This agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to EL puente DE williamsburg, INC

Specifically, the project will facilitate the engagement of disadvantaged communities by promoting community leadership in environmental justice processes and projects through the creation of 1-2 environmental advisory boards (eabs) which represent disadvantaged community members in north brooklyn, kings county, NY. Through EL puente community change (epcc), a partnership between EL puente DE williamsburg and the new school, tishman environment and design center, a leadership development training program (ldtp) will be conducted to provide trainings for community members on the issues afflicting our neighborhoods and of top concern for residents. Trainings will prepare community members for active participation in advisory boards related to climate policies, eabs. Community members will outline a democratic process by which individuals are invited or elected to the eabs, defining term limits and community representation. Through the project, eabs will be integrated into existing district community boards to actively engage in and influence zoning and development decisions that prioritize environmental justice for disadvantaged communities. Activities:the activities to be performed include facilitating regular public workshops, seminars, focus groups, trainings, and education events for community members on the environmental justice issues affecting their neighborhood and of top concern for residents. Epcc will train community members in topics of governmental process, policy, identifying local decision-makers and avenues, and capacity-building for influencing environmental law. The activities to be performed also include facilitating the creation of 1-2 eabs that truly represent community members in CD1 and CD4 and that are integrated into community board as well as establishing a process by which land use applications, development processes, and policy impacting community and environment in CD1 and CD4 must engage the EAB(s). Finally, the project partners will document and analyze all processes and learnings to produce a robust, local case study of community-led action and mechanisms for collaborative governance in climate and environmental justice that can be adapted at other scales city- and nationwide. Subrecipient:a subaward to statutory partner the tishman center will enable them to provide technical assistance and research via staff researchers and analysts to ultimately produce an EAB case study. This will provide an important model adaptable in other neighborhoods, cities, and regions. A second subaward to newtown creek alliance will enable staff to contribute their expertise of nature based remediation to the leadership development training program (ldtp). Outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include community leadership in environmental justice processes and projects in CD1 and CD4 of brooklyn, NY, such as: improving air and water quality through monitoring and pollution reduction efforts, increasing recycling and reducing waste generation, preserving and enhancing green spaces and natural habitats, and enhancing environmental education and awareness through community outreach and education programs. The expected outcomes include increased community engagement in environmental initiatives, community-led advocacy for environmental policies at local and regional levels, improved metrics for environmental and community health and wellbeing, and racial equity in environmental benefits. Eabs will establish their own measurable goals and accountability for governance to track progress, evaluate outcomes, and demonstrate the tangible impacts of environmental justice for stakeholders and the broader community. EL puente anticipates eabs to be organized in months 7-9 of year 1 and integrated into local community boards in months 1-3 of year 2. Years 2 and 3 will see the development