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Action Pods

Our emergent Action Pods are temporary, self-organizing groups formed organically around specific, time-limited goals. As the primary engine of network output, they allow the Network to respond to community needs in real time.

These pods emerge through a collaborative process that invites members to pitch new, innovative ideas for collective action. Once a pitched idea gains interest and momentum from the membership, it is formally adopted as a new Action Pod.

Active Action Pods

Environmental Emergency Guide
A collective effort to organize environmental health emergency events to: (1) share CENSWPA’s Environmental Emergency Guide, (2) help residents effectively utilize the insights and resources from the Environmental Emergency Guide, and (3) learn more about the obstacles community members face when seeking medical care following toxic exposure events.
Data Centers: Utilizing Existing Research
Utilizing and translating our existing data center research into a messaging document that encourages partners to integrate an explicit cancer lens into their own data center research.
Synthetic Turf Education
The creation of materials to promote information and education regarding synthetic turf installation, maintenance, injury risks, heat, chemical exposures, and end-of-life considerations.
AirTox Screen Defense
The creation of outreach campaigns targeting elected officials, allied NGOs, academics, and stakeholders to elevate the critical need for AirToxScreen data in our region.
2026 Year in Review
Reviewing and synthesizing 2026 peer-reviewed studies on environmental cancer risks to highlight key findings and outline regional prevention priorities.
AirToxScreen Update
An opportunity to revise foundational documents by updating our scientific brief with recently released EPA AirToxScreen data.
Water and Public Health
The creation of educational resources highlighting issues related to water pollution, cancer risk, heavy, metals, and fracking water byproducts found in landfills.
Safeguarding the EJ Policy
A comprehensive analysis of industry-specific feedback on the revised EJ policy to inform the development of a community participation 101 document.

Legacy Action Pods

CENSWPA Year in Review
The Year in Review (YIR), which summarizes findings from scientific studies published in 2025, was successfully written and released. This project engaged multiple authors and content reviewers representing six network organizations, individual members, and internal staff.
Environmental Justice Policy Campaign
Our Government Hub mobilized 25 organizations to advocate for increased transparency from Governor Shapiro's administration regarding the Environmental Justice (EJ) policy, leading to a strategic meeting with the DEP. Following the January 2026 release of the revised EJ Policy, we hosted a network-wide training session with the DEP to facilitate regional implementation.
Year in Review Activation
This was a collective effort to ensure that 2025 Year-in-Review document was translated into accessible formats. Network members successfully drafted a legislative brief regarding policy action around air pollution and cancer risk, as well as multiple community handouts highlighting cancer risks associated with PFAS, EDCs, microplastics, and air pollution.
Disaster Preparedness Toolkit
This was a multi-sector effort to design and distribute an "Environmental Emergency Guide" that provides the clear, science-based steps necessary to mitigate exposure and document health impacts during and after an emergency. This primary goal is for community members to understand, utilize and incorporate this resource into their household disaster preparedness plan.
Navigating Relational Complexity
This was the development of three events focused on helping members navigate challenging partnerships and sustaining their professional wellbeing. Together, this pod planned and hosted two Warm Data Lab and an integrated somatic session titled, “Sustaining Professional Wellbeing Through Organizational Conflict” in partnership with YogaRoots on Location.

”The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment.

ARTICLE 1, SECTION 27Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

About CEN

The Cancer and Environment Network of Southwestern Pennsylvania is dedicated to dismantling systems that expose communities to toxic pollution. Grounded in science and equity, this movement engages unique partners through a three-tiered model of co-learning, mutual support, and co-created projects. This science-based collaboration bridges gaps in environmental health to drive systemic change and foster safer, healthier environments for all.

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