Transaction Description:
DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA) TO BRONX RIVER ALLIANCE, INC. SPECIFICALLY, THE PROJECT WILL ESTABLISH A BRONX CLIMATE JUSTICE TASK FORCE COMPOSED OF 10 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO AMPLIFY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY VOICES IN CLIMATE RESILIENCE PLANNING. THE PROJECT WILL SYNTHESIZE EXISTING HABITAT RESTORATION PLANS, PRIORITIZE CLIMATE RESILIENCE PROJECTS, ENGAGE WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND DEVELOP EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS TO FACILITATE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL DECISION-MAKING. THROUGH QUARTERLY TASK FORCE MEETINGS, THE CREATION OF A UNIFIED VALUE STATEMENT, AND AT LEAST 24 PUBLIC EVENTS REACHING APPROXIMATELY 2,400 PEOPLE, THE PROJECT WILL ENSURE MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN CLIMATE PLANNING. THE TASK FORCE WILL ENGAGE WITH FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES THROUGH AT LEAST 4 IN-PERSON MEETINGS, COMPLETE ONE FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR A PRIORITIZED CLIMATE RESILIENCE PROJECT, AND PRODUCE MULTILINGUAL COMMUNICATIONS MATERIALS INCLUDING COMMUNITY VIDEO TESTIMONIALS. THE PROJECT AIMS TO BREAK DOWN SYSTEMIC BARRIERS TO COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND ENSURE DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES IN THE BRONX HAVE MEANINGFUL INPUT INTO CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND COASTAL ADAPTATION PLANNING DECISIONS, WHILE SUPPORTING PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS IN DEVELOPING AND FUNDING IMPLEMENTATION PROJECTS.ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE CONVENING A BRONX CLIMATE JUSTICE TASK FORCE TO SYNTHESIZE COMMUNITY INPUT, REVIEW AND COMPILE CLIMATE RESILIENCE PROJECTS FROM THE BRONX RIVER WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN AND OTHER BRONX-BASED PLANS TO ADVANCE THEM TOWARDS DESIGN PHASES, AND ENGAGE WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO COORDINATE ON THE EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL PROJECTS. BRONX RIVER ALLIANCE WILL ORGANIZE 9 TASK FORCE MEETINGS WITH 8-10 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AT LEAST 24 PUBLIC EVENTS (AVERAGE 100 PEOPLE PER EVENT, TOTAL 2,400 PEOPLE ENGAGED), AND 12 TO 16 MEETINGS WITH STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES (4-6 EACH YEAR) SUCH AS URBAN WATERS FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP, DEC AIR QUALITY MEETINGS AND UPDATES, CLIMATE JUSTICE WORKING GROUP, AND CLIMATE ACTION COUNCIL.SUBRECIPIENT:THE SUBAWARD RECIPIENTS, AS MEMBERS OF THE BRONX CLIMATE JUSTICE TASK FORCE, WILL PARTICIPATE IN ALL TASK FORCE MEETINGS WITH ROTATING LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES FOR AGENDA FORMATION, FACILITATION, AND NOTE-TAKING. EACH ORGANIZATION WILL HOLD OR ATTEND 2-3 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EVENTS ANNUALLY THROUGH THEIR EXISTING COMMUNITY PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE FISH PARADE, TOWN HALLS, COMMUNITY ROWING EVENTS, AND COMMUNITY ENVISIONING SESSIONS. MEMBERS WILL REVIEW AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON EDUCATION AND OUTREACH MATERIALS WHILE CONDUCTING STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, EVENTS, AND OTHER CHANNELS. THEY WILL CONTRIBUTE TO DEVELOPING THE VALUE STATEMENT AND EVALUATING/PRIORITIZING POTENTIAL HABITAT RESTORATION AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE PROJECTS, WHILE SUPPORTING FELLOW TASK FORCE MEMBERS IN DEVELOPING AND FUNDING RELATED INITIATIVES. ORGANIZATIONS WILL PARTICIPATE IN MEETINGS AND COMMUNICATIONS WITH OFFICIAL AGENCIES REGARDING CLIMATE CHANGE PLANNING DECISIONS AND ENGAGE WITH FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL PLANNING PROCESSES TO ENSURE BRONX VOICES ARE REPRESENTED. MEMBERS WILL ALSO PROVIDE INPUT ON THE FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR A PRIORITIZED CLIMATE RESILIENCE PROJECT. THE SUBAWARDS WILL COVER STAFF TIME AND TRANSPORTATION COSTS RELATED TO THESE PROJECT ACTIVITIES OVER THE THREE-YEAR PERIOD.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE 9 TASK FORCE MEETINGS WITH REPRESENTATION OF 10 COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER ORGANIZATIONS, 1 VALUE STATEMENT, A SUMMARY OF HABITAT RESTORATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE PROJECTS FROM PREVIOUS PLANNING PROCESSES, AT LEAST 20 PRIORITIZED PROJECTS, MINIMUM OF 4 IN-PERSON MEETINGS WITH AGENCIES, MINIMUM OF 6 WRITTEN AGENCY CORRESPONDENCES, A BRAND MANUAL WITH COMMUNICATIONS MATERIALS (3 PRESS RELEASES, 3 FLYERS WITH 1,000 COPIES EACH, 3 COMMENT LETTER TEMPLATES), 1 INTERACTIVE EDUCATIONAL MODULE WITH VISUAL AIDS AND INFORMATIONAL POSTERS, 30 SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS REACHI
