Red Hook Initiative

DESCRIPTION:THE PURPOSE OF THIS INFLATION REDUCTION ACT FUNDED AND COMPETITIVELY SELECTED COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IS TO CONDUCT AMBIENT AIR MONITORING OF POLLUTANTS OF GREATEST CONCERN IN COMMUNITIES WITH ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH OUTCOME DISPARITIES STEMMING FROM POLLUTION AND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THE RED HOOK INITIATIVE, IN RED HOOK BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, WILL BUILD CAPACITY FOR CONSISTENT COMMUNITY-LED AIR MONITORING IN RED HOOK, BROOKLYN. THE INITIATIVE SEEKS TO DO THE FOLLOWING: (1) INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO MEASURE, DOCUMENT, AND INTERPRET AIR QUALITY ISSUES; (2) EXPAND AIR MONITORING THROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD-WIDE ANALYSIS AND CONTINUOUS STATIC MONITORS; AND (3) BUILD AN ADVOCACY AGENDA TO ADDRESS AIR QUALITY ISSUES AND IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES TO MITIGATE ENVIRONMENTAL HARMS. ACTIVITIES:THESE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY AND LOCAL EFFORTS TO MONITOR THEIR OWN AIR QUALITY AND TO PROMOTE AIR QUALITY MONITORING PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN COMMUNITIES AND TRIBAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT LEVERAGE EXISTING AIR QUALITY EXPERTISE, EXPAND USE OF COMMUNITY MONITORING GROUPS AND OTHER APPROACHES THAT GIVE THE COMMUNITY A VOICE IN THE MONITORING OF THE AIR QUALITY, AND BUILD A FOUNDATION OF TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS AND ENHANCED UNDERSTANDING FROM WHICH SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS TO COMMUNITY AIR POLLUTION PROBLEMS CAN BE FOUND.SUBRECIPIENT:SUBAWARD ACTIVITIES TO BE FUNDED INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: CUNY: SOURCE AND INSTALL STATIC AIR QUALITY SENSORS. DEVELOP CURRICULUM. TRAIN 2 ADULTS. LEAD WORKSHOPS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS. NYU: INSTALL STATIC AIR QUALITY SENSORS. SUPPORT ANALYSIS OF AIR QUALITY DATA. DEVELOP PLATFORM TO COMMUNICATE THE AIR QUALITY DATA TO THE COMMUNITY. OUTCOMES:ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: (1) HIRE A ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ORGANIZER; (2) RECRUIT A PROGRAM MANAGER; (3) RECRUIT A RED HOOK ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY COUNCIL; (4) HOST 3 ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP WORKSHOPS (IN SCHOOL AND AFTER SCHOOL); (5) TRAIN LEAST 10 YOUTH AGES 13 - 17 IN DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS PROCEDURES; (6) INSTALL CONTINUOUS AIR QUALITY SENSORS. EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: (1) RESIDENTS FROM RED HOOK HOUSES WILL FILL THE 2 POSITIONS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ORGANIZER AND PROGRAM MANAGER; (2) EXPOSE YOUTH TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES; (3) EXPOSE YOUTH TO ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING; (4) EXPOSE YOUTH TO AIR QUALITY MONITORING; (5) TRAIN YOUTH IN SITE ASSESSMENT, DATA ANALYSIS AND AIR QUALITY MAINTENANCE SKILLS; (5) CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT FOR STEAM WORKSHOPS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CUNY. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: STUDENTS FROM P.S. 676 AND SOUTH BROOKLYN COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. RED HOOK RESIDENTS WILL BECOME AWARE OF HOW AIR QUALITY MAY AFFECT THEIR LIVES AND DAILY ACTIVITIES. RED HOOK HOUSES COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY COUNCIL.