West Harlem Environmental Action Inc

DESCRIPTION:THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING TO WE ACT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE TO SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS THROUGH ITS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE THRIVING COMMUNITIES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER FOR PARTICIPANTS IN EPA REGION 2. SPECIFICALLY, WE ACT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE COLLABORATIVE WILL SERVICE UNDERSERVED, RURAL AND REMOTE COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE AREAS OF NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, PUERTO RICO, THE US VIRGIN ISLANDS AND EIGHT INDIAN NATIONS. WE ACT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE COLLABORATIVE BRINGS TOGETHER ACADEMIC PARTNERS WITH CLIMATE, POLICY, REGULATORY, AND DECISIONMAKER ENGAGEMENT EXPERTISE; OUTREACH PARTNERS FROM ACROSS THE REGION, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON REACHING RURAL AND REMOTE COMMUNITIES; AND ENERGY JUSTICE TECHNICAL AND FUNDING EXPERTISE. THIS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SERVICE TO BE PROVIDED WILL INCREASE THE UNDERSERVED AND RURAL COMMUNITIES' CAPACITY TO ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY JUSTICE CONCERNS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES. ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: A SERIES OF MEETINGS, WORKSHOPS, AND WEBINARS, BOTH FACE-TO-FACE AND VIRTUAL: THE HUBS AND PARTNERS WILL ENGAGE GRASSROOT ORGANIZATIONS IN STRENGTHENING INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY. THE RECIPIENT WILL ASSIST GRASSROOT ORGANIZATIONS TO IDENTIFY ORGANIZATIONAL, AND TECHNICAL NEEDS, CREATE CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE GUIDES AND MANUALS, AND TO DEVELOP A HANDS-ON APPROACH FOR PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT FOR PARTICIPANTS IN NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, PUERTO RICO, THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS AND EIGHT INDIAN NATION.SUBRECIPIENT:WEACT WILL ISSUE SUBAWARDS UNDER THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT. SUBAWARD ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE PROJECT COORDINATION, DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS, OUTREACH ACTIVITIES, GRANTSMANSHIP AND ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY JUSTICE TRAINING. OUTCOMES:IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THIS PROJECT WILL RESULT IN THE FOLLOWING DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES: RECRUITMENT AND ENGAGEMENT OF GRASSROOT ORGANIZATIONS ANNUALLY TO STRENGTHEN THEIR INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY THROUGH TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO INCREASE THEIR CAPABILITY TO APPLY FOR AND RECEIVE GRANT FUNDING; INCREASE PROJECT PARTICIPANTS KNOWLEDGE OF GRANTSMANSHIP, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND ENERGY JUSTICE. ALSO, THE RECIPIENT WILL DEVELOP AN ONLINE RESOURCE LIBRARY. DIRECT BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE RESIDENTS LOCATED IN NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, PUERTO RICO, THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS AND EIGHT INDIAN NATIONS.

