Project Grant 02D47223

DESCRIPTION:THIS ACTION APPROVES AN AWARD TO GROUNDWORK OHIO RIVER VALLEY IN THE AMOUNT OF $100,000 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 HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, COVINGTON, DAYTON, AND NEWPORT, KY. THE RECIPIENT WILL DO THIS BY PARTNERING WITH NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TO BUILD A CLIMATE VULNERABILITY DASHBOARD AND USE DATA COLLECTED FROM THE DASHBOARD TO GUIDE A STUDENT-LED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY CAMPAIGN WITHIN AFFECTED COMMUNITIES.ACTIVITIES:THIS PROJECT WILL INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, COVINGTON, DAYTON, AND NEWPORT, KY AND PROVIDE 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: HIRE SIX UNDERGRADUATE MAPPING INTERNS, TRAIN STUDENT INTERNS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CLIMATE VULNERABILITY DASHBOARD, COLLABORATE WITH UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS TO INTERPRET DASHBOARD INFORMATION AND CREATE COMMUNITY OUTREACH MATERIALS AND A CLIMATE COMMUNICATIONS TOOLKIT, AND HOST THREE COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS TO PRESENT DATA ON THE DASHBOARD AND CLIMATE COMMUNICATIONS TOOLKIT.SUBRECIPIENT:SUBAWARD RECIPIENTS INCLUDE GREEN UMBRELLA, RENEWPORT, NORTHERN KENTUCKY URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY COUNCIL, CITY OF DAYTON PARK BOARD, AND THE CENTER FOR GREAT NEIGHBORHOODS. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE HELPING TO RECRUIT, PLAN, AND ORGANIZE THE COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS ON CLIMATE VULNERABILITY, ORGANIZING A COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING EVENT USING CLIMATE DASHBOARD INFORMATION TO IDENTIFY PLANTING LOCATIONS, AND CONNECTING LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO COMMUNITY PRIORITIES UNEARTHED BY COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS.OUTCOMES:IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THIS PROJECT WILL RESULT IN THE FOLLOWING DELIVERABLES: CLIMATE VULNERABILITY DASHBOARD CREATED, 20-30 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS TRAINED IN EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND VISUAL COMMUNICATION METHODS, OVER 30 COMMUNITY OUTREACH MATERIALS CREATED, CLIMATE COMMUNICATIONS TOOLKIT CREATED, AND THREE COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS CONDUCTED. EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THE PROJECT INCLUDE: STRENGTHENED STUDENT AWARENESS OF CLIMATE DISPARITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY ISSUES BETWEEN BORDERING NEIGHBORHOODS; INCREASED JOB SKILLS BY STUDENTS RELATED TO COMMUNICATIONS, DATA VISUALIZATION, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT; AND DECREASE IN ENVIRONMENTAL DISPARITIES ACROSS NORTHERN KENTUCKY DUE TO TARGETED ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP EFFORTS. THIS PROJECT WILL BENEFIT HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, COVINGTON, DAYTON, AND NEWPORT, KY.