Project Grant 02F50201

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA) TO MICAH SIX EIGHT MISSION. THE RECIPIENT WILL ENGAGE LOW-INCOME AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN CAMERON AND CALCASIEU PARISHES THAT BEAR THE BURDEN OF DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACTS OF POLLUTION FROM THE HEAVY PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA AND ARE ALSO EXTREMELY VULNERABLE TO CLIMATE CHANGE. IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, CHURCHES, ACADEMIC EXPERTS, LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND NATIONAL NONPROFITS, THIS PROJECT WILL CARRY OUT A CAPACITY BUILDING PROJECT ON AIR AND WATER POLLUTION AND THEIR RELATED HEALTH IMPACTS AND LINKS TO CLIMATE CHANGE. IT WILL GATHER EXISTING DATA ON POLLUTION, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND COLLECT FURTHER DATA USING AIR POLLUTION MONITORS THAT HAVE BEEN INSTALLED BY THE GRANTEE. THE RESULTS OF A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS, DOOR-TO-DOOR OUTREACH, AND DISTRIBUTION OF EVIDENCE-BASED EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS WILL INFORM A FINAL ACTION PLAN, WHICH WILL DETAIL THE STEPS THAT MUST BE TAKEN TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY NEEDS..ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE IDENTIFYING AND SUPPORTING EXISTING AND POTENTIAL LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY, EQUIPPING THE LEADERS WITH THE TECHNOLOGY AND SUPPORT NEEDED FOR THEM CONTRIBUTE FULLY TO THE PROJECT; UNDERTAKING MAPPING AND DATA ANALYSIS; REVIEWING RELEVANT PROJECTS AND PLANS BEING UNDERTAKEN BY OTHER STAKEHOLDERS; EDUCATING RESIDENTS ABOUT AIR AND WATER POLLUTION PROBLEMS; HOSTING TWO WORKSHOPS TO ENGAGE RESIDENTS IN THE AREA; USING THESE WORKSHOPS TO IDENTIFY THEIR AIR AND WATER POLLUTION CONCERNS AND TO SHAPE GOALS, VISION AND PLAN OF ACTION FOR ADDRESSING THEM; AND FORMULATING VIABLE STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS AND RESOLVE THE IDENTIFIED CONCERNS.SUBRECIPIENT:EVERGREEN MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH WILL SUPPORT THIS PROJECT BY IDENTIFYING COMMUNITY LEADERS; AND HOSTING MEETINGS, WORKSHOPS, AND PRESENTATIONS. HABITAT RECOVERY WILL SUPPORT MICAH SIX EIGHT MISSION BY IDENTIFYING COMMUNITY LEADERS IN CAMERON PARISH, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS; ENGAGING RESIDENTS THROUGH DOOR-TO-DOOR OUTREACH/SOCIAL MEDIA/PHONE CALLS AND PARTICIPATING IN WORKSHOPS; PROVIDING INPUT ON BROCHURES, SUMMARY REPORTS, AND FINAL ACTION PLAN.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE IDENTIFICATION OF COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT OVER THE DURATION OF THE PROJECT; LIST OF STAKEHOLDERS INTERESTED IN CONTRIBUTING KNOWLEDGE OR EXPERTISE TO THE PROJECT; FIVE COMMUNITY LEADERS ARE EQUIPPED AND TRAINED TO USE TECHNOLOGY - IPADS, HOT-SPOTS, AND ZOOM FOR VIRTUAL MEETINGS; SUBMISSION OF QMP AND QAPP TO EPA FOR APPROVAL; FORMALIZED PROJECT STEERING GROUP; MEETING MINUTES AND SIGN-IN SHEETS; COPIES OF ALL RESOURCES AND MATERIALS USED DURING THE PROJECT; LIST OF RELEVANT PLANS, AND SUMMARY OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PLANS TO THE PROJECT; DATA GATHERED AND ANALYZED; MAPS CREATED; BROCHURES SUMMARIZING THE MAIN AIR AND WATER POLLUTION ISSUES RELEVANT TO THE COMMUNITIES; LIST OF RESIDENTS INTERESTED IN ENGAGING IN THE PROJECT AND INITIAL UNDERSTANDING OF RESIDENT' MAIN CHALLENGES AND NEEDS; UNDERSTANDING OF RESIDENTS' GOALS, VISION, AND PLAN OF ACTION; PRESENTATIONS AT CONFERENCES AND WEBINARS AND; FINAL REPORT/ACTION PLAN AND BROCHURES BASED ON THE ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNITY NEEDS THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE 5 COMMUNITY LEADERS EQUIPPED, TRAINED AND READY TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION; 100 RESIDENTS REACHED THROUGH DOOR-TO-DOOR OUTREACH/SOCIAL MEDIA MESSAGES/PHONE CALLS; 50 RESIDENTS PROVIDE SUPPORT AND INPUT THROUGH THE WORKSHOPS; 40 NATIONAL CBOS LEARNING FROM THE PROJECT; 2 GOVT. PARTNERS, 1 LOCAL NON-PROFIT AND 1 UNIVERSITY STAKEHOLDERS PARTICIPATING IN EFFORTS TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY ISSUES AND; 20 OF NATIONAL STAKEHOLDERS LEARNING ABOUT PROJECT. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN CAMERON AND CALCASIEU PARISHES IN LOUISIANA.