Our partner: Roxana Soto

“I’m not an environmental activist,” says Roxana Soto, “but when I learned that lawmakers were trying to undo clean air regulations, I had to speak out.”

Like seven million other American children, Soto’s five-year-old daughter suffers from asthma.

Her condition is aggravated by poor air quality. During one recent spell, she couldn’t sleep through the night for six weeks.

“It scares me that lobbyists have the power to change laws,” Soto says. “But I’m not going to be intimidated. Being a parent has changed my perspective.”

Clean air mom

To fight back, Soto, an Emmy Award-winning journalist, joined the Moms Clean Air Force and is lending her voice to the chorus for clean air.

Her blog, Spanglish Baby, has been called a “must read” by Parenting magazine.

In 2011, nontraditional allies like Soto helped defeat anti-environmental legislation in Congress.

“Clean air is a basic human right,” she says. “One person may not make a difference, but together we can.”