We’re a small, but feisty team at Gasp. Many people think we have dozens of staff members, but in reality there are just three full-time and one part-time staff members. That’s a testament to the quality of our work and our commitment to the cause of protecting the air we

“It is important to me that we have clean air, just like it’s important that we have clean drinking water,” Catherine Singletary says, talking about the importance of air quality for her family.

Catherine, a realtor, and her husband Brandon, an epidemiologist, moved to the Magic City from

Carla Johnson grew up on a farm in small-town Alabama. After an untreated bout of pneumonia in her 20s, Carla’s lungs didn’t heal properly, leaving scarring behind. Now she suffers from a lung condition called bronchiectasis, which makes it difficult for her to be outdoors — especially

Jonathan and Jana Green live and work in Birmingham, Ala. with their two children. Jana grew up in Goldwater, Ala. and later attended Samford University. Jonathan went to law school Samford, where the two would eventually meet. Their children both have asthma, a medical condition that is made worse by

I’ve always been very health conscious. I’ve exercised and tried to eat well and maintain my weight. But in my 30s I noticed I was having trouble running. It was my breathing that was slowing me down. I thought maybe I was just getting older. But, after it continued to get worse

Scotty Colson is a Birmingham, Alabama, native. An avid cyclist and devout UAB Blazer fan, Scotty also has chronic asthma. He is actively involved in the Birmingham community and is an advocate for social justice, poverty and mental health. Scotty is personally invested in healthy air for everyone who

Rob Burton grew up outside New York City, an area known for its poor air quality. Rob also has Cystic Fibrosis, a life-threatening genetic disorder that affects lung function.

When he moved to Birmingham, Ala., to be closer to family, he investigated the air quality compared

Edward Bowser is a community engagement specialist with the Alabama Media Group. In his column on al.com, he writes regularly about “agents of change” — folks who are doing work to make the Magic City a healthier, nicer and more compelling place to live. In his role as a voice

Clara Curtis lives in Sylacauga, Ala., and is the president of POET — Preserve Our Environment for Tomorrow. Several years ago she noticed that a plant in the area was emitting noxious odors. The pollution was making people, especially schoolchildren, sick.

Clara and other residents organized POET and began to