Project Grant 96214024

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA) TO THE NEW JERSEY ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ALLIANCE. THIS AGREEMENT SUPPORTS THE RECIPIENT'S PROJECT TO ESTABLISH THE NEW JERSEY EJ EDUCATION COLLABORATIVE. THE PROJECT AIMS TO PROVIDE TRAINING IN EJ AND ENHANCE THE CAPACITY OF EJ COMMUNITIES, EMPOWERING RESIDENTS TO ENGAGE IN PUBLIC DISCOURSE ON ISSUES AFFECTING THEM. THROUGH THE PROJECT, RESIDENTS WILL BE EDUCATED ON HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR COMMUNITY'S BEST INTERESTS IN DISCUSSIONS WITH GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE ENTITIES REGARDING SITING, PERMITTING AND OTHER DECISIONS AFFECTING THEIR ENVIRONMENT. THESE COMMUNITIES ARE HISTORICALLY DIFFICULT TO REACH, ENGAGE AND ORGANIZE, WHICH IS WHY GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS ARE CRITICAL TO THIS MISSION. THE NJ EJ LAW REQUIRES ENHANCED PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT FOR RESIDENTS IN EJ COMMUNITIES, ALLOWING THEM TO DEMONSTRATE LOCAL IMPACT AND HAVE PERMITS DENIED. THIS HAS ACCELERATED THE NEED TO TRAIN EJ COMMUNITIES SO THEY CAN EFFECTIVELY INFLUENCE THIS DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. THE NJ EJ EDUCATION COLLABORATIVE WILL ADDRESS THESE ISSUES BY THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NJ-SPECIFIC HUB-AND-SPOKE OUTREACH NETWORK TO COMMUNITY ADULTS AND YOUTH. IT WILL CREATE AND PROVIDE EJ BASIC INFORMATION ON ISSUES SUCH AS AIR QUALITY, WATER QUALITY, TOXINS, SOLID WASTE AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES EFFECTING HUMAN HEALTH AND PROVIDE A BLUEPRINT FOR NAVIGATING GOVERNMENTAL PROCESSES. THIS WILL HELP DEMYSTIFY THE CORE ISSUES FOR PARTICIPANTS AND GIVE THEM SKILLS TO SUBSTANTIVELY PROMOTE THEIR COMMUNITY'S INTERESTS. THIS COMPLEMENTS THE EPA WE ACT TCTAC GRANT IN WHICH NJEJA IS A PARTNER AND EXTENDS ITS CAPACITY WITH DEEPER OUTREACH TO VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED INCLUDE IDENTIFYING 4-5 ADDITIONAL ORGANIZATIONS PER GEOGRAPHIC AREA TO JOIN ONE OF SEVERAL EJ HUBS FOR THE NJ EJ EDUCATION COLLABORATIVE. DIGITAL AND PHYSICAL OUTREACH MATERIALS WILL BE CREATED, PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS WILL HOLD INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS, AND THE PROJECT WILL COORDINATE WITH TCTACS. QUARTERLY HUB MEETINGS WILL BE CONVENED WITH REGIONAL HUB LEADERS. OTHER ACTIVITIES INCLUDE DEVELOPING COMMUNICATIONS TIMELINES, CREATING A CREDENTIAL MODEL (CEUS) FOR PARTICIPANTS, PLANNING A YOUTH CONTENT ADVISORY GROUP, TRACKING FINANCIAL AND NON-FINANCIAL DATA, AND ORGANIZING THE SUMMER AT KEAN PROGRAM FOR STUDENT ENGAGEMENT. NJDEP WILL REFINE THE CURRICULUM AND PLAN TO INCORPORATE ITS SUMMER YOUTH INCLUSION PROGRAM INTO MODULES. NJDEP WILL ALSO RETOOL EDUCATIONAL CONTENT AND PILOT THE CURRICULUM WITH A HUB LEADER SEMINAR. THE PROJECT WILL BE OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND ON INDIVIDUAL HUB LEADERS' WEBSITES, WITH PARTICIPANT GROUPS HIGHLIGHTED THROUGH AN ONGOING SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN. THE COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER WILL FILM EACH MODULE, HUB LEADERS WILL SOLICIT FEEDBACK FROM PARTICIPANTS, AND FINDINGS WILL BE CONSULTED WITH HUB LEADERS. ADDITIONALLY, EJ SEMINARS WILL BE CONVENED.SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:EXPECTED OUTCOMES AND OUTPUTS ARE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NJ-SPECIFIC HUB-AND-SPOKE OUTREACH NETWORK, THE NJ EJ COLLABORATIVE. IT WILL CREATE AND PROVIDE TO THE PUBLIC EJ INFORMATION AND A BLUEPRINT FOR NAVIGATING GOVERNMENTAL PROCESS. THE PROJECT WILL RESULT IN AN EXPANDED STATEWIDE NETWORK OF EJ GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS FROM OBCS WHO ARE AWARE OF AND ADEPT AT HOW TO ENGAGE ON NJ ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES. SPECIFICALLY, THE NJ EJ COLLABORATIVE WILL RESULT IN A) 3-6 ORGANIZATIONS PER HUB- FOR A TOTAL OF 10 MEMBERS PER HUB, B) FOUR EJ TOURS/ FOUR SEMINARS, C) 15 - 40 INDIVIDUALS WILL COMPLETE ONE CURRICULUM MODULE, D) 1-40 INDIVIDUALS WHO COMPLETE THE FULL CURRICULUM AND GRADUATE/ARE CERTIFIED, AND E) 1-10 INDIVIDUALS FROM EACH REGIONAL HUB WHO HAVE COMPLETED AT LEAST ONE CURRICULUM MODULE. DIRECT BENEFICIARIES FOR THIS PROJECT ARE STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS OF OBC IN THE ST