Project Grant 95311901

DESCRIPTION:THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT PROVIDES THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT'S (DOEE) AIR QUALITY DIVISION FUNDING TO ESTABLISH A SHARED GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE TO PUT AIR QUALITY DATA AND DECISION MAKING IN THE HANDS OF COMMUNITIES WITH TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FROM THE AGENCY. DCDOEE WILL ACHIEVE THIS BY INSTALLING THREE NEW AIR QUALITY MONITORS IN OVERBURDENED COMMUNITIES TO MONITOR PM2.5 AND OZONE, EMPOWER FAMILIES LIVING IN NEIGHBORHOODS HISTORICALLY OVERBURDENED BY AIR QUALITY TO SHARE THEIR STORIES OF ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WITH AIR QUALITY IN THEIR ENVIRONMENTS, AND MAP BOTH NEW DATA SOURCES (ALONG WITH EXISTING AIR QUALITY DATA) IN AN ONLINE TOOL. DOEE WILL WORK WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO CREATE AN AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND MAKE FINAL DECISIONS ABOUT THE ONLINE TOOL, COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT, AND THE LOCATION FOR AIR QUALITY SENSORS. ACTIVITIES:THESE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY AND LOCAL EFFORTS TO MONITOR THEIR OWN AIR QUALITY AND TO PROMOTE AIR QUALITY MONITORING PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN COMMUNITIES AND TRIBAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT: LEVERAGE EXISTING AIR QUALITY EXPERTISE, EXPAND USE OF COMMUNITY MONITORING GROUPS AND OTHER APPROACHES THAT GIVE THE COMMUNITY A VOICE IN THE MONITORING OF THE AIR QUALITY, AND BUILD A FOUNDATION OF TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS AND ENHANCED UNDERSTANDING FROM WHICH SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS TO COMMUNITY AIR POLLUTION PROBLEMS CAN BE FOUND. SPECIFICALLY, THE RECIPIENT WILL INCLUDE ESTABLISHING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, CREATING AN ONLINE MAPPING TOOL FOR THE COMMUNITY TO UTILIZE, INSTALLING, AND MAINTAINING THREE, BRAND NEW AIR QUALITY MONITORS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, AND UPDATING THEIR EJ SCREENING TOOL.SUBRECIPIENT: STORY TELLING SUPPORT. A SUBGRANTEE WILL DEVELOP AND DELIVER WORKSHOPS TO DC RESIDENTS TO AID THEM IN RECALLING AND TELLING THEIR STORIES ON FILM ($8,000 TO DEVELOP AND STAFF WORKSHOPS). THE SUBGRANTEE WILL ALSO GATHER ARCHIVAL ASSETS FROM RESIDENTS AND FROM HISTORICAL ARCHIVES. THE SUBGRANTEE WILL EDIT AND CATALOG VIDEOS SO THAT DOEE CAN USE THEM IN THE AIR QUALITY DATA DASHBOARD ($8,000). THE SERIES OF SHORT VIDEOS WILL BE SHOWN USING THE DC HUMANITIES TRUCK ($11,000). THE VIDEO SERIES WILL BE EDITED AND COMPILED INTO A SHORT FILM ($9,000 FOR EDITING/POST-PRODUCTION, $4,000 FOR OUTREACH (SUPPLIES AND ADVERTISEMENTS)). ANTICIPATED AWARD: $40,000 - AQAB MEMBERS. WE PLAN TO ISSUE A SUB-GRANT TO AN ORGANIZATION TO COORDINATE THE AQAB UP TO 15 AQAB MEMBERS WITH SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH DC EJ COMMUNITIES. THE MEMBERS WOULD GUIDE THE WORK THROUGH AN EJ LENS, HELPING DOEE AND OTHER PARTNERS IDENTIFY POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS AND BE SENSITIVE TO INTERSECTIONAL HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY ISSUES. ADDITIONALLY, THESE MEMBERS WOULD HELP DEVELOP EVALUATION METRICS FOR THE PROJECT, DEVELOP A LONG-TERM PLAN TO CARRY THE PROJECT INTO THE NEXT PHASE AND HELP DISSEMINATE PROJECT RESULTS. ANTICIPATED AWARD: $41,246.OUTCOMES:EXPECTED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE PURCHASING CONTINUOUS PM2.5 MONITORS TO OVERBURDENED COMMUNITIES. SHORT TERM EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE FULL AUTOMATION OF PM2.5 MONITORS WHICH WILL PROVIDE ALL COMMUNITIES FINE PARTICULATE DATA OF THE SAME QUALITY AND ALLOW THEM TO COMPARE CONTINUOUS DATA STREAMS IN NEARBY AREAS AND OPERATION OF PM2.5 OR OTHER NAAQS POLLUTANTS AIR MONITORING IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL EPA REQUIREMENTS LEADING TO COLLECTION OF QUALITY ASSURED AMBIENT AIR QUALITY DATA TO HELP ENSURE THAT MORE AMERICANS ARE LIVING AND WORKING IN AREAS THAT MEET HIGH AIR QUALITY STANDARDS. LONG TERM OUTCOMES INCLUDE INCREASED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, CHANGES IN HEALTH POLICIES AND REGULATIONS, AND ALIGNING COMMUNITY EXPERIENCES WITH REGULATION. DIRECT BENEFICIARIES OF THESE ACTIVITIES ARE COMMUNITY RESIDENTS WHO WILL HAVE DECREASED RISK OF ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS, INCLUDING CANCER AND NEUROLOGICAL EFFECTS,