Project Grant 00A01435

DESCRIPTION:THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS FOR THE NEW HAVEN ECOLOGY PROJECT INC. TO FOCUS ON THE CITY OF NEW HAVEN, CT AND CREATE RESOURCES FOR USE BY OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES. THE PROPOSED PROJECT FOCUSES ON COMMON GROUND HIGH SCHOOL (CGHS) STUDENTS, 70% OF WHOM ARE NEW HAVEN RESIDENTS, 80% ARE YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND 65% ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE/REDUCED LUNCH. THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ENGAGE 225 YOUNG PEOPLE DIRECTLY AND, THROUGH THEIR EFFORTS AND LEADERSHIP, ENGAGE ADDITIONAL REGIONAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THROUGH THE JOINT OFFERING OF IMMERSIVE OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP AND SUSTAINABLE DESIGN COURSES STUDENTS AT CGHS WILL (1) DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IMPACTING THEIR LEARNING, (2) BUILD CAPACITY AND COMMITMENT AS CLIMATE CHANGE MAKERS AND LEADERS, AND (3) CONTRIBUTE IN REAL WAYS TO REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IMPACT AND CARBON EMISSION ON OUR CAMPUS. ACTIVITIES:THESE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO COMPENSATE THE SUSTAINABLE DESIGN AND OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP TEACHER FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DESIGN, OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP, AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN ACTION COURSES FOR THE STUDENTS. MOREOVER, THE FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR DOCUMENTING AND PUBLISHING SUSTAINABLE DESIGN AND OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP ENVIRONMENTAL COURSES AND STUDENT-LED CHANGE EFFORTS. LASTLY, THE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO SUPPORT AT LEAST 4 OUTDOOR OUTDOOR EXPEDITIONS FOR COMMON GROUND HIGH SCHOOL (CGHS) STUDENTS, AS PART OF THE OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP CLASS.SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED RESULTS AND DELIVERABLES FOR THIS PROJECT INCLUDE IMPROVED CAPACITY IN OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP AND INDIGENOUS, SUSTAINABLE OUTDOOR SURVIVAL AND AWARENESS SKILLS; IMPROVED UNDERSTANDING OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS AND PROBLEMS IMPACTING THE NEW HAVEN COMMUNITY; BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN LOW-INCOME MINORITY COMMUNITIES TO SEE THEMSELVES AS LEADERS AND AGENTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE; GREATER LEVELS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY ON THE COMMON GROUND HIGH SCHOOL (CGHS) CAMPUS; PRESENTATION OF DATA ON HOW TO CREATE A HEALTHIER INDOOR AND OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT AT CGHS BY STUDENTS IN THE SUSTAINABLE DESIGN COURSE; IMPROVED INSTITUTIONAL AND COMMUNITY CAPACITY TO UNDERSTAND AND SOLVE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS; IMPROVED INDOOR AIR QUALITY AND OTHER HEALTH FACTORS ON THE CGHS CAMPUS THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF STUDENT-LED PROJECTS; REDUCTION OF FOSSIL FUEL AND CARBON EMISSIONS ON CAMPUS THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF STUDENT-LED PROJECTS; SHARING REPLICABLE PROGRAMS ACROSS NEW ENGLAND TO INSPIRE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SIMILAR PROGRAMS AND INCREASE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT OF THEIR SCHOOL'S INDOOR AND OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTS; MORE SCHOOLS DEMONSTRATING CLEAN, GREEN, HEALTH SCHOOLS INITIATIVES, SUCH AS IMPLEMENTING SCHOOL-WIDE COMPOSTING EFFORTS. ALL OF THESE EXPECTED EFFORTS WITH AN ULTIMATE GOAL OF ACHIEVING THE FOLLOWING QUANTIFIABLE TARGETS: 90% OF STUDENTS WILL DEMONSTRATE INCREASED ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP CAPACITY AND INCREASED UNDERSTANDING OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AS DEMONSTRATED THROUGH COURSE MASTERY ASSIGNMENTS AND PORTFOLIO REFLECTIONS THAT DEMONSTRATE THEIR LEADERSHIP GROWTH; 4 OUTDOOR EXPEDITIONS IN LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE REGION ARE OFFERED TO 225 STUDENTS.; 4+ CONCRETE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS ON CGHS'S CAMPUS, CONTRIBUTING TO GREEN, HEALTHY SCHOOLS; 90% OF STUDENTS WILL DEMONSTRATE INCREASED ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP CAPACITY, INCREASED UNDERSTANDING OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, AND SKILLS OF SUSTAINABLE DESIGN AS DEMONSTRATED THROUGH CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT DESIGN PROJECTS AND PORTFOLIO REFLECTIONS THAT DEMONSTRATE THEIR LEADERSHIP GROWTH; MEASURABLE REDUCTION IN % OF STUDENTS WHO REPORT ALLERGIES, HEADACHES, DIFFICULTY BREATHING, ASTHMA IRRITATION, EYE STRAIN OR VISUAL PROBLEMS RESULTING FROM INDOOR ENVIRONMENTS AT CGHS THROUGH ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SURVEY; 80% OF PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS DEVELOP PLANS TO IMPLEMENT SIMILAR PROGRAMS ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS ON THEIR