Eastie Farm Inc

CIVIC-FA TRACK A: KICKSTARTING A YOUTH-CENTERED GREEN ECONOMY FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY OF EAST BOSTON -THIS RESEARCH INVOLVES UNDERSTANDING HOW UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES GET ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN MAKING THE TRANSITION TO A VIBRANT GREEN ECONOMY WITH IMPROVED ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE CHANGE. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL, THE RESEARCH ENGAGES LOCAL YOUTH IN CONSTRUCTIVE AND PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIES INVOLVING URBAN FARMING, COASTAL RESTORATION, AND SOCIAL SCIENCE-DRIVEN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT VIA A NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY ENTITY (EASTIE FARM). YOUTH CENTERED ACTIVITIES INCLUDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO HELP YOUTH MAKE A LIVING WHILE THEY LEARN URBAN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND IMPLEMENTATION VIA EXPERIMENTING, DOCUMENTING, AND EXAMINING THE BEST MEANS AND SPECIES OF PLANTS FOR LOCAL COASTAL WETLAND RESTORATION THAT IS DESIGNED TO REDUCE COASTAL FLOODING AND REMOBILIZATION OF INDUSTRIAL POLLUTANTS IN WETLAND SOILS AT THE VERGE OF THEIR COMMUNITY. YOUTH-DRIVEN COMMUNITY SURVEYS, OVERSEEN BY UNIVERSITY SOCIAL SCIENCE TEAMS, AND DATA COLLECTION AND ITS ANALYSIS HELP YOUTH LEARN HOW THEY CAN MAKE POSITIVE AND MAJOR DIFFERENCES IN THEIR COMMUNITY. UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND THE COMMUNITY-BASED EASTIE FARM ARE WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS PILOT TO UNDERSTAND HOW LOW INCOME AND ENVIRONMENTALLY IMPACTED COMMUNITIES CAN MEET THE CHALLENGES OF CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS. BROADER IMPACTS OF THE PROJECT INCLUDE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AND MENTORING, FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING A ROBUST UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO MAKE COMMUNITIES RESILIENT TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND IMPROVE RESIDENT'S QUALITY OF LIFE. IT CREATES A MODEL THAT CAN BE SCALED AND TRANSLATED TO OTHER LOW-INCOME, ENVIRONMENTALLY COMPROMISED, URBAN, COASTAL COMMUNITIES. THE PROJECT ALSO PROVIDES YOUTH IN LOW-INCOME, TRADITIONALLY UNDERSERVED, URBAN COMMUNITIES WITH EXPERTISE AND TRAINING IN GREEN CAREERS AS WELL AS LEARNING AND REALIZATION OF THE POWER OF YOUTH-DRIVEN ACTIONS THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO CHANGE A COMMUNITY AND IMPROVE THE LIVES OF ITS RESIDENTS. THE CIVIC INNOVATION CHALLENGE IS A COLLABORATION WITH DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, AND THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION. THROUGH THE EASTIE'S FARM PILOT PROGRAM, YOUTH ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN AND LEARN SOCIAL, CLIMATE, AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE. IN THIS PROJECT, 40 YOUTH IN A LOW INCOME COMMUNITY IN EAST BOSTON WILL BE ENGAGED IN A PROGRAM FOCUSED ON BUILDING A GREEN FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMMUNITY BY LEARNING GREEN JOB SKILLS; PROPER PLANT IDENTIFICATION, SELECTION, PROPAGATION, AND