This action approves an award in the amount of $3,103,648.00 under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to MDC INC

Specifically, the project will enhance the ability, skills, and connections of latines to participate in government decisions; create engagement mechanisms that support two-way communication channels between community members and government decision-makers to ensure that community needs inform decision-making processes and public information sharing and analyze and synthesize empirical data regarding the impact of climate disasters in latine communities in duplin and surrounding counties.activities:the activities to be performed include the following: education and capacity building: 6 day-long trainings on climate change and environmental justice, community organizing, and advocacy for 30 staff and constituents of grassroots community-based organizations (cbos) per year and policy campaign coordination for environmental justice engagement between black and brown organizations; facilitate assessment of a train-the-trainer model for future workshops and possible peer networks agreement. Research: report evaluating the levels and mechanisms for inclusion of latines in official emergency management and hazard mitigation plans for selected eastern NC counties and report identifying administrative and legislative policy opportunities to increase inclusion in public processes and equity in environmental justice outcomes present findings at state and national conference; inclusion and advocacy: conduct engagement campaign matchmaking between advisory bodies and community members, presentations to relevant boards (governor's environmental justice advisory board, north carolina rural summit, funders' networks). Subrecipient:activities to be implemented through subawards include but are not limited to the following: identify and provide technical assistance to community-based organizations and their community members; conduct competitive procurement process and contract with specialized environmental justice academy facilitators: develop environmental justice academy curriculum out of existing work, in partnership with specialized contracted facilitators; organize and convene learning cohort sessions contracted facilitators; and lead research partnerships. Outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include but are not limited to recruitment of community leaders by cbos, delivery of environmental justice academy, organizational capacity building trainings for cbos, power mapping, relationship brokering: board application support, facilitated power share spaces, focus groups, research report on levels/mechanisms of inclusion, geospatial database development and maintenance, development of community-led equity action plans, assessment of train-the-trainer model, outreach to black-led environmental justice cbos, presentation of findings state/national conference, quarterly project leadership/accountability meetings. The expected outcomes include: increased knowledge and changed attitudes measured using pre/post testing and/or interviews with workshop participants: climate change and environmental justice, local emergency planning, and organizing and advocacy skills; community members become more involved with government decisions that affect their communities through increased involvement of latine-led cbos in public comment periods and invited presentation; stronger relationships and trust between disadvantaged communities and government entities on matters relating to environmental protection documented through improved emergency plans and practices to better serve latine communities; multiracial and multigenerational coalition of advocates working to improve environmental justice issues in eastern north carolina. The intended beneficiaries are disadvantaged communities.