Rimshah Jawad MPI ’26, Bloustein School Distinguished Professor and Associate Dean for Research Clinton Andrews, and Muhammad Haroon Ashfaq MPI ’25, represented the Rutgers Center for Urban Policy Research (CUPR) at a community outreach table at The Game On! Culture Fest In Elizabeth, NJ.
Earlier this month Bloustein School Distinguished Professor and Associate Dean for Research Clinton Andrews, and recent graduates Rimshah Jawad MPI ’26 and Haroon Ashfaq MPI ’25, represented the Rutgers Center for Urban Policy Research (CUPR) at a community outreach table at The Game On! Culture Fest In Elizabeth, NJ.
They spoke with Elizabeth residents about the Center’s ongoing work to better understand local environmental health, sharing information about how the team is monitoring air pollution levels across the city and studying how environmental exposures, such as poor air quality and extreme heat, may affect heart rate variability (HRV), a non-invasive indicator of how the body responds to environmental stress.
The team also demonstrated the interactive air quality dashboards developed by CUPR, which allow Elizabeth residents to view local air quality conditions and better understand the environmental data being collected in their community. Throughout the day, they answered questions, raised awareness about environmental health, and shared practical ways residents can protect themselves from the impacts of extreme heat and air pollution.
The two-day, family-friendly event on July 12-13, 2026 celebrated local diversity and the spirit of the FIFA World Cup through youth soccer clinics, live entertainment, cultural performances, and career resources.
