CUPR staff and students meet with Senator Booker to discuss new EPA-funded air quality initiative

News
August 28, 2023

CUPR green building colleagues Jen Senick, Clint Andrews, and Gedi Mainelis are part of a new EPA-funded project in Elizabeth, NJ, to install air quality sensors near public housing. US Senator Cory Booker, US Representative Robert Menendez , Union County Commissioner Bette Jane Kowalski, Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bolwage, EPA Region 2 Director Lisa Garcia, and many others joined a community meeting to discuss how this project can improve local health and well-being.

Featured tools developed by Rutgers included mobile air quality sensors inside backpacks carried by youth and inexpensive DIY air purifiers that cost less than $50. The Rutgers team is collaborating on this project with Groundwork Elizabeth and the Housing Authority of the City of Elizabeth. 

Young environmental leader from Elizabeth, NJ, wearing Rutgers air quality sensor backpack, explains how it works to Sen. Booker. Mayor Bollwage, Rep. Menendez, EPA Region Administrator Garcia, and County Commissioner Kowalski.
Young environmental leader from Elizabeth, NJ, wearing Rutgers air quality sensor backpack, explains how it works to Sen. Booker. Mayor Bollwage, Rep. Menendez, EPA Region Administrator Garcia, and County Commissioner Kowalski.
Rutgers team members Jen Senick, Clint Andrews, Gedi Mainelis (environmental science) and Fatima Haynes, EOSHI PhD student, enjoy a selfie with Senator Booker
Rutgers team members Jen Senick, Clint Andrews, Gedi Mainelis (environmental science) and Fatima Haynes, EOSHI PhD student, enjoy a selfie with Senator Booker

Recent Posts

Meet the 2026 New Jersey Leadership Collective Fellows

December 23, 2025

New Jersey Leadership Collective’s mission is to train leaders who are committed to moving the communities they serve and the Garden State forward. They aim to make progressive change to legislation and policies through building collective power and taking collective...

EJB Talks: Fighting for Government Accountability in NJ

December 22, 2025

From Corruption to Ballot Reform: Fighting for Government Accountability in New Jersey As we close out our 13th season of EJB Talks, Dean Stuart Shapiro asks Public Policy Program Director, Professor Julia Rubin, about why New Jersey has long been considered one of...

New 2024-2025 Health Administration Program Annual Report

December 19, 2025

Dear Colleagues, This year’s milestone is the successful launch of our Doctor of Health Administration (DHA) program in Fall 2025, welcoming an inaugural cohort of 23 mid- and senior-level healthcare leaders. Designed in an executive-style format, the DHA advances...

Heldrich Center: Updated Multi-State Postsecondary Report Released

December 18, 2025

The Heldrich Center for Workforce Development has announced the release of an updated Multi-State Postsecondary Report, linking postsecondary completion data to employment outcomes across Kentucky, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Virginia. This effort...

Cantor, Yedidia Identify Strategies to Provide Health Care to Homeless

December 17, 2025

Through cooperation, homeless services and health care providers can improve delivery of medical care to a vulnerable population, according to Rutgers researchers published by Rutgers Today, December 17, 2025 Author: Greg Bruno Media Contact: Nicole Swenarton, Rutgers...