2014 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT PROGRAM Project Summaries by Region REGION 1 Montachusett Opportunity Council (Fitchburg. MA) Through its "Clearwater Revival" project, the Montachusett Opportunity Council (MOC) seeks to address the negative impacts of stormwater runoff from the polluted Nashua River in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. By helping to reduce the river's bacterial, viral, and parasitic load that threatens the health and vitality of Fitchburg's low-income residents, MOC and its partners will raise community awareness about storm water runoff and water pollution prevention. Residents will benefit from community workshops, "park and walk" audits, and interaction with community leaders and decision makers. Another key effort of this project is the development of youth peer leaders who will build community capacity by creating videos, leading neighborhood educational tours, and hosting workshops to educate residents about local water quality issues. Partners for a Healthier Community. Inc. (Springfield. MA) The "Springfield Healthy Homes Collaborative" will work to reduce the disproportionately high rates of asthma and poor housing conditions in low-income neighborhoods throughout Springfield, Massachusetts. The main focus of this collaborative is to reduce residents' exposure to lead and other toxins by implementing a Healthy Homes approach that integrates harm reduction and home remediation strategies. Community residents will be actively involved in leadership roles and project planning and implementation, while working with local government leaders and decision-makers. Specifically, residents will partner with housing organizations and local government to form a task force charged with conducting neighborhood household assessments, identifying and educating high-risk families and children, and advocating for funding to sustain and implement Healthy Home initiatives area-wide. REGION 2 Desarrollo Integral del Sur. Inc. (Penuelas. PR) Desarrollo Integral del Sur's (DISUR) "Healthy Lungs, Now!" project will work to reduce exposure to air-born contaminants through an equitable, collaborative problem solving methodology that will positively impact the health and quality of life for the residents of the Tallaboa-Encarnacion Community in Penuelas, Puerto Rico. The project seeks to achieve a reduction in exposure to air contaminants through a focused approach that involves identifying key sources of air pollution in area homes and businesses. Residents will participate in education and training initiatives and public meetings where they will work with local government and representatives from industry to address air quality data gaps and identify best practices for reducing or eliminating emissions. REGION 4 Greensboro Housing Coalition (Greensboro. NC) The "Healthy Homes Greensboro" collaborative will work to reduce housing-related asthma hospitalizations in low-income, minority neighborhoods in Greensboro, North Carolina resulting from exposure to toxic chemicals. Community residents and collaborative partners will create a comprehensive plan for healthy homes and advocate together for multi-level policy changes, including ------- the enforcement and strengthening of current policies and regulations, funding for community education initiatives, and working with local government to address gaps in healthcare. The Coalition and its partners will also identify at-risk families residing in substandard housing, repair homes with mold damage, enforce housing safety standards, and provide Integrated Pest Management solutions to residents to address and eliminate the misuse of pesticides and other toxic chemicals. Mississippi Conference of Black Mayors (Yazoo City. MS) The "Mississippi Delta Child Lead Reduction Plan" aims to reduce lead exposure and mitigate the negative impacts of old, inadequate housing stock for low-income, minority families and children throughout the Mississippi Delta. This project will create a network of African American mayors, health care providers, and community members who will be tasked with increasing community awareness and education about the harmful effects of lead exposure, common sources of household sources of lead, and preventative techniques. This collaborative effort seeks to develop and implement a "Lead Contamination Action Plan" that will help to identify the homes that have significant exposures, work with area health care facilities to test children's toys and clothing for lead residue, and develop and implement lead abatement measures. REGION 5 Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision Project (Detroit. MI) This project seeks to address the adverse health effects of illegally dumped waste by safely cleaning up and repurposing at least two large dump sites in southwest Detroit where nearly one-third of families live below the poverty line. This clean up collaborative includes working with local residents, area businesses, schools, and non-profit organizations to improve living conditions and strengthen economic development. Together, the collaborative will identify large-scale dump sites, determine the potential for reusing and/or repurposing onsite material, and develop plans to redevelop cleaned sites into viable community green spaces. Residents will benefit