to win stunning victories.

GCM’s primary activity consists of providing training and on going technical assistance to community organizations fighting pollution as well as strengthening an international movement of people fighting industrial pollution and climate change. We have worked with 40 communities in 19 countries.

GCM’s unique expertise and access to powerful resources is the result of a combined 29 years of grassroots organizing spent in dozens of communities nationally, and of community environmental monitoring innovations that have brought effective tools into disadvantaged communities. We have worked with several Goldman Environmental Prize recipients including Bobby Peeks, Margie Richard and Willie Corduff.

We have built a collective experience in government and corporate accountability work at the grassroots and state and national policy level. GCM works to build the capacity of community groups and their leaders to achieve lasting power and change in their communities. GCM provides funding for staff time and resources for community groups and their leadership.