11-2SG Arise for Social Justice
Grant Round:
2011 September
Grant Program:
Small Grants
Grant Type:
Other Grants
Grant amount requested:
2,500.00
Grant amount awarded:
$1,500.00
Please provide a brief description of the project for which you seek funding.
The June 1 tornado that tore through Springfield damaged many single family homes, many multi-family homes, and destroyed more than 7,000 mature trees, half of which were "public" trees. Coincidentally, a few weeks before the tornado, one of our members read an article about how the city of Chicago had developed a climate change plan which included planting trees which are more drought and heat resistant than what had been usually planned. After some of the immediate trauma of the tornado had passed, we saw several opportunities: 1. Win the support of the city forester to take climate change into account in his replanting efforts. 2. Use that as an opportunity to get the city to acknowledge that it needs to develop a climate change plan, which it currently does not have. 3. Make sure that when rental housing is rebuilt, it is done so in a way that is energy-efficient and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Arise's Economic Justice Committee is taking on the housing issue-- because of a lack of resources, it will be two to five years before any housing is replaced at all-- but the first two issues will be undertaken by Arise, primarily in conjunction with our coalition Stop Toxic Incineration in Springfield. As well, we are seeking funding to continue the work we've done in the last year to: stop a biomass plant from being built in our community and continue to promote awareness of our rights as an environmental justice community; AND to organize around other sources of air pollution such as diesel emissions. . Much has happened in Springfield since our last grant application to NEGEF. After very much hard work in mobilizing the community to let their councilors know they were opposed to the plant, we persuaded Springfield City Council to take the courageous step of voting to revoke Palmer Renewable Energy's (PRE) permit to construct a biomass plant, which they did in May, with a 10-2 vote. They did this in spite of the fact that PRE threatened to sue the city, which PRE has done-- the case is now in Land Court. Also, with the help of the Conservation Law Foundation, we are appealing this issuance of DEP's air permit. In spite of the Council's revocation of PRE's special permit, we understand that the city's building commissioner is willing to give PRE a permit to begin construction! Rumor has it that PRE intends to apply in October. We can then appeal to the city's Zoning Board of Appeals, and take the city to court ourselves if necessary. In other words, our work to stop the biomass plant is far from done! Our next step is to produce a two-sheet newsletter on everything that's transpired in the last year and get it distributed throughout the city, but mainly in the neighborhoods abutting the proposed plant. In addition, we want to continue our work with the Pioneer Valley Asthma Coalition to help make the community aware of sources of diesel pollution. We are jointly doing a forum on asthma and diesel pollution this Thursday.
Project Summary
Arise received a grant in 2011 to continue the work done over the last year to: stop a biomass plant from being built in our community and continue to promote awareness of our rights as an environmental justice community; AND to organize around other sources of air pollution such as diesel emissions.
Primary Issue Area:
Environmental Health
Please break-down/categorize the program expenses:
| Proposed Item | Estimated $ Amount | Would grant funds be used for this item? | Type Of Expense |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | $3,000.00 | Materials | |
| Stipends | $3,000.00 | Yes | Materials |
| Supplies | $400.00 | Materials | |
| Transportation | $200.00 | Materials |
Whom does your group need to make this project happen?
Please explain how your group will engage members from your community in this project.
We engaged AT LEAST 800 people last year, and we have about half of them in a database. We will contact all of them regarding the next phase of PRE opposition. We will flyer neighborhoods which would be impacted by the plant. We will publicize all our meetings in our newsletter and in press releases. After Thursday's asthma forum, we expect to have a core group of parents and community members who want to take steps to prevent harm to their children and themselves. That group will keep in touch with each other and hopefully form the core of a larger group. We will flyer about the need for a climate change plan when it comes to replacing trees lost to the tornado, and do presentations at neighborhood councils to help spread the word.
If your group receives a NEGEF Grow grant, how do you plan to pay for remaining expenses?
| $ Amount | Source |
|---|---|
| $2,500.00 | NEGEF |
| $3,000.00 | Valentine Lawson |
| $750.00 | Pioneer Valley Asthma Coalition |
| $525.00 | Fundraising |
Please list these materials or services
Please describe what changes will occur in your community and its environment when your group's project is successful.
1. We fully intend to stop this biomass plant from being built in Springfield, thus helping to protect our air and the healoth of our residents. 2. Building on the community's awakening sense of itself as an environmental justice community, we want the city of Springfield to acknowledge that it needs to create a climate change plan, beginning with the trees that need to be replants. 3. By educating the community about diesel pollution as a contributor to asthma, we hope to build public pressure to enforce the anti-idling measures which are already laws but are not enforced in Springfield.
Please list how many people in your community your group expects to actively engage in this project.
800
What relevant skills does the group need (but does not currently have access to) to help move the initiative forward?
We will need to maintain our city council relationships, but also, with elections coming, will have new councilors and possibly a new mayor to win to our side. We still lack access to many city department heads. We could also use more organizing time.
What relevant skills do current members of the group have to help move the initiative forward?
We have a very skilled media person, a very skilled organizer, several members who have learned key organizing skills and a group able to follow through on tasks. We have access to the Toxics Action Center and also the assistance of the Conservation Law Foundation.