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA) TO WEST HARLEM ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION, INC. SPECIFICALLY, THE PROJECT WILL ENSURE THAT DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES' PERSPECTIVES, PRIORITIES, AND SOLUTIONS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY REPRESENTED IN NEW YORK CITY'S (NYC) ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE (EJ) PLANNING, THROUGH A CITYWIDE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PLANNING PROCESS. IN THIS PROJECT, WEST HARLEM ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION, INC AND PROJECT PARTNERS WILL CONDUCT A SERIES OF FACILITATED COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS THROUGHOUT NEIGHBORHOODS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CONCERNS ACROSS NYC'S FIVE BOROUGHS, USING THE FINDINGS OF THE EJNYC REPORT TO SET THE STAGE FOR COLLECTING COMMUNITY INPUT AND SUPPORTING COMMUNITY-LED PROJECTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE SOLUTIONS AND PRIORITIES; SYNTHESIZE COMMUNITY INPUT INTO A SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS HIGHLIGHTING BOTH CITYWIDE AND NEIGHBORHOOD-LEVEL PRIORITIES AND SOLUTION; IDENTIFY AREAS TO INTEGRATE PLANNING RECOMMENDATIONS ACROSS CITY-LED INITIATIVES; AND CARRYING OUT A CITYWIDE COMMUNICATIONS PUSH IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FINALIZATION OF THE COMMUNITY-DRIVEN RECOMMENDATIONS, IN ORDER TO RAISE COMMUNITIES' AWARENESS OF THE PROPOSED SOLUTIONS, AND CREATE STRATEGIES TO CO-DEVELOP IMPLEMENTATION PATHWAYS WITH STAKEHOLDERS. ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: (1) ASSEMBLING A CITYWIDE STEERING COMMITTEE COMPOSED OF COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS ROOTED IN NEIGHBORHOODS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CONCERNS, WHICH WILL COLLABORATE WITH MOCEJ TO ENSURE CONSENSUS ON OUR OUTREACH PLAN, METHODOLOGY FOR FACILITATION AND COMMUNITY INPUT GATHERING AND THE FINAL SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS; (2) CONDUCTING MONTHLY STEERING COMMITTEE MEETINGS TO PROVIDE OVERSIGHT AND INPUT ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND OUTREACH; (3) CONDUCTING 4-8 INPUT GATHERING SESSIONS PER BOROUGH; (4) DESIGNING FACILITATOR GUIDES AND IDEA COLLECTION PROTOCOLS FOR ALL COMMUNITY INPUT SESSIONS; (5) DEVELOPING POPULAR EDUCATION MATERIALS TO INCORPORATE INTO INPUT SESSIONS TO ENSURE COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF THE FINDINGS OF THE EJNYC REPORT; (6) CONDUCTING FACILITATOR AND NOTETAKER TRAINING WITH ALL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL BE HOSTING INPUT GATHERING SESSIONS; (7) DEVELOPING A SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE KEY FOCUS AREAS OF THE EJ PLAN; (8) CONDUCTING AT LEAST ONE 'REPORT BACK' SESSION PER BOROUGH; (9) WORKING WITH MOCEJ AND THE STEERING COMMITTEE, DEVELOP MESSAGING AND MATERIALS HIGHLIGHTING THE EJNYC REPORT, THE RECOMMENDATIONS DEVELOPED DURING THIS PROJECT, AND THE FORTHCOMING PLAN - TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THIS INITIATIVE, ITS POTENTIAL TO POSITIVELY IMPACT NEIGHBORHOODS WITH EJ CONCERNS, AND HOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN GET INVOLVED IN ENSURING ITS SUCCESS; (10) CARRYING OUT A MESSAGING CAMPAIGN TARGETING NYC EJ COMMUNITIES, EJ GROUPS AND ALLIED GROUPS, AND CITY DECISIONMAKERS ALONG WITH OTHER KEY STAKEHOLDERS; AND (11) RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THE EJNYC REPORT USING CONCISE, COMPELLING VERSIONS OF REPORT MATERIALS. SUBRECIPIENT:SUBAWARD ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: PRATT CENTER FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WILL DESIGN THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT METHODOLOGY, AND DEVELOP THE FINAL RECOMMENDATION REPORT, BOTH IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE STEERING COMMITTEE. ASSOCIATION FOR NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING DEVELOPMENT (ANHD) WILL HELP FACILITATE THE STEERING COMMITTEE (JOINTLY WITH WE ACT) AND PROVIDE SUPPORT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED ORGANIZATIONS ON HOSTING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS. BOROUGH-LEVEL OUTREACH PARTNERS ARE ANHD, NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES OF BROOKLYN, MAKE THE ROAD NEW YORK, NEIGHBORHOODS FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE, EASTERN QUEENS ALLIANCE, AND RED HOOK INITIATIVE.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE A STEERING COMMITTEE OF 10-15 CBOS CITYWIDE; AN OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PLAN; FACILITATOR GUIDES AND INPUT GATHERING PROTOCOLS TRANSLATED INTO KEY LANGUAGES THAT PREDOMINATE IN NEIGHBORHOODS WITH EJ CONCERN

