2014 partner grants review

TO: DATE: FROM: RE:

CRWD Grant Review Committee November 14, 2013 Elizabeth Beckman 2014 CRWD Grant Review

Thank you for agreeing to review CRWD 2013 Partner Grant applications. The committee will meet at CRWD on Wednesday, November 20, 4:30-6:00pm. Board of Managers meets at 6:00PM that evening the meeting will last no longer than 1 ½ hours. The Committee recommendation will go before the full Board on December 4 th for approval.

Prior to reviewing the 15 submitted Partner Grant applications, you may benefit from reviewing some of the background materials. For your reference, we have included the RFP and the recently adopted 2014-2015 Education and Outreach Plan. We have also included a table that summarizes the grant application requests and recommended funding amounts and sources from staff. A blank table is also provided for you to take your own notes.

In addition to the background materials we have enclosed copies of the 15 submitted Partner Grant applications.

There is $60,000 in the 2014 Partner Grants budget. Staff has reviewed the applications and made preliminary comments and funding recommendations on the enclosed spreadsheet. Staff recommends funding some projects either partially or fully from the Partner Grant funds, other 2014 budgets or combinations of both. Some projects are not recommended for funding in 2014.

Because each application is unique and it was difficult to create a uniform scoring technique, staff did not rate and rank the applications. As a guideline, however, staff assigned each project a low, medium or high based on three criteria: diversity of the proposed audience, citizen action proposed in the work, measurability of the proposed work and overall impression (of the reviewer) that this is a project CRWD should fund. Funding recommendations were made with these criteria in mind, as well as qualitative considerations that are briefly summarized in the Staff Comments column.

We are sending all of this information in electronic format. If you would like paper copies please let us know.

Please contact me with questions and thank you for your assistance with this process and we will see you on November 20.

Enc:

2014 Partner Grant RFP Education and Outreach Plan, 2014-2015 Review and funding recommendation CRWD staff summary spreadsheet Blank review and funding recommendation summary spreadsheet Partner Grant applications

W:\07 Programs\Stