The photographs on this page were made in partnership with The Breathe Collaborative, a coalition of citizens, environmental advocates, public health professionals and academics working to improve air quality, eliminate climate pollution and make Western Pennsylvania a healthy and prosperous place to live.
Featured in these pictures are some of the many volunteer activists who work tirelessly, and often in the face of great adversity, to improve the quality of life in and for their communities. These portraits are presented in appreciation for their work, and for that of many more activists who are not shown here . I thank them all for their kind and generous participation in this photographic project.
(l to r) Angelo Taranto, Barbara Pace, Ken Holmes, and Karen Grzywinski, of Allegheny County Clean Air Now (ACCAN)
Brittany McDonald, Pittsburgh.
Terrie Baumgardner, Beaver.
Art Thomas, Clairton.
Barbara Talerico and Glenn Olcerst, Pittsburgh.
Bob Schmetzer, Beaver and Sewickley.
Edith Abeyta, North Braddock.
Johnie Perryman, Clairton.
Joanne Martin, Beaver.
Angelo Taranto, Allegheny County Ohio River Communities
Cheryl Hurt, Clairton.
Clifford Lau, Sewickley.
Dianne Petersen, Pittsburgh.
Germaine Patterson, Clairton.
Larry Irr, Penn-Trafford.
Alyssa Lyons, Braddock and Pittsburgh.
Jamie Piotrowski, Pittsburgh.
Ken Holmes, Allegheny County Ohio River Communities..
Daschinique Johnson, Pittsburgh.
Howard Rieger, Pittsburgh.
Lois Bower-Bjornson, Washington.
Marcel Minutolo, Pittsburgh.
Maren Cooke, Pittsburgh.
Mark Dixon, Pittsburgh.
Raqueeb Ajamu-Osagboro, Pittsburgh.
Mike Stout, Pittsburgh.
Natalie Leslie, Beaver.
NaTisha Washington, Pittsburgh and Clairton.
Dr. Ned Ketyer, Washington.
Phoebe Reese, Pittsburgh.
Rachel Meyer, Beaver.
Thaddeus Popovich, Allegheny County Ohio River Communities.
Tiffany Taulton, Pittsburgh.