PURPOSE: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE, COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONAL DIRECTED SPENDING AWARDS ARE AUTHORIZED UNDER THE CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2022 PUBLIC LAW 117-328 AND THE EXPLANATORY STATEMENT FOR DIVISION L OF THAT ACT. PROJECTS SELECTED FOR COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONAL DIRECTED SPENDING ARE LISTED IN THE JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT (JES) THAT ACCOMPANIES A SPECIFIC FISCAL YEAR’S APPROPRIATIONS ACT OR CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. THE JES LISTS PROJECT, RECIPIENT, STATE, AMOUNT AND CONGRESSIONAL SPONSOR.; ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE, COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING AWARD PROJECTS INCLUDE A WIDE VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES THAT RESULT IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OUTCOMES. HUD WILL NOT KNOW THE FULL SCOPE OF THE PROJECT UNTIL THE RECIPIENT SUBMITS THE REQUIRED PROJECT NARRATIVE AND CONFIRMS ALIGNMENT WITH THE LANGUAGE AS PROVIDED IN THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. TO FIND THE DETAILS OF THE GRANT AWARD AS WRITTEN WITHIN THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD USE THE FOLLOWING LINK AND PATH SELECTIONS TO GET TO THE DESCRIPTION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE, COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING GRANTS HTTPS://WWW.HUD.GOV/PROGRAM_OFFICES/COMM_PLANNING/EDI-GRANTS, SELECT THE FISCAL YEAR OF INTEREST, SCROLL DOWN TO PROGRAM LAWS AND REGULATIONS, UNDER FISCAL YEAR 20XX CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 20XX: CONGRESSIONAL RECORD (JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT).; EXPECTED OUTCOMES: COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT AS DESCRIBED IN THE JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT (JES) PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND SUBSEQUENT APPROVED PROJECT NARRATIVE.; INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: THE PROJECT BENEFICIARIES ARE THE INDIVIDUALS AND/OR ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE AWARDED GRANT FUNDS OR SERVED BY THE ENTITIES THAT ARE AWARDED GRANT FUNDS AS IDENTIFIED IN THE JES RECIPIENT OR PROJECT DESCRIPTION SECTIONS.; SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: THE SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES ARE UNKNOWN AT THE TIME OF AWARD.

THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES SUPPORT TO THE RECIPIENT TO ADDRESS SOLID WASTE AND PESTICIDES PROBLEMS OF THE NORTHERN MANHATTAN COMMUNITY. THE COLLABORATIV