from the availability of newly developed community spaces including gardens, pocket parks, and orchards. REGION 6 Groundwork New Orleans (New Orleans. LA) The Groundwork New Orleans "Environmental Justice Strategies: "Groundwork New Orleans Community Stormwater Management and Revitalization Program" will create an adaptable outdoor curriculum of service learning activities available to residents in underserved communities. The project seeks to improve the health and safety of area residents while adding aesthetic elements and recreational services that will improve quality of life and attract positive economic development. Residents will engage in interactive service-learning opportunities such as planting and caring for trees and flowers, trash disposal and recycling, and community workshops. Groundwork and its community partners will also work to integrate environmental justice into educational curricula at local schools where students will identify and discuss issues commonly facing underserved communities and learn about a range topics including coastal and urban ecosystems, water quality testing, and soil sampling. REGION 7 Trailnet, Inc. (St. Louis, MO) Through its "Green Streets for Everyone" project, Trailnet aims to increase the creation of low-stress, green bicycle and pedestrian pathways as an effective way to help the city of St. Louis improve its watershed management, reduce water and air pollution, increase physical activity in underserved ------- communities, and reduce asthma rates. To achieve these goals, Trailnet will partner with residents, local government, business leaders and universities to create an extensive community engagement plan including technical workshops to help residents understand how infrastructure impacts their health and well-being. Trailnet and its partners will also develop a detailed scope of work to help the city of St. Louis plan, design, and construct easily accessible, and safe bicycle and walking routes. REGION 8 Conejos County Clean Water. Inc. (Antonito. CO) Conejos County Clean Water, Inc. and its partners seek to reduce illegal dumping in the San Luis Valley through the creation of a recycling program designed to mitigate the negative health impacts and environmental risks to residents living in the south central Colorado towns of Antonito, La Jara, Manassa, Romeo, Blanca, and San Luis. Through the development of a community action and outreach plan, Conejos will raise community awareness about the hazards of illegal dumping and teach residents proper disposal and recycling methods. The organization will also collaborate with leaders in local government to identify and inventory dumping sites, initiate cleanup efforts, and transport wastes to designated landfills for proper disposal. REGION 9 Environmental Health Coalition (San Diego. CA) The Environmental Health Coalition (EHC) will collaborate with key stakeholders in an effort to reduce air pollution in the low-income Latino neighborhood of Barrio Logan by creating a plan to implement Transportation and Land Use (TLU) policies as recommended in the Port of San Diego Climate Action Plan (CAP). The organization will host a series of seven workshops designed to engage and empower community members to address the air pollution generated by waterfront activity including toxic emissions from area shipyards. EHC will also work with local and federal government officials to analyze current policies that address air pollution, develop priorities, create strategies, and implement measures that are practical and beneficial to the community. Tolani Lake Enterprise (Navajo Nation. Northeast AZ) In an effort to address increasing chronic drought and climate change, Tolani Lake Enterprise and its partners will seek to strengthen community capacity among members of the Navajo Nation to understand and address poor water quality and to create an action plan to seek and develop alternative clean water sources. Working with local policymakers, the organization will incorporate a culturally- sensitive strategic planning process. The project will target 20 communities along the Little Colorado River Watershed that are negatively impacted by uranium contamination of surface, ground, and drinking waters. The organization will also work with Navajo Water Resources and federal agencies to test wells and other residential water sources in an effort to detect contaminants, develop a reporting system, and identify clean water sources. REGION 10 Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition (Seattle. WA) The "Duwamish Community Action for Clean Air" project seeks to address the harmful impacts of air pollution and disproportionate rates of asthma in the Duwamish Valley neighborhoods of South Park and Georgetown, which are among the lowest income and most diverse communities in Seattle. Through partnerships with the community, local government, universities, and public health agencies, Duwamish will work to mitigate negative health impacts by (1) compiling existing information about the sources of ------- diesel emissions and other air pollutants in the Duwamish Valley (2) identifying and filling data gaps with new monitoring and mapping efforts, and (3) taking action to reduce exposure to air pollutants and the frequency and severity of asthma among local residents. ------- |