Our Programs

Particulate Matter Initiative

Through its Particulate Matter Initiative, we address the lack of localized air quality monitoring in underserved communities by deploying low-cost PM2.5 sensors and upgrading air filtration systems in Title I schools. Because fine particulate matter is linked to asthma, cardiovascular disease, and reduced academic performance, we combine real-time monitoring, machine-learning pollution risk maps, and policy advocacy to help schools create healthier learning environments for students.

View Interactive Risk Map

Air quality risk mapping and particulate matter monitoring

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

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

Pesticide Buffer Zone

ConServe works alongside organizations like the Campaign for Organic Regenerative Agriculture (CORA) and Californians for Pesticide Reform to reduce air pollution from toxic pesticides used in large-scale farming, particularly in vulnerable farmworker communities. Together, we advocate for legislation to expand pesticide-free buffer zones around schools and communities and support bills such as AB1603 to ban PFAS in pesticides.

Sign the Petition

Nourish San Jose

Through our Nourish SJ initiative, we support families most vulnerable to climate change by collecting edible surplus food from local grocery stores, repackaging them into nutritious meal kits, and redistributing it to families across San Jose.

We partner directly with grocery retailers to recover surplus produce, dairy, and pantry items, package them into nutritious care-kits, and distribute them through food banks and community organizations. Each kit includes multilingual recipe cards to encourage healthy preparation and reduce waste at the household level.

Sustainability/Climate Action Workshops

We host climate action resolution and air quality literacy workshops with both virtual and in-person opportunities to equip students with the knowledge and tools they need to understand air pollution and school board policy.

Through partnerships with local schools, libraries, and nonprofits, we reach hundreds of students each year, cultivating air quality and climate action, building the next generation of environmental advocates who can identify and address air pollution and general sustainability needs in their communities and schools.

ConServe climate action and air quality workshop with students

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.