TECHNICAL STUDIES

DEVELOP AND EVALUATE A TARGETED EDUCATION CAMPAIGN IN NORTHERN MANHATTAN AND THE SOUTH BRONX TO PROTECT WEST AFRICAN, SOUTH ASIAN, AND LATINX POPULATIONS FROM HAZARDOUS SKIN LIGHTENING PRODUCTS. - PROJECT SUMMARY (30 LINES OF TEXT): THE PROPOSED PROJECT SEEKS TO DEVELOP EVIDENCE-BASED EDUCATION MATERIALS AND CULTURALLY-SPECIFIC DISSEMINATION STRATEGIES IN ORDER TO INCREASE AWARENESS ON THE USE OF AND POTENTIAL RISKS FROM SKIN LIGHTENING PRODUCTS AMONG VULNERABLE AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. OUR PROPOSAL IS RELEVANT TO THE FDA’S MISSION OF PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENSURING THE SAFETY OF COSMETIC PRODUCTS, AND TO THE FDA OFFICE OF MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH EQUITY’S (OMHHE) COMMITMENT TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE HEALTH OF DIVERSE POPULATIONS THROUGH RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATION OF SCIENCE THAT ADDRESSES HEALTH DISPARITIES. THE PROJECT WILL DEVELOP AND TEST A COMMUNITY-BASED EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTION TARGETING SOUTH ASIAN, WEST AFRICAN AND LATINX POPULATIONS IN NORTHERN MANHATTAN AND THE SOUTH BRONX. IT WILL BE DESIGNED TO INCREASE AWARENESS ABOUT: (1) HEALTH RISKS OF HYDROQUINONE, MERCURY, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES COMMONLY FOUND IN SKIN LIGHTENERS; (2) UPSTREAM SOCIAL AND CULTURAL DRIVERS OF SKIN LIGHTENING USE, INCLUDING COLORISM; (3) STRATEGIES FOR INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE ACTION TO AVOID TOXIC EXPOSURES AND ENSURE SAFER BEAUTY PRODUCTS. THE AIMS OF THE EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTION AND SUBSEQUENT EVALUATION ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE AIMS OF THE FOA, TO: (1) BETTER UNDERSTAND PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS ABOUT SKIN LIGHTENING PRODUCTS, THROUGH DISCUSSIONS WITH CBOS AND PARTICIPANT SURVEYS, (2) IDENTIFY AND PROVIDE INFORMATION NEEDED FOR INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AND/OR TAKE ACTION, IN TERMS OF READING LABELS, AVOIDING DANGEROUS PRODUCTS, AND REPORTING BANNED PRODUCTS TO AUTHORITIES INCLUDING THE FDA, (3) AND DEVELOP KEY MESSAGES FOR COMMUNICATIONS, THOUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE EDUCATIONAL MODULE. OUR CORE TEAM AND PARTNERS, WITH DECADES OF COMBINED EXPERIENCE ENGAGING WITH DISADVANTAGED AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES ON ISSUES OF TOXIC EXPOSURES AND TOXIC COSMETICS, INCLUDING SKIN LIGHTENERS, ARE WELL-SUITED TO ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITIES AND TO DEVELOP, EVALUATE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY REFINE MESSAGING DESIGNED TO INFORM AND PROTECT WOMEN FROM TOXIC SKIN LIGHTENING PRODUCTS. WE WILL ACHIEVE THESE AIMS THROUGH THE FOLLOWING AIMS: (1) DEVELOP AN EDUCATIONAL MODULE, BASED ON THE FORMAT OF WE ACT’S EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND JUSTICE LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM (EHJLT), DESIGNED TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH STRATEGIES TO RECOGNIZE BANNED SKIN LIGHTENER PRODUCTS AND AVOID THEM AS WELL AS TO TAKE ACTION TO REPORT THEM; (2) DEVELOP A TRAIN-THE-TRAINER GUIDE TO SUPPLEMENT THE EHJLT MODULE, AND CONDUCT A TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROCESS WITH STAFF MEMBERS AT THREE SELECTED COMMUNITY GROUPS SERVING SOUTH ASIAN, WEST AFRICAN AND LATINX POPULATIONS IN NORTHERN MANHATTAN AND THE SOUTH BRONX (WITH MATERIALS TRANSLATED APPROPRIATELY FOR ALL THREE GROUPS); (3) DELIVER THE MODULE VIA THE NEWLY TRAINED CBO STAFF TO ABOUT 20 PARTICIPANTS DRAWN FROM EACH CBO’S GRASSROOTS CONSTITUENCY (60 PARTICIPANTS TOTAL); (4) EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INTERVENTION; (5) REVISE THE INTERVENTION IN RESPONSE TO PARTICIPANT FEEDBACK, AND DISSEMINATE THE MODULE AND OUR FINDINGS VIA A REPORT AND A DEDICATED LANDING PAGE ON THE WE ACT WEBSITE.

DEVELOPING AN EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY ETHICAL REVIEW MODEL

THIS RESEARCH PROJECT SEEKS TO EXPAND SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE ON BEST PRACTICES FOR THE DETECTION AND MITIGATION OF LEAD POISONING HAZARDS FROM MULTIPLE

THE PROJECT SEEKS TO ORGANIZE STAKEHOLDERS IN NORTHERN MANHATTAN NEW YORK TO DEVELOP A COMMUNITY-BASED CLIMATE CHANGE READINESS PLAN THAT WOULD ADDR

THE NYC HEALTHY HOUSING SUMMIT WILL FEATURE PLENARIES, ROUNDTABLES, WORKSHOPS AND KEYNOTES THAT WILL ENGAGE COMMUNITY GROUPS AND ADVOCATES TO LAUNCH