The Office of Sustainability is honored to present the 2024-25 Environmental Stewardship Award to the Bloomington-Normal Community Air Research and Education (BN-CARE) team.

The Environmental Stewardship Award recognizes commitment to environmental stewardship as it relates to the Illinois State campus or surrounding communities. The BN-CARE team project exemplifies the true spirit of environmental stewardship by improving public health, advancing sustainability goals, and promoting environmental justice, making it most deserving of this award.

Comprised of Illinois State University faculty, Drs. Alicia Wodika and Liangcheng Yang, and local community organizations, the Ecology Action Center and the Bloomington-Normal NAACP, the innovative work of the BN-CARE team focuses on improving air quality in environmental justice areas of Bloomington-Normal.

The team installed three solar-powered air quality monitors and implemented eight portable monitors to track and raise awareness of local air pollution in southwest Bloomington and northwest Normal. The work is funded by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

“The BN-CARE team is committed to working with our community partners to support and advocate for air quality efforts within the Bloomington-Normal Community,” Wodika said. “This research provides opportunities for everyone of all ages to get involved in a community-driven project, with transparent data collection, that can be accessed at multiple levels.”

By providing real-time data through a community website, this project encourages residents to monitor and act on air quality issues that directly affect their health, particularly asthma, respiratory diseases, and heart conditions. “Please consider following the BN-CARE project (BNCARE.org) to learn more about how you can be involved in creating a healthier community,” Wodika said.

The work of the BN-CARE team is ongoing and funded by environmental justice-related grants through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. However, its future is uncertain due to recent changes and challenges at the federal level.

“This project has strong support from our communities,” Yang said. “We hope the EPA will continue funding it, allowing us to maintain this vital air quality service for the Bloomington-Normal area.”