A Community Centered Approach to Air Quality Challenges - Insights From the Field
April 02, 2026
Milena Guajardo
Hosted by Emily Fischer and Melissa Burt
Abstract
Air quality research often focuses on what we can measure, but meaningful impact requires understanding the full context of people's lives. This presentation shares insights from community-centered work at the intersection of atmospheric science and environmental justice, with a focus on wildfire smoke and oil and gas emissions in disproportionately impacted communities. Drawing from firsthand experience as a project and outreach coordinator, this talk offers practical principles for researchers interested in collaborating with communities in ways that are respectful, reciprocal, and real. The goal is not to present a perfect model, but to share what the work has taught and to make the case that doing this well requires intention, dedication, and a willingness to show up for people beyond the boundaries of your research.Milena Guajardo, MPH, is the Interdisciplinary Project and Outreach Coordinator for Colorado State University's Department of Atmospheric Science, where her work focuses on community engagement and disseminating health information to address complex air quality challenges. Growing up in California's San Joaquin Valley and traveling and living abroad gave Milena a deep appreciation for diversity, community, and the conditions that define people's lives. These experiences naturally led her toward a career in public health, where concern for others' quality of life sits at the center of her work. She earned her BS from Santa Clara University and her MPH from the Colorado School of Public Health. Her career has spanned food safety, vector-borne disease research, Medicaid, and mental health, a path that reflects both her adaptability and her consistent commitment to health equity across communities and contexts. Her epidemiological training and lived experience inform how she engages and collaborates with the communities she works alongside