Rockaway Waterfront Alliance Inc

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA) TO ROCKAWAY WATERFRONT ALLIANCE (RWA), DBA RISE. SPECIFICALLY, BY HARNESSING NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS AND CULTIVATING STRONG COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, RISE WILL USE THIS FUNDING TO ENHANCE CLIMATE RESILIENCE, IMPROVE AIR QUALITY, REDUCE LOCAL POLLUTION TO IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH, BUILD COMMUNITY STRENGTH AND TRAIN A CLIMATE RESILIENT WORKFORCE TO ADDRESS THE ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIOECONOMIC AND PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGES CURRENTLY FACED BY THE RESIDENTS OF ARVERNE AND FAR ROCKAWAY, QUEENS, NY. THE PROJECT WILL DEVELOP A PROJECT PARTNERSHIP WITH NYC PARKS THAT WILL SUPPORT RISE'S ABILITY TO MANAGE A ROBUST MULTI-YEAR PROJECT AND SHARE RESOURCES. NYC PARKS BRINGS KNOWLEDGE, EXPERTISE, AND EXPERIENCE ABOUT DUNE RESTORATION AND WILL BUILD CAPACITY AT ITS GREENBELT NATIVE PLANT CENTER (GNPC) TO GROW NATIVE PLANTS FOR DUNE RESTORATION IN ARVERNE AND FAR ROCKAWAY, QUEENS. THE PROJECT WILL ENGAGE THE LOCAL DISADVANTAGED URBAN COMMUNITY OF COLOR IN MEANINGFUL WAYS, FROM DESIGN TO IMPLEMENTATION TO SUSTAINABILITY, GIVING VOICE TO MAJORITY BIPOC, LOW-INCOME, UNDERREPRESENTED, AND UNDERSERVED INDIVIDUALS. THE PROJECT WILL (1) RESTORE, PROTECT, PRESERVE, AND MAINTAIN A 3-MILE STRETCH OF NEGLECTED DUNE HABITAT, LIVING LANDSCAPE, AND NEW GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE REFERRED TO AS THE ROCKAWAY DUNE PRESERVE SITE, ALONG THE NARROW STRETCH OF LAND NORTHWARD OF THE ROCKAWAY BOARDWALK, FROM BEACH 17TH TO BEACH 76TH STREET.; (2) ESTABLISH A NEW LOCAL NATIVE PLANT NURSERY IN ARVERNE TO GROW LOCAL ECOTYPE NATIVE PLANT SPECIES APPROPRIATE FOR THIS DUNE RESTORATION PROJECT SITE AND SERVE AS AN EDUCATIONAL AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING SITE; (3) INCREASE THE CAPACITY FOR GNPC TO PRODUCE NATIVE PLANT MATERIAL APPROPRIATE FOR DUNE HABITAT RESTORATION AND COASTAL SEED-BASED RESTORATION AND DEVELOPING PROTOCOLS AND TRAINING PROGRAMS; (4) CLEAN BEACHES IN THE PROJECT AREA AND ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY IN A CLEAN BEACH CAMPAIGN THAT WILL HELP REDUCE TRASH, MARINE DEBRIS, AND POLLUTION BUILD-UP IN THE PROJECT AREA; (5) DEVELOP NEW HIGH-QUALITY JOBS AND INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF RISE'S JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT WILL BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY LOW-INCOME ADULTS AND TEENS OF COLOR. ACTIVITIES:THE PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE (1) PLANTING NATIVE DUNE PLANTS ACROSS A 3-MILE STRETCH OF DUNE LANDSCAPE IN ARVERNE AND FAR ROCKAWAY; (2) COLLECTING AND STORING LOCAL NATIVE SEEDS TO BE STORED IN THE GREENBELT NATIVE PLANT CENTER/NYC PARKS DEPARTMENT, STATEN ISLAND, NY, SEEDBANK TO ENSURE AVAILABILITY OF PLANT MATERIAL FOR FUTURE COASTAL RESTORATION EFFORTS; (3)ESTABLISHING A NEW NATIVE PLANT NURSERY IN ARVERNE, QUEENS, NY; (4) SUPPORTING EXISTING PLANT NURSERY AND SEED BANK AT THE GREENBELT NATIVE PLANT CENTER/NYC PARKS DEPARTMENT TO MAINTAIN NECESSARY STOCK OF NATIVE PLANTS APPROPRIATE FOR COASTAL HABITAT RESTORATION; (5) PLACEMENT OF SEVERAL SPECIES OF POLLINATOR-FRIENDLY PLANTS THROUGHOUT 3-MILE STRETCH OF NEGLECTED HABITAT IN ARVERNE AND FAR ROCKAWAY, QUEENS, NY; (6) REMOVING INVASIVE SPECIES IN PROJECT AREA. (7) WRITING AND PUBLISHING A MANUAL ON NATIVE SEED FARMING AND SMALL-SCALE NATIVE PLANTING; (8 )TRAINING, MENTORING AND COACHING 60 ADULTS IN DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WHO ARE CURRENTLY UNEMPLOYED, UNDEREMPLOYED, OR FACE EMPLOYMENT BARRIERS TO SECURE FUTURE JOBS AND CAREERS TO REDUCE GHG EMISSIONS AND AIR POLLUTANTS; (9) TRAINING, MENTORING AND COLLEGE AND CAREER COACHING 75 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES ( TO PREPARE THEM FOR HIGH-QUALITY JOBS TO REDUCE GHG EMISSIONS AND AIR POLLUTANTS;(10) REMOVING 4+ TONS OF WASTE AND MARINE DEBRIS FROM 3-MILE STRETCH OF NEGLECTED BEACH AND DUNES; (11) PLACING 80 TRASH RECEPTACLES ON BEACHES/BOARDWALKS IN PROJECT AREA; (12) PLACING PERMANENT SIGNAGE IN PROJECT AREA TO REMIND VISITORS NOT TO LITTER AND TO DISPOSE OF SOLID WASTE PROPERLY; (13) POSTING INTERPRETIVE EDUCATIONAL SIGNS TO EDUCATE AND INSPIRE THE PU

DESCRIPTION: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.

PROJECT WILL ENGAGE THE ROCKAWAY, NY COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING STIPENDS TO YOUTH FOR WORKFORCE TRAINING. THEY WILL LEARN ABOUT STEWARDSHIP, CONSERVATION AND CONVENTIONAL CLASSROOM-BASED TRAINING IN BASIC EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS. AS PART OF THE TRAINING, THEY WILL ALSO DEMONSTRATE HOW TO PLANT BEACH GRASS. RESIDENTS WILL PARTICIPATE IN EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS ON EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. OUTCOMES: TRAIN 40 YOUTH IN CONSERVATION JOB TRAINING AND 75 RESIDENTS IN EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, CLIMATE ADAPTATION AWARENESS AND CLEAN UPS.

THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO EDUCATE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS LOCATED NEAR JAMAICA BAY IN QUEENS, NY TO IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY OF THE ESTUARINE HA

TO SUPPORT THE COMMISSION AND INSTALLATION OF TEMPORARY WORKS OF PUBLIC ART.

PURPOSE: TO SUPPORT THE COMMISSION AND INSTALLATION OF TEMPORARY WORKS OF PUBLIC ART.

TO SUPPORT THE COMMISSION AND INSTALLATION OF TEMPORARY WORKS OF PUBLIC ART.

PURPOSE: TO SUPPORT THE COMMISSION AND INSTALLATION OF TEMPORARY WORKS OF PUBLIC ART.