Project Grant 03D02924

DESCRIPTION:THIS ACTION PROVIDES FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $150,000 TO DREAM IN GREEN, INC. UNDER THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA). THE PURPOSE OF THIS AWARD IS FOR THE RECIPIENT TO DEVELOP, PLAN, AND IMPLEMENT ACTIVITIES TO EDUCATE AND PROVIDE RESOURCES TO MITIGATE THE STRESSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION AND HEALTH RISKS OF EXTREME HEAT TARGETING NEIGHBORHOODS IN HIGH HAZARD FLOOD ZONES AND FOOD DESERTS. ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE IDENTIFY AND ENGAGE ADDITIONAL PARTNERS TO ORGANIZE FORUMS TO DEVELOP, ORGANIZE, AND DISTRIBUTE RESOURCES TO DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES; DEVELOPMENT OF 'COMMUNITY CLIMATE RESILIENCE LESSONS'' FOR SCHOOLS PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EDUCATORS AND SKILLS TRAINING FOR STUDENTS; AND HOST COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS TO PROVIDE TOOLS, TREES, AND RESOURCES TO MITIGATE EXTREME HEAT HEALTH RISKS AND INCREASE TREE CANOPY IN VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. SUBRECIPIENT:CITIZENS FOR A BETTER SOUTH FLORIDA: CITIZENS ENGAGES LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS TO EDUCATE THEIR NEIGHBORS, FAMILY, AND COLLEAGUES ON PERTINENT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE SOLUTIONS OR MITIGATION TECHNIQUES. CITIZENS ACCOMPLISHES THIS THROUGH THE MAINTENANCE OF A DIVERSE BOARD, STAFF, INTERNS, AND VOLUNTEERS THAT ACT AS LIAISONS BETWEEN THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND LOCAL URBAN COMMUNITIES. DIG HAS PREVIOUSLY WORKED WITH CITIZENS TO PROVIDE WORKSHOPS ON TREE CANOPY AND NATIVE PLANTS TO RESIDENTS AND WILL CONTINUE TO UTILIZE THEIR EXPERTISE TO ADAPT FUTURE WORKSHOPS BASED ON COMMUNITY NEEDS. CITIZENS WILL RECEIVE A SUBAWARD UNDER THIS PROJECT TO COVER THE EXPENSES OF THE ROLES LISTED BELOW. ROLE: PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR WORKSHOPS SUPPORTING INCREASING TREE CANOPY AND 'RIGHT TREE, RIGHT PLACE; CO-HOST WORKSHOPS FOR RESIDENTS ON THE BENEFITS OF TREES IN TACKLING EXTREME HEAT AND STEPS THEY CAN TAKE AT HOME AND PROVIDE PLANTS FOR WORKSHOP ATTENDEES TO PLANT AT HOME TO INCREASE TREE CANOPY.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE HOSTING 3 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FORUMS TO DISSEMINATE CLIMATE SURVEYS TO GUIDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEEDED RESOURCES, CREATING, IMPLEMENTING, AND EVALUATING 10 COMMUNITY CLIMATE RESILIENCE LESSONS, AND IMPLEMENTING 6 WE-LAB WORKSHOPS ON INDIVIDUAL CLIMATE SOLUTIONS AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF TREES. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE: AN INCREASE KNOWLEDGE OF HEALTH RISKS RELATED TO EXTREME HEAT TO BOLSTER COMMUNITY RESILIENCE, ENGAGEMENT OF RESIDENTS IN INCREASING AND IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABLE BEHAVIORS; PROVING TOOLS AND SKILLS TO REDUCE FOOD INSECURITY IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, AND INCREASING TREE CANOPY IN HEAT ISLANDS AND SCHOOLS, WHILE BUILDING NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SKILLS IN SCHOOLS. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE THESE 10 COMMUNITIES: LITTLE HAITI, LITTLE HAVANA, OVERTOWN, LIBERTY CITY/BROWNSVILLE, HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA CITY, GOULDS, OPA-LOCKA, HIALEAH, MIAMI GARDENS, AND ALLAPATTAH, IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.