Thrive New Orleans is happy to announce its $500,000 grant from The United States Environment Protection Agency to advance environmental justice and develop a project that aims to empower Black, Indigenous, and other People Of Color youth by equipping them with culturally relevant environmental education and skills to transform their communities and life trajectories.
“We are incredibly grateful to the United States Environment Protection Agency for this gift,” said Thrive New Orleans Executive Director Chuck Morse. “This grant is a testament to our commitment to mitigating environmental injustice and creating a more sustainable and resilient future for our community.”
“With this grant, we will focus on critical areas affecting our communities such as reducing heat and mitigating flooding. New Orleans is no stranger to the challenges posed by extreme heat and flooding, and we believe that addressing these issues is essential to ensuring a healthier and more equitable environment for all residents.”
“The grant will enable us to provide green services to communities most vulnerable to flooding. We will offer education and resources on sustainable landscaping practices, rainwater harvesting, and flood-resistant building techniques. By empowering residents with these tools, we aim to create a more resilient and prepared community that can better withstand the impacts of climate change.”
“Thrive New Orleans remains committed to racial equity by advancing new systems for economic opportunity, climate resiliency, and community stability and we are grateful to The United States Environment Protection Agency for being an ally in our mission to combat environmental injustice.”
Thanks to President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act—the largest climate investment in U.S. history—this funding is a part the largest investment ever announced under these two longstanding EPA programs. This is the first in a series of environmental justice grant announcements the agency will announce before the end of the year. The grants announced deliver on President Biden’s commitment to advance equity and justice throughout the United States. The two grant programs directly advance the President’s transformational Justice40 initiative to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.