Cooperative Agreement 95337701

DESCRIPTION:THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING TO PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION (DEP). SPECIFICALLY, THE RECIPIENT AIMS TO ENGAGE EJ COMMUNITIES BY INCREASING STRATEGIC COMMUNITY EDUCATION, OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT AND CAPACITY BUILDING THROUGH INTENTIONAL ACTION. DEP AIMS TO CREATE AN EXPANDABLE, MANAGEABLE, AND SUSTAINABLE PROGRAM THAT WILL ENGAGE COMMUNITIES TO BETTER UNDERSTAND ISSUES BEFORE THERE IS AN EVENT OF CONCERN AND PROVIDE COMMUNITIES WITH THE NECESSARY TOOLS TO ADDRESS ISSUES IN ADVANCE OF A CRISIS. ACTIVITIES:DEP AIMS TO IDENTIFY COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS (CBOS) TO FUND AND USE THEIR EXISTING NETWORKS TO CONVENE STAKEHOLDERS AND RESIDENTS WITH DEP STAFF AND OTHER PARTNERS. CBOS WILL PARTICIPATE IN AN EDUCATIONAL SERIES AND IMPLEMENT HANDS-ON, COMMUNITY-DRIVEN ACTIVITIES. THE PROGRAM ALSO CREATES A COHORT MODEL, WHERE CBOS WILL WORK COOPERATIVELY AND LEARN FROM EACH OTHER. SUBRECIPIENT:EACH OF THE 12 COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS WILL HOST 3 EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS. THE WORKSHOPS WILL BE AS FOLLOWS: SESSION 1 INTRO TO ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES, ACTORS, AND COMMUNITY, SESSION 2 THE DEP PERMITTING PROCESS: WHAT TO EXPECT, HOW TO BETTER ADVOCATE, AND SESSION 3 FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES: GOVERNMENT GRANTS, PHILANTHROPY, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. EACH CBO WILL ORGANIZE AT LEAST ONE HANDS-ON, GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY EVENT. THIS SHOULD BE THE FOCUS FOR A TANGIBLE PROJECT OUTCOME IN THE FORM OF A HANDS-ON, COMMUNITY-DRIVEN ACTIVITY, SUCH AS CLEAN-UPS, SITE MONITORING AND ENFORCEMENT, COMMUNITY FAIR OR OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT MAY BE SPECIFIC TO THE SPECIFIC COMMUNITY. FINALLY, AFTER COMPLETING THE EDUCATIONAL SERIES AND COMMUNITY-DRIVEN ACTIVITY, EACH GRANTEE WILL PARTICIPATE IN A CONVENING WITH OTHER GRANTEES IN ORDER TO SHOWCASE PROJECT OUTCOMES, SHARE BEST PRACTICES, AND FOSTER COLLABORATION AMONG CBOS AND STAKEHOLDERS. OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE FUNDING TO 12 CBOS TO HOST A THREE-SESSION EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP SERIES. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE EACH CBO WILL HOST SESSION 1. INTRO TO ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: ISSUES, ACTORS, AND COMMUNITY; SESSION 2. THE DEP PERMITTING PROCESS: WHAT TO EXPECT, HOW TO BETTER ADVOCATE; SESSION 3. FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES: GOVERNMENT GRANTS, PHILANTHROPY, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE CBOS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH THAT WILL BE EMPOWERED WITH THE BASICS OF WHAT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IS. THESE INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY OTHERS WHERE CBOS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL BE TRAINED ON HOW THE DEP PERMITTING PROCESS WORKS AND HOW TO IDENTIFY LONG-TERM FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO SECURE SUSTAINABILITY FOR SIMILAR PROJECTS.