Speak For The Trees

DESCRIPTION:THE PURPOSE OF THIS AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN (ARP) FUNDED GRANT IS TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND DIALOGUE SURROUNDING INEQUITABLE TREE CANOPY COVER AND ITS IMPLICATIONS ON THE HEALTH OF RESIDENTS LIVING IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, AS AUTHORIZED UNDER CLEAN AIR ACT 103(B)(3). TREES PROVIDE NUMEROUS ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH BENEFITS AND CAN MITIGATE THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH BURDENS FACED BY COMMUNITIES WITH LOW TREE CANOPY COVERAGE. THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO INCREASE BOSTON'S URBAN TREE CANOPY IN LOW-CANOPY NEIGHBORHOODS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CONCERNS BY RAISING COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND ENGAGEMENT, LEADING TO IMPROVED AIR QUALITY AND IMPROVED PUBLIC HEALTH THROUGH REDUCTION IN ASTHMA RATES AND/OR HEART DISEASE. THE PROJECT WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND NONPROFITS WHO WILL CO-DEVELOP A SERIES OF COMMUNITY TREE WALKS IN THREE NEIGHBORHOODS FOR RESIDENTS, MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS, AND RESEARCHERS TO EXPLORE AND DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE INTERSECTIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, CLEAN AIR, AND TREE CANOPY COVER. THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND COLLECTION OF FEEDBACK, STORIES, AND EXPERIENCES, THE PROJECT WILL DEVELOP SHARED VISIONS FOR AN URBAN FOREST THAT PROVIDES PUBLIC HEALTH BENEFITS.ACTIVITIES:IN ACCORDANCE WITH CLEAN AIR ACT, SECTION 103(B)(3), THIS PROJECT WILL USE SURVEYS, RESEARCH AND EDUCATION TO EXPLORE THE CAUSES AND FUTURE PREVENTION OF AIR POLLUTION THROUGH THE EXPANSION OF URBAN TREE CANOPY. 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. PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: 1) COLLECTING SURVEYS ABOUT RESIDENTS' EXPERIENCES WITH ISSUES INCLUDING TREE INEQUITY, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH; 2) HOLDING ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEWS WITH RESIDENTS AND GATHERING THEIR PERSONAL STORIES ABOUT LIVED EXPERIENCES REGARDING TREE INEQUITY AND AIR QUALITY; AND 3) CREATING COMMUNITY WALKS TO EDUCATE ADDITIONAL RESIDENTS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF URBAN TREES. THIS PROJECT WILL INCLUDE COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND TREE WALKS IN THREE BOSTON NEIGHBORHOODS THAT FACE INCREASED ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH BURDENS FROM POLLUTED AIR, LESS GREENSPACE, AND LOW TREE CANOPY COVERAGE. SPEAK FOR THE TREES WILL COLLABORATE WITH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO 1) PREPARE COMMUNITY SURVEYS AND OUTREACH MATERIALS; 2) ENGAGE WITH RESIDENTS THROUGH SURVEYS, INTERVIEWS, AND PRESENTATIONS ABOUT TREE EQUITY AT THREE OR MORE COMMUNITY MEETINGS IN TARGET NEIGHBORHOODS; 3) CREATE MAPS AND EDUCATIONAL CONTENT FOR COMMUNITY TREE WALKS BASED ON SURVEY RESPONSES AND AMERICAN FORESTS' TREE EQUITY SCORE ANALYZER; 4) CONDUCT SIX COMMUNITY TREE WALKS FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS AND INCREASING KNOWLEDGE ABOUT AIR POLLUTION AND THE ROLE OF TREE CANOPY; AND 5) SHARING OF 'ARTIFACTS,' EITHER DIGITAL OR PRINT, CREATED BY EACH NEIGHBORHOOD TO SHARE RESULTS.SUBRECIPIENT:THREE NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS WILL RECEIVE SUBAWARDS TO PROVIDE CONSULTATION AND PARTNERSHIP ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH. EACH NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP WILL CO-DEVELOP THE COMMUNITY TREE WALKS, HOST NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS, ADVERTISE THE PROJECT TO RESIDENTS, AND ASSIST WITH EVENT PLANNING. EACH GROUP WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING A MINIMUM OF 20 RESIDENTS ATTEND MEETINGS, THAT ATTENDEES FILL OUT IN-MEETING EVALUATION AND FEEDBACK FORMS, AND THAT 60 RESIDENTS IN TOTAL ATTEND EACH COMMUNITY'S WALKS. EMVISION AND EVERYDAY BOSTON WILL ASSIST WITH IN-MEETING EVALUATION DESIGN, DEVELOP AND CARRY OUT INTERVIEWS, AND CAPTURE AND CURATE VIDEOS OF RESIDENTS' STORIES AND THE COMMUNITY TREE WALKS. EVERYDAY BOSTON, A LOCAL GRASSROOTS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT CONNECTS NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH THE SHARING OF STORIES WILL PROVIDE AND CAPTURE RESIDENT INTERVIEWS. EMVISION PRODUCTIONS, A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE THAT HARNESSES STORYT