Our Programs

Particulate Matter Initiative

Through our Particulate Matter Initiative, we address the lack of localized air quality monitoring in underserved communities by combining the deployment of low-cost PM2.5 sensors and a machine learning pollution risk map. Because fine particulate matter is linked to asthma, cardiovascular disease, and reduced academic performance, we use our findings to advocate for policy to help schools create healthier learning environments for students.

View Interactive Risk Map

Air quality risk mapping and particulate matter monitoring

Air Quality Literacy Workshops

We host hands-on air quality literacy workshops at local libraries that help students understand the science of air pollution and its effects on their communities. Students learn to measure particulate matter, interpret local air quality data, and build low-cost air purifiers.

Through partnerships with schools, libraries, and community organizations, we give young people practical tools to understand their exposure to air pollution and take action to protect themselves and their communities.

ConServe students presenting an air quality monitoring display at an Earth Day event

Building Evidence and Capacity

After raising awareness of environmental challenges, we assemble the data, resources, and networks needed to accelerate climate advocacy at scale.

California Data Initiative: Data Collection

In a joint collaboration between Ten Strands (one of the most prominent environmental literacy nonprofits in California) and UC Berkeley, ConServe founded three projects within the California Data Initiative.

ConServe is creating a comprehensive database of all approximately 5,000 school board members in 1,000 school districts, Trustees within California’s 50+ County Offices of Education, and County Board of Supervisors to forward climate action.

As a collective, these three projects aim to increase public transparency, making reaching out to school board members, trustees from different County Offices of Education, and Board Supervisors more accessible.

California Data Initiative school board member database

Blog

We publish blog articles on our website covering a wide range of topics related to air pollution, climate change, environmental justice, and youth-led solutions. Through these posts, we aim to share research insights, highlight community perspectives, explain policy developments, and provide practical actions that individuals and schools can take to build healthier and more sustainable environments.

Catalyzing Policy Action

With our findings, we push for policy change at the district, county, and state level.

Climate Action Resolution (CAR) Initiative

Through our Climate Action Resolution (CAR) Initiative, we partner with school board members and student leaders to introduce and pass formal district resolutions that institutionalize long-term commitments to sustainability and climate action.

These policies commit the district to climate action through means such as campus electrification, renewable energy investments, climate curriculum, and other sustainability measures that reduce emissions and improve student health.

Berryessa Union School District board resolution presentation

County Office of Education Initiative

Through our County Office of Education Initiative, we work with over a dozen County Offices of Education to introduce Air Pollution and Clean Air Resolutions. In September 2026, we passed a comprehensive Clean Air Day Resolution in the largest regional education agency in the United States, Los Angeles County Office of Education.

A hallmark of our work is youth engagement, where we prioritize youth input directly from the County Office of Education we’re actively trying to pass a resolution in, ranging from co-authoring to sending in public comments.

ConServe members with Santa Clara County Office of Education trustees after a clean air resolution

Statewide Concurrent Resolution Initiative

In partnership with Ivan the Angelfish, we are working to introduce a Clean Air and Student Well-Being Concurrent Resolution in the California State Legislature recognizing clean air as essential to student health, safety, and educational success.

The resolution would strengthen statewide coordination among schools, public agencies, healthcare providers, and community organizations while advancing air-quality education, monitoring, and preparedness.

Climate Advocacy Workshops

We host climate action resolution workshops to equip students with the knowledge and tools they need to understand school board policy. Students learn how school boards and local governments make decisions, research sustainability issues, draft climate action resolutions, build coalitions, and advocate directly to elected officials.

ConServe climate action resolution workshop with students