My hope is that each and every individual we serve receives validation that they are important and has much to offer, and that they have the opportunity to experience life like the rest of us. I know from experience that PRISM will provide a sense of peace for your family peace in knowing that your son or daughter is safe, respected, and in an environment which supports continued growth. At PRISM, we pursue opportunities for lifelong learning, and we believe it is important for learning and focus to be based upon inclusion with the community at large. I also feel strongly that we are all in this together. ![]() I understand.Īs a parent of a special needs son, I have hands on experience with knowing what opportunities are important and meaningful. My son Connor has left the safety net of high school and has Autism Spectrum Disorder. We can do that by investing in the clean air we need to thrive for decades to come.Many of us with special needs children who are nearing the end of high school experience the stomach-churning thoughts of “what’s next” and “how do I prepare my child who thrives on structure and consistency?”. The Legislature and governor need to commit to reauthorizing these funds as needed so we can continue the momentum toward environmental justice. I hope to one day be able to put down the inhaler and watch our children do more than just survive. Considering that we continue to suffer from bad air, many people were worried that the funds, which we so desperately need, might not be reauthorized this year. These programs are designed to put clean vehicles and charging infrastructure in communities like mine. Lena Gonzalez for their leadership in passing Assembly Bill 126, which would deepen investments into the state’s clean transportation programs by more than $170 million. Gov. We need more and better investments to increase low-income access to clean vehicle technologies. I’m thankful for Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes and Sen. We need more and better solutions to eliminate the tailpipe pollution hurting our community. By comparison, there are three gas stations on one street alone. After connecting my breathing issues with the traffic congestion near my home and workplace, discovered we are considered a charging-station desert as well.Įven if someone from my community wanted to buy an electric car, there is one charging station in the entire area that’s publicly available. I’m only 36, and I didn’t understand at first why someone as young as myself would need to use an inhaler. Our community lacks basic resources to be healthy and succeed – like clean air and food, since our community is also a food desert. On top of that, 85% of my neighbors in Lincoln Heights are also experiencing poverty. According to state data, our community experiences some of the greatest burdens from pollution in California. It didn’t take me long to connect the air pollution to my breathing issues, and the data backs up my conclusion. ![]() It got so bad that I went to see the doctor and was prescribed an inhaler, which I now use on an almost daily basis. The heaviness prevented me from getting a full breath of air. ![]() The dry and gritty air weighed on my chest. ![]() It was a virus (no, not COVID) from which I never fully recovered. My experience with our bad air started with what felt like a bad cold. The impact of that pollution – among many other factors – is making me sick and holding our community back. Now that I own a car, I’m part of the congestion and contributing to the pollution that permeates the neighborhoods where I live and work. to catch a bus to catch a train just to get to work on time, our public transportation system – at least the one that services northeast to South Los Angeles – fails to meet commuter needs. It’s impossible to be carless in Los Angeles. Prisma Alvarez is a middle school office coordinator in South Los Angeles.
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