Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision – UROP Summer Symposium 2021

Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision

Tottionna Bushell

Tottionna Bushell

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

UROP Fellowship: DCERP
Research Mentor(s): Raquel Garcia, Executive Director
Research Mentor Institution/Department: Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision

Presentation Date: Thursday, July 29th
Session: 5:30 – 7:00pm
Breakout Room: DCERP Showcase

Event Link

Abstract

Did you know…In 2019, The Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimated that diesel fuel consumption in the United States transportation sector resulted in the emissions of 456 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. Equal to 24% of the total US transportation sectors CO2 emissions and equal to 9% of total US energy-related CO2 emissions. On a micro level, these emissions contribute to ground level smog. This smog triggers respiratory illness, reduces lung capacity, and has been linked to asthma and heart attacks. In particular, freight trucks are a major source of fine particulate matter.

Hello, my name is Tottionna Bushell, I am a junior studying statistics and afro-studies. My passion is helping minorized people through data and real world solutions. I have had the opportunity to work with the healthy air department at Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision to combat these high emissions. SDEV has examined hundreds of freight trucks passing through Southwest Detroit communities. Through the examination of data, I have been a part of a process called the fuel transformation program that seeks to switch out old trucks with higher emission with newer trucks that carry less environmental footprints. With this program, dozens of trucks have been replaced over the last few years and efforts are continuing to make Southwest Detroit’s air healthier for the people who live there.

In addition, I have gotten a greater sense of culture within Detroit. At SDEV, there is an emphasis to reach Spanish speaking families, so that they can be informed about environmental issues in their communities. I was amazed to learn that many organizations do not make efforts to reach families who speak different languages. SDEV and DCERP allowed me to connect data and communities, which is what I intend to do in the future as a researcher of statistics.

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