The purpose of this american rescue plan funded grant is to ensure a healthy and resilient rockaway by creating shore corps - an internship program to engage the community youth in learning about…

The Environmental Protection Agency Region 2 awarded a $244,428 Project Grant to the Rockaway Waterfront Alliance, Inc. doing business as Rise Rockaway Initiative For Sustainability & Equity under the Environmental Justice Small Grant Program (CFDA 66.604). The grant will fund the Shore Corps internship program to train 40 local youth in environmental conservation and leadership skills through hands-on projects stabilizing coastal dunes and restoring trees and beaches in the Arverne neighborhood of Queens, New York from March 1, 2022 to February 28, 2023. Interns will help plant 20,000 grass sprigs and 140 bushes to reduce erosion along two miles of dune systems. They will also provide COVID-19 vaccination and climate change outreach to 400 local residents through community events and social media. The program aims to improve long-term emergency preparedness and environmental justice in underserved communities of color on the Rockaway Peninsula through workforce development and civic engagement activities.

The purpose of this american rescue plan funded grant is to ensure a healthy and resilient rockaway by creating shore corps - an internship program to engage the community youth in learning about stewardship and environmental conservation projects. Shore corps is a paid 'green' internship opportunity for high schoolers to gain hands-on experience through tree maintenance, organized beach clean UPS, and dune restoration, alongside critical workforce and leadership training, to protect and sustain the rockaway peninsula. Through this program, students will learn about environmental career paths and build their professional networks through mentors in environmental and conservation related fields. The planned activities also aim to bring the community closer together through community-driven participation to not only involve the youth of the community but also their family, friends, and neighbors. Additionally, the program will also incorporate vaccine education to tackle the urgent health disparities in the local community, in particular raising awareness about the safety and effectiveness of covid-19 vaccine to the community. CAA 103(b)(3): people with moderate-to-severe or uncontrolled asthma are more likely to be hospitalized from covid-19. Air pollution may contribute to asthma. By addressing air pollution in CAA 103(b)(3) projects, the chances of severe illness from covid-19 are reduced. Activities:there will be outreach performed through flyers at local schools, social media, and rise's e-newsletter to recruit students into the internship program. Once selected, student interns will participate in hands-on projects to hone their academic and critical thinking skills alongside professional mentors in stem-related fields. They will work on conservation projects including dune restoration, tree maintenance, and beach clean UPS. From these projects, interns will learn about root network and sand erosion, plant bushes, and engage with the local community on their work. Students will provide outreach to inform the community about covid-19 and vaccines which will consist of in-person outreach at events and through social media in multiple languages to reach the whole community. In addition to hands-on trainings, students will participate in professional trainings to hone their soft skills which includes interview prep and awareness of time like punctuality, attendance, and meeting deadlines. The students will also get support for college application process and will tour some of the local colleges in NYC. There will be a one-day conference at the end of the program for the student, local community members and stakeholders, and partners. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:expected program outcomes are to: 1) train 40 local youth in environmental conservation and leadership; 2) engage at least 400 local residents in 4 plantings and cleanups; 3) stabilize 2 miles of dune systems along the atlantic ocean through the planting of 20,000 sprigs of grasses and 140 bushes to better withstand wave action, storms, and erosion; 4) increase long-term emergency preparedness, climate change awareness, and covid-19 vaccination education and access for local residents through targeted outreach and a one-day community conference. The program will end with a one-day mini-conference with at least 75 attendees in august of 2022. The intended beneficiaries are the residents of the rockaway peninsula in queens, new york but will target the predominantly very low to moderate income communities of color on the eastern end of the peninsula.