Award

SCCAEPA, partnering with San Gabriel Education Foundation (SEF), has been awarded an Environmental Justice (EJ) Small Grant to offer an education and community outreach program focused on green infrastructure to the San Gabriel valley schools/students and its associated larger communities.

Program Scope

The program is planned around three phases and lasts from fall of 2022 through spring of 2023.

Phase 1 focuses on education on green infrastructure (8-10 lectures, 1.5 hours/lecture). In this phase, experts from different sectors (government, academic, and/or private industry) will present lectures, mentoring hands-on design and build projects including a component on native plants, and develop community outreach materials.

1. Lectures on overview of green infrastructure (background [what and why], current policy, research, and real-world implementation)
2. Lectures on basic engineering principles in how green infrastructure achieve the environmental benefits for the community
3. Hands on in-class room “crafts” of mini-sand filter (e.g., using recycled water bottles)
4. Hands on in-class room construction of demonstration-scale mesocosm biofilter
5. Mentored project on landscape design with native plants, potentially for a local school or park location

 Phase 2 focuses on student showcase and community involvement.

• Organized community events for students to present mesocosm biofilter and landscape design
• Develop and train students to become ambassadors for further outreach

 Phase 3 focuses on program evaluation, information dissemination (minimum student involvement).

• Students and community feedback on program elements, future interested topic