Project Grant 00A01520

DESCRIPTION:THIS PROJECT PROVIDES FUNDING TO IPSWICH RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION TO IMPLEMENT ITS PROJECT, WHICH WILL DESIGN, DEMONSTRATE, AND DISSEMINATE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PRACTICES, METHODS, AND TECHNIQUES, THAT WILL SERVE TO INCREASE ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND ENCOURAGE BEHAVIOR THAT WILL BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT IN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE PART OF THE IPSWICH RIVER WATERSHED OR DRINK IPSWICH RIVER WATER, AND IN OTHER NEARBY COMMUNITIES IN ESSEX AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, INCLUDING PEABODY, SALEM, LYNN, LAWRENCE, AND GLOUCESTER IDENTIFIED AS HAVING EJ COMMUNITIES BY THE CLIMATE AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE SCREENING TOOL. THE GRANTEE WILL DO THIS BY CREATING AN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PIPELINE IN IPSWICH RIVER COMMUNITIES THAT 1) ENSURES YOUTH WITH LESS ACCESS TO NATURE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY AND APPRECIATE THEIR DRINKING WATER RESOURCE THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING AND ARE SUPPORTED BY COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS WHO RECEIVE THEIR OWN TRAINING ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, WATER CONSERVATION, AND INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE (TEK) THAT INFORMS RESILIENCY PLANNING IN THE IPSWICH RIVER WATERSHED; 2) PROVIDES A 7TH GRADE WATERSHED EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT USE LOCAL EXAMPLES AND PROJECTS TO HELP STUDENTS MAKE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN 7TH GRADE SCIENCE STANDARDS AND THEIR COMMUNITY; AND 3) DELIVERS AN EXPANSION OF THE CURRENT INTERNSHIP MODEL THAT FACILITATES CAREER EXPLORATION FOR DISADVANTAGED YOUTH, ENSURING THAT YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ALREADY HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE ENVIRONMENT ARE EMPOWERED TO TAKE ACTION. ACTIVITIES:THIS PROJECT WILL INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: IPSWICH, SALEM, BEVERLY, PEABODY, LYNN, DANVERS, NORTH READING, READING, NORTH ANDOVER, ANDOVER, WILMINGTON, LAWRENCE, AND GLOUCESTER MA AND PROVIDE 7TH GRADE STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AND TO TAKE RESPONSIBLE ACTIONS. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED DURING THIS PROJECT PERIOD INCLUDE: - WORKING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO MONITOR WATER QUALITY IN THE IPSWICH RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES, THROUGH IN-CLASS AND FIELD STUDY PROGRAM FOR 7TH GRADE STUDENTS TESTING WATER SAMPLES - EDUCATING COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL AGES OF THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER CONSERVATION TO HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IN THE IPSWICH RIVER WATERSHED THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL PROGRAMMING ON AND OFF THE IPSWICH RIVER - REMOVING BARRIERS TO FLOW, RESTORING WETLANDS, ETC. BY INCLUDING COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN PROACTIVE PREVENTION OF FUTURE WATER QUALITY AND HUMAN HEALTH ISSUES THROUGH RESILIENCY PROJECTS - EXPLORING WATERSHED-WIDE RESILIENCE STRATEGIES, INCLUDING THOSE THAT INCORPORATE INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE (TEK), IN THE GREAT MARSH AND IPSWICH RIVER WATERSHED THAT REDUCE OUR COASTAL COMMUNITIES' VULNERABILITY TO FUTURE FLOODING AND SEA-LEVEL RISE AND INLAND COMMUNITIES' VULNERABILITY TO EXTREME DROUGHT CONDITIONS WHICH STRESS THE IPSWICH RIVER. SUBRECIPIENT:TEN TO TWELVE SUBAWARDS WILL BE GRANTED TO ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS PARTICIPATING IN THE FLOATING CLASSROOM. FUNDS MAY BE USED FOR TRANSPORTATION TO THE RIVER AS WELL AS COMMUNITY PROJECTS LIKE PLANTING NATIVE SPECIES, PAINTING STORM DRAINS, OR OTHER APPROVED COMMUNITY-LED PROJECTS. IRWA WORKS WITH MANY YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS AND PLANS TO MAKE ANY ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS SUBRECIPIENTS OF THE EPA EE GRANT. IRWA WILL DETERMINE SUBRECIPIENTS BASED ON WHETHER THE ORGANIZATIONS PRIMARILY SERVE COMMUNITIES LIVING IN THE IPSWICH RIVER WATERSHED OR COMMUNITIES THAT DRINK IPSWICH RIVER WATER, WHETHER THE ORGANIZATIONS' WORK UPLIFTS AND SERVES A) AT-RISK YOUTH, B) COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, C) RECENT ARRIVALS TO THE US, D) MARGINALIZED GROUPS, E) ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES, AND WHETHER THE ORGANIZATIONS DEMONSTRATE A CAPACITY TO IMPLEMENT EE ACTIVITIES WITH THE SUPPORT OF IRWA WITHIN THE GRANT TIMELINE. BASED ON THESE CRITERIA AND THE SUCCESS OF PAST COLLABORATIONS, POTENTIAL SUBAWARDEES FOR THIS PROJECT INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: GROUNDWORK LAWRENCE, PATHWAYS F