Bronx Is Blooming

INFLATION REDUCTION ACT INITIATIVE BRANCHING OUT LEVERAGING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS TO GROW GREEN LEADERS AND COMMUNITY FORE

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT TO THE BRONX IS BLOOMING. THROUGH THEIR PROGRAM FOR LEADERS ADVANCING THEIR COMMUNITY'S ENVIRONMENT (PLACE) INITIATIVE, THE RECIPIENT WILL BUILD THE CAPACITY OF CHRONICALLY OVERBURDENED BRONX COMMUNITIES TO ADDRESS LONG-STANDING ENVIRONMENTAL HARMS AND PUBLIC HEALTH RISKS, ESPECIALLY THOSE RELATED TO AIR QUALITY, EXCESSIVE HEAT, AND PARK ACCESS. THE PROGRAM LEVERAGES EXISTING YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND FOSTERS NEW PARTNERSHIPS TO MAKE TANGIBLE IMPROVEMENTS AND INCREASE CLIMATE RESILIENCY. TO PROVIDE PATHWAYS TO EMPLOYMENT IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL SECTOR FOR HIGHLY ENGAGED STUDENTS, THE BRONX IS BLOOMING WILL EXTEND PLACE INTO THE SPRING AND FALL BRIDGE SEASONS, WITH A FOCUS ON ADVANCING TECHNICAL SKILLS AND PROVIDING CRITICAL MAINTENANCE DURING EXISTING GAPS IN OUR PROGRAM. INCORPORATING CITIZEN PRUNER TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION FOR 120 PLACE PARTICIPANTS WILL HELP PREPARE THESE YOUNG PEOPLE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JOBS WHILE ESTABLISHING A COMMUNITY OF TREE STEWARDS IN AREAS OF THE CITY THAT ARE MOST IN NEED. ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED INCLUDE THE PROGRAM FOR LEADER ADVANCING THEIR COMMUNITY'S ENVIRONMENT (PLACE) SUMMER SESSION RUNNING EACH YEAR FROM JUNE TO AUGUST. COLLEGE STUDENTS WILL BE HIRED AS PLACE MENTORS FOR GROUPS OF STUDENTS. PLACE STUDENTS, HIRED THROUGH YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROVIDERS/WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, WILL THEN RECEIVE TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO LEAD PARK REVITALIZATION PROJECTS, INCORPORATING TREE PLANTING AND STEWARDSHIP, INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL, AND NATIVE SPECIES PLANTING. STUDENTS WILL ALSO PARTICIPATE IN COLLEGE TOURS AND OTHER ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT THEIR GROWTH. THE RECIPIENT WILL ESTABLISH SPRING AND FALL 'BRIDGE' PLACE SESSIONS BY EXTENDING THE SUMMER SESSION TO NOVEMBER AND THE SCHOOL YEAR SESSION TO JUNE, PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE MOST ENGAGED STUDENTS, WITH THE GREATEST INTEREST IN PURSUING ENVIRONMENTAL CAREERS, TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL TRAINING TO PREPARE THEM FOR SUBSEQUENT JOBS IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL FIELD. THE RECIPIENT WILL ALSO LEVERAGE THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH TREES NEW YORK TO INTEGRATE CITIZEN PRUNER TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION FOR MENTORS AND STUDENTS INTO THE PLACE PROGRAM BRIDGE SEASONS.SUBRECIPIENT:THE BRONX IS BLOOMING WILL ISSUE A SUBAWARD UNDER THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT TO TREES NEW YORK. SUBAWARD ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE PROVIDING CITIZEN PRUNER TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION FOR PLACE MENTORS AND STUDENTS.OUTCOMES:EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND OUTCOMES INCLUDE EXPANDING PLACE SESSIONS TO 120 SUMMER PARTICIPANTS, 25 SCHOOL YEAR RECIPIENTS, AND 12+ BRONX PARKS AND GREEN SPACES. OUTCOMES ALSO INCLUDE 80+ ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS ENGAGING 3,000+ VOLUNTEERS IN PLANTING 400+ TREES AND 3,000+ PLANTS, AND STEWARDSHIP OF 3,000+ TREES. OUTCOMES ALSO INCLUDE INCREASED KNOWLEDGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES AND HORTICULTURE SKILLS AS WELL AS BETTER PREPARATION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION AND/OR CAREERS IN GREEN STEM FIELDS FOR 300+ BRONX YOUTH, 100+ BRONX YOUTH CERTIFIED AS CITIZEN PRUNERS, AND 3,000+ LOCAL VOLUNTEERS WITH INCREASED AWARENESS OF LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. LONG TERM OUTCOMES INCLUDE A DENSER, HEALTHIER URBAN TREE CANOPY CONTRIBUTING TO IMPROVED AIR QUALITY AND MITIGATION OF THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT/CLIMATE CHANGE, RESULTING IN FEWER RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES, REDUCED HEAT VULNERABILITY, AND AN IMPROVED HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE. DIRECT BENEFICIARIES FOR THIS PROJECT ARE BRONX YOUTH WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM AS WELL AS BRONX COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND RESIDENTS WHO RELY ON COMMUNITY PARKS IN THE BRONX.