Conversation Circles
What are Conversation Circles?
The Conversation Circles Project, formerly called Listening Circles, aims to increase the understanding of environmental issues that affect residents’ communities and involve community leaders and local representatives in decision-making processes at local and county levels. It seeks to give communities access to environmental and other data and how to use and interpret it for making decisions about change and community improvement.
We will conduct outreach in targeted areas within the initial cities of Fairfield, Vacaville and Suisun City where there are high levels of environmental pollution identified. We will learn what tools and resources communities need to support decision-making for community-led solutions. Part of that effort includes a short survey for those who live in the selected neighborhoods.
At the end of the 12-month process, we will have a comprehensive Neighborhoods Impact Assessment & Action Plan that includes identified challenges and needs, and community-proposed and supported green infrastructure projects to address them.
Identifying Participating Neighborhoods
The program has selected 10 neighborhoods identified by environmental and socioeconomic data within Fairfield, Vacaville and Suisun City. The map below shows the identified neighborhoods. You can click on each neighborhood to see the data for that community.
Zoom in and select a neighborhood on the map to get important environmental and socioeconomic information.
Building New Analysis
A key part of identifying the Conversation Circle communities involves looking at the available data on disadvantaged communities, but also looking beyond the existing data.
Communities in our identified cities grapple with air pollution, drinking water contamination and exposure to pesticides. Many sit close to solid waste sites and facilities. These communities face the socioeconomic challenges of comparatively high rates of poverty and unemployment.
If you live in one of the selected neighborhoods, please take this short survey to share about your community.
Data: Click the links below to
- View the information on the initial 50 census tracts reviewed for this project to determine the selected communities.
- Learn more about the different measures used in the selection.
Partners
Solano Public Health
UC Davis
Public Resources
Check Your Air Quality
AirNow Current Air Quality Index
PurpleAir Current Air Quality Conditions
Check air quality and report pollution at Air Watch Bay Area
See if you are in one of the neighborhoods where we’re seeking residents to host free air quality monitors.
Check Your Water Quality
EPA Annual Drinking Water Quality Report
Environmental Working Group Tap Water Database
Other Data Resources
Blog Updates
Seeking Vacaville, Suisun City Residents to Monitor Air Quality and Help Communities
In Vacaville and Suisun City, air monitors that could track pollutants and particulate matter in the air and offer valuable information to residents are lacking. We’re seeking individuals who want to install these monitors to help their neighborhoods.
Community Will Gain Knowledge, Guide Solutions in Listening Circles
February will mark the beginning of Sustainable Solano’s first Listening Circle sessions in central Solano County. A Listening Circle is our approach to finding community-guided solutions to community issues/problems.
This Giving Tuesday, Support Sustainable Solano Through Give Local Solano
This #GivingTuesday, support local nonprofits through #GiveLocalSolano
The Conversation Circles program is supported by an Environmental Justice grant from California’s Environmental Protection Agency.