Thrive New Orleans

THRIVE NEW ORLEANS WORKFORCE AND ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM -- EDA FUNDS WILL BE USED TO SUPPORT THE TRAINING OF A SKILLED GREEN WORKFORCE, THE DEVELOPMENT OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS TOWARD CLIMATE RESILIENCE, AND THE GROWTH OF GREEN BUSINESSES. THIS INCLUDES ASSISTING BUSINESSES THAT SERVE SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA, PRIMARILY IN ORLEANS, JEFFERSON, AND ST. BERNARD PARISHES.THE THRIVE WORKS GREEN INITIATIVE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING WORK ELEMENTS: (1) THRIVE GREEN TRAINING ACADEMY AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM; (2) THRIVE GREEN BUSINESS ACADEMY; AND THRIVE WORKS GREEN NETWORKING PROGRAM.

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA) TO THRIVE NEW ORLEANS. THE RECIPIENT WILL PROVIDE AN INTENSIVE 6-WEEK SUMMER ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CAMP FOR 50 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS EACH YEAR. STUDENTS WILL GAIN UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, NATIVE BIODIVERSITY, AND BENEFITS OF WATER; DEVELOP PRACTICAL GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE SKILLS TO INCREASE THEIR HOUSEHOLD AND NEIGHBORHOOD RESILIENCE TO FLOOD RISK; AND LEARN ABOUT WASTE LITERACY AND WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES TO KEEP THEIR COMMUNITIES CLEAN.ACTIVITIES:THIS CAMP WILL PROVIDE AN EDUCATIONAL SUMMER PROGRAM FOR 50 STUDENTS EACH YEAR. THE PROGRAM WILL SPAN 6 WEEKS AND CONSIST OF 3 MODULES. THE FIRST MODULE, 'LIVING WITH WATER,' WILL FOCUS ON WETLAND ECOLOGY. DURING THE PROGRAM, STUDENTS WILL COLLECT WATER SAMPLES FOR MICROSCOPIC, MICROBIOLOGY, AND MICROPLASTIC STUDIES, AND EACH STUDENT WILL SELECT A SPECIES TO STUDY AND REPORT BACK ON.THE SECOND MODULE WILL INVOLVE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, WHERE STUDENTS WILL WORK IN GROUPS OF 3-4 TO PLANT NATIVE SPECIES, CREATE BIOSWALES, CONSTRUCT RAIN GARDENS, AND PAINT RAIN BARRELS TO MITIGATE STORMWATER. THE THIRD MODULE WILL COVER WASTE MANAGEMENT AND WASTE LITERACY. THE ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE SITE VISITS TO NEW ORLEANS EAST CANAL AND DPS-PUMPING STATION 10, AS WELL AS A KAYAK ACTIVITY AT LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN THROUGH JOE BROWN LAKES. SUBRECIPIENT:THRIVE NEW ORLEANS WILL PROVIDE A SUBAWARD TO CULTURE OF CLEANLINESS WHICH WILL CONDUCT OUTREACH ACTIVITIES AND PROJECT RECRUITMENT. IT WILL SUPPORT LITTER ABATEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY AND CATCH BASINS CLEAN UP, PROVIDING WASTE MANAGEMENT LITERACY. OUTCOMES:IT IS EXPECTED THAT THIS PROJECT WILL YIELD THE FOLLOWING OUTCOMES: 150 STUDENTS WILL BE INTRODUCED TO THE CURRICULUM THROUGH CLASSROOMS OR AFTER-SCHOOL FOCUS GROUPS, COMPLETION OF ENVIRONMENTAL SPEAKERS' WORKSHOPS, AND FIELD TRIPS/SITE VISITS WITH STUDENTS. THE ANTICIPATED IMPACTS OF THE PROJECT INCLUDE EMPOWERING YOUTH TO ADVOCATE FOR STORMWATER INTERVENTIONS TO ENHANCE THEIR OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE, INCREASING COMMUNITY RESIDENT PARTICIPATION AND ENGAGEMENT IN STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS REGARDING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, AND DEVELOPING STRONGER POLICIES AROUND RECYCLING IN THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS AN AIM TO RAISE AWARENESS AMONG RESIDENTS ABOUT THE BROKEN AND TRASH-FILLED CATCH BASINS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO FLOODED COMMUNITIES. THE PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROJECT ARE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE DESIRE/FLORIDA NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE 9TH WARD NEW ORLEANS, LA..