Project Grant 00A01148

DESCRIPTION:THE PURPOSE OF THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IS TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO MYSTIC RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION TO CONDUCT THEIR MYSTIC WICKED COOL AMBASSADORS PROGRAM. THESE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO CONDUCT MEANINGFULLY ENGAGE WITH CHELSEA, EVERETT, AND MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS TO ADDRESS CLIMATE IMPACTS IN THEIR COMMUNITIESMDASH;WITH A FOCUS ON HEATMDASH;WHICH POSES THE GREATEST PUBLIC HEALTH RISK. THIS EFFORT WILL HELP BUILD CAPACITY AND KNOWLEDGE FROM AREA RESIDENTS ABOUT THE PUBLIC HEALTH RISKS, AND WHAT THEY CAN DO TO PROTECT THEIR COMMUNITIES IN THE SHORT-TERM AND IN THE LONG-TERM. ACTIVITIES:THROUGH THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT MYSTIC RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION (MYRWA) WILL RECRUIT AND SUPPORT 12 AMBASSADORSMDASH;FOUR FROM EACH OF THE COMMUNITIESMDASH;TO GATHER COMMENTS AND CONCERNS FROM THE BROADER COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS TO HELP TO IDENTIFY STRATEGIES TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY AND TO DEVELOP LONG TERM INTERVENTION STRATEGIES. THROUGH MATERIALS TRANSLATIONS MYRWA WILL ENSURE THAT THEY REACH A WIDE ENGAGEMENT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH DOOR-TO- DOOR KNOCKING AND ATTENDANCE AT EVENTS ETC. AND ENSURE LOCALIZED COOLING SOLUTIONS ARE SEEDED BY RESIDENTS AND OTHER MYRWA ACTIVITIES ARE LED WITH RESIDENT INPUT.SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES ARE: - 12 CLIMATE AMBASSADORS (4 IN EACH OF THE COMMUNITIES) MEETING MONTHLY - 1,000 RESIDENTS REACHED THROUGH DIRECT OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT - PARTICIPATION IN AT LEAST 50 COMMUNITY EVENTS - A REPORT ON DATA COLLECTED ON HOW RESIDENTS EXPERIENCE HEAT; WHAT INTERVENTIONS RESIDENTS WOULD LIKE TO SEE; AND WHAT INFORMATION RESIDENTS WILL LIKE TO LEARN ABOUT CLIMATE IMPACTS COMPLETED AND PRESENTED TO MYRWA STAFF, THE RESILIENT MYSTIC COLLABORATIVE AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES. - 3 RECOMMENDATIONS ON INTERVENTIONS BY RESIDENTS ACTED ON BY MYRWA THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE: - RESIDENTS IN FRONTLINE CLIMATE JUSTICE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES ARE AWARE OF HEAT IMPACTS TO HEALTH, AND ARE ACTIVELY LEADING INTERVENTION STRATEGIES - PROJECTS RELATED TO COOLING, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE ARE SEEDED BY RESIDENTS, AND THEIR VOICES ARE CENTERED THROUGHOUT THE LONG-TERM OUTCOMES WILL BE RESIDENT- LED CLIMATE INTERVENTIONSMDASH;WITH A FOCUS ON MITIGATING HEAT TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH OF THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. THIS TWO YEAR COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WILL BUILD THE CAPACITY OF RESIDENTS TOWARD THIS END. DIRECT BENEFICIARIES OF THESE ACTIVITIES ARE THE RESIDENTS OF CHELSEA, EVERETT, AND MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS.