Project Grant 96394301

DESCRIPTION:THIS PROJECT PROVIDES FUNDING TO JASTECH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, INC. TO IMPLEMENT ITS PROJECT, WHICH WILL DESIGN, DEMONSTRATE, AND DISSEMINATE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PRACTICES, METHODS, AND TECHNIQUES THAT WILL SERVE TO INCREASE ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND ENCOURAGE BEHAVIOR BENEFITTING THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE OVERBROOK SECTION OF PHILADELPHIA, PA. THE GRANTEE WILL DO THIS BY INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES BY PROVIDING PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WITH THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AND TO TAKE RESPONSIBLE ACTIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITY. THE OVERBROOK COMMUNITY SCIENCE (OCS) PROJECT WILL SUPPORT EPA'S PRIORITIES FOR COMMUNITY PROJECTS THAT INCREASE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE BENEFITS OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP THROUGH COMMUNITY COLLABORATION ON ISSUES OF CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY. THE OCS WILL PROVIDE RESOURCES FROM THE CITY AND STATE TO EDUCATE STAKEHOLDERS IN NON-FORMAL SETTINGS ON CAREER DEVELOPMENT, ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND SOLUTIONS, AND TEACH ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. ACTIVITIES:THIS PROJECT WILL INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN WEST AND NORTH PHILADELPHIA AND PROVIDE THESE COMMUNITIES WITH THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AND TAKE RESPONSIBLE ACTIONS. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED DURING THIS PROJECT PERIOD INCLUDES FORMING A COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD (CAB) TO IMPLEMENT A REPLICABLE PILOT PROGRAM THAT FULFILS COMMUNITY-IDENTIFIED NEEDS FOR ADAPTING TO BURDENSOME CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES. ALL PARTNERS AND SUB-AWARDEES WILL ASSIST IN THE OUTREACH AND IDENTIFICATION OF CITY-OWNED, VACANT LOTS IN THE OVERBROOK AND NORTH PHILADELPHIA SECTIONS OF PHILADELPHIA. THE OCS PLANS TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO IDENTIFY THEIR DESIRED USE AND WILL PROVIDE WORK TO REMOVE DEBRIS FROM UNDERSERVICED VACANT LOTS. FURTHERMORE, SUB-AWARDEES, ESPERANZA, IMPACT SERVICES, WYNNEFIELD OVERBROOK REVITALIZATION CORPORATION, AND PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, WILL PROVIDE COMMUNITY OUTREACH WITH THE PHILADELPHIA COMMERCE DEPARTMENT. THE OCS WILL IDENTIFY NEEDS FOR ADAPTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND MOTIVATING NEIGHBORHOOD-LEVEL ACTIONS TO OVERCOME BURDENSOME ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH EXPOSURES; SUPPORT THE INVENTORY OF VACANT LOTS; AND HELP CONVENE MEMBERS FOR THE CAB AND PARTICIPANTS FOR FOCUS GROUPS. THE OCS PLANS TO WORK WITH THESE COMMUNITIES FROM WEST AND NORTH PHILADELPHIA TO INSTALL AIR MONITORS IN APPROXIMATELY 42 HOMES.SUBRECIPIENT:THE OCS SUBAWARDEES, ESPERANZA, IMPACT SERVICES, WYNNEFIELD OVERBROOK REVITALIZATION CORPORATION AND PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY WILL PROVIDE COMMUNITY OUTREACH WITH THE PHILADELPHIA COMMERCE DEPARTMENT'S - PHILADELPHIA TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS CORRIDOR (PHL TBC) STAFF MEMBERS. THEY WILL INFORM COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON OUTCOMES OF THE PILOT TO FULFIL COMMUNITY-IDENTIFIED NEEDS FOR ADAPTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND MOTIVATING NEIGHBORHOOD-LEVEL ACTIONS TO OVERCOME BURDENSOME ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH EXPOSURES, SUPPORT THE INVENTORY OF VACANT LOTS, HELP CONVENE MEMBERS FOR THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD AND PARTICIPANTS FOR FOCUS GROUPS.OUTCOMES:IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THIS PROJECT WILL RESULT IN THE FOLLOWING DELIVERABLES: FORMING A COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CAMPAIGN PROCESS; CONDUCTING FOCUS GROUPS TO IDENTIFY KEY BEHAVIORAL TARGETS AND BETTER UNDERSTAND TARGET AUDIENCE PERCEPTIONS OF BARRIERS AND BENEFITS OF KEY BEHAVIORAL TARGETS; PERFORMING SAMPLING AND LEAD EXPOSURE RISK ANALYSIS; ASSESSING VACANT PROPERTIES IN THE SPECIFIED DISTRICTS; DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING THE COMMUNITY-BASED CAMPAIGN IN A PARTICIPATORY MANNER, UTILIZING EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES (E.G., EPA NONPOINT SOURCE OUTREACH TOOLBOX, OEEC EDUCATION PROGRAM, EPA, CDC, AND AD COUNCIL LEAD POISONING PREVENTION OUTREACH MATERIALS); AND, IMPLEMENTING A FOLLOW-UP COMMUNITY TRAINING AND ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CAMPAIGN