INSTALLATION; THE AMENDING AND MONITORING OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS TO MINIMIZE AND MITIGATE COASTAL FLOODING AND THE TRANSPORT OF INDUSTRIAL POLLUTANTS IN MARINE WETLANDS WHILE WORKING CLOSELY WITH SCIENTISTS AND EXPERTS IN BIOSCIENCE AND SOCIAL SCIENCE. THEY WILL ALSO COLLECT AND ANALYZE DATA ON THE BARRIERS THAT KEEP FAMILIES IN THEIR COMMUNITY FROM ADOPTING APPROACHES THAT HELP MITIGATE AND PROVIDE RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS AND THAT ARE BENEFICIAL, BOTH ECOLOGICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY, TO THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES. IN ADDITION, THE PROGRAM EXPOSES YOUTH TO EXPERIENTIAL ACTIVITIES THAT HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE POWER OF THE SCIENTIFIC PROCESS AND HOW TO DEVELOP AN ENTREPRENEURIAL MIND-SET BY INVOLVING THEM IN EXPERIMENTATION AND INSTALLATION TRIALS. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES FIELD TRIPS TO TALK TO AND INTERACT WITH EXPERTS IN THE GREEN ENERGY AND ECONOMY. ADDITIONAL PROGRAM IMPACTS INCLUDE CONNECTION OF INVOLVED YOUTH WITH PROVIDERS OF GREEN JOBS, FROM AGRICULTURE TO SOLAR AND ENERGY AUDITS TO JOBS IN EDUCATION AND GREEN FINANCE; ALL OF WHICH CAN HELP THEM KICKSTART A GREEN ECONOMY IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY, LAYING A PATHWAY FOR A BETTER SUSTAINABLE FUTURE. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** PRODUCE FOR THE PEOPLE IS EASTIE FARM'S INTEGRATED APPROACH TO COMMUNITY SUPPORTEDAGRICULTURE (CSA). THIS PROJECT CURRENTLY SERVES 400 EAST BOSTON RESIDENTS WITH WEEKLY BOXES OFLOCAL, FRESH, MA-GROWN PRODUCE AND WILL SERVE 1000 HOUSEHOLDS BY 2026. BY OFFERING FREE,AFFORDABLE, AND MARKET-RATE CSAS, WE ENSURE EQUITABLE FOOD ACCESS AND DESTIGMATIZE FOODAID. THE PRODUCE IN OUR CSA BOXES IS AGGREGATED FROM LOCAL URBAN FARMS AND VALUES-ALIGNEDMASSACHUSETTS FARMS (CURRENTLY 28), PRIORITIZING THOSE THAT USE REGENERATIVE METHODS, ARE LED BYPEOPLE OF COLOR, AND PAY GOOD WAGES. THIS PROJECT 1) INCREASES FRESH FOOD ACCESS TO ACOMMUNITY THAT IS A FOOD DESERT, WHERE THERE IS ONLY ONE GROCERY STORE TO SERVE THE 60,000RESIDENTS OF EAST BOSTON (WHICH IS GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED BY WATER FROM THE GREATER BOSTONCOMMUNITY); 2) CREATES ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL FARMS AND FOR EAST BOSTON RESIDENTS(MOSTLY LOW INCOME AND MINORITY) WHOM WE EMPLOY TO PACK AND DISTRIBUTE THE CSA; AND 3)REDIRECTS DOLLARSTO THE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM, WITH A DOUBLE IMPACT OF REDUCING FOOD MILES ANDRELATED CARBON EMISSIONS. THIS PROJECT WILL BUILD ON OUR EXISTING CSA TOWARDS ECONOMIC ANDECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY. WE WILL SUPPORT RESIDENTS WITH ACCESSING FOOD AID PROGRAMS WITHOUTSTIGMA. WE WILL ENSURE ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY BY INCREASING MARKET RATE OFFERINGS TO NEWRESIDENTS WHO CAN BOTH AFFORD THEM AND ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO INTEGRATE WITH THE COMMUNITY;AND BY ENSURING FUNDING FOR LOW-INCOME SUBSCRIBERS VIA PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS WITH VESTEDINTERESTS.

INCREASE FOOD PRODUCTIVITY, FOOD LITERACY, AND AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN EAST BOSTON

SCC-CIVIC-PG TRACK A: THE DEVELOPMENT OF SALT-TOLERANT PLANT COMMUNITIES FOR COASTAL CLIMATE RESILIENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AREAS SUCH AS EAST BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS -COASTAL POPULATIONS FACE UNPRECEDENTED THREATS FROM RISING SEA LEVEL, INCREASED FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY OF STORMS, DEGRADATION OF PROTECTIVE WETLANDS, AND TIDAL FLOODING. MANY COASTAL COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN URBAN SETTINGS, ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE, NOT ONLY DUE TO THEIR GEOGRAPHY, BUT ALSO AS A RESULT OF ?SOCIETAL COMORBIDITIES? INCLUDING INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION, ADJACENCY TO UTILITY AND CHEMICAL HAZARDS, ECONOMIC DISADVANTAGE, AND LANGUAGE ISOLATION. THIS COMMUNITY-DRIVEN RESEARCH PROJECT ENTAILS THE MOBILIZATION AND EMPOWERMENT OF COMMUNITY GROUPS AND INVOLVEMENT OF LOCAL MIDDLE/HIGH STUDENTS IN PARTICIPATORY CITIZEN RESEARCH AND PILOTING OF NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS TO WETLAND DEGRADATION AND FLOODING THAT ADDRESS SPECIFIC CONCERNS RELATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND UNPRECEDENTED CLIMATE CHANGE IN AN EAST BOSTON MA PILOT SITE. EAST BOSTON IS A TYPE EXAMPLE OF THE INTERSECTION OF THE ABOVE FACTORS, WITH ADDITIONAL STRESSORS OF THE RISING COST-OF-LIVING, REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT, AND DISPLACEMENT. THIS RESEARCH PILOT PROJECT ATTEMPTS TO FLIP THE DYNAMIC OF VULNERABILITY AND RESILIENCE BY PROVIDING A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN, INCLUSIVE, AND EQUITABLE PROCESS THAT INVOLVES ALL KEY STAKEHOLDERS IN CONSIDERING RISKS AND NEW SOLUTIONS IN-SITU. SUCCESS OF THE PILOT WOULD ENABLE COMMUNITY RESIDENTS, ACTIVISTS, RESEARCHERS, AND OTHER LOCAL GROUPS TO HAVE GREATER ECONOMIC AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION AND UPKEEP OF THE NATURE-BASED INFRASTRUCTURE THAT PREPARES THE LAND FOR WATER-RELATED DISASTERS. BROADER IMPACTS OF THE RESEARCH INCLUDE DEVELOPING NATURE BASED SOLUTIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND INCREASING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TO FLOODING. IT ALSO INVOLVES LOCAL CITIZENS IN THE SCIENCE AND PROVIDES IMPROVED LIVING CONDITIONS FOR A LOW-INCOME COASTAL COMMUNITY. OUTCOMES OF THE PILOT WILL BE USED AS A TEMPLATE THAT CAN BE USED TO INCREASE RESILIENCE IN OTHER SIMILARLY POSITIONED COASTAL COMMUNITIES. THE GOAL OF THIS RESEARCH IS TO BUILD UPON AND WEAVE TOGETHER ACADEMIC-BASED RESEARCH RESULTS FOR OPTIMIZING MARSH DIVERSITY FOR SUSTAINED ECOSYSTEM SERVICES. IT WILL INCLUDE ASPECTS OF INDUSTRY-BASED RESEARCH ON BIOREMEDIATION AND CIVIC DISCUSSIONS ON POST-INDUSTRIAL LAND USE. THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE INTELLECTUAL ADVANCEMENTS INCLUDING: (1) INCREASED UNDERSTANDING OF THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN COMMUNITIES OF SALT-TOLERANT MARSH ORGANISMS AND THEIR IMPACT ON WATER MANAGEMENT AND CONTAMINANT CONTROL THAT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE FRAMEWORK FOR NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS RESEARCH; (2) AN ADAPTABLE METHODOLOGY FOR HOW COMMUNITY-DRIVEN-RESEARCH CAN EFFECTIVELY INFORM INCLUSIVE PLANNING FOR CLIMATE PREPARATION; AND (3) BROAD, COMMUNITY-WIDE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE LOCAL KNOWLEDGE BASE AND COMMUNITY SCIENTIFIC LITERACY. THE APPROACH EMPLOYS, ENGAGES, AND EMPOWERS THE PARTICIPATION OF LOCAL RESIDENTS IN COMMUNITY PLANNING. IT ALSO OFFERS INFORMED PERSPECTIVES FROM RESEARCHERS AND OTHER EXPERTS IN THE CO-PRODUCTION OF SOLUTIONS AND THEIR IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE WHICH IMPROVES THE LIKELIHOOD OF COASTAL COMMUNITY RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND SEA LEVEL RISE. THIS PROJECT IS IN RESPONSE TO THE CIVIC INNOVATION CHALLENGE PROGRAM?TRACK A. LIVING IN A CHANGING CLIMATE: PRE-DISASTER ACTION AROUND ADAPTATION, RESILIENCE, AND MITIGATION?AND IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN NSF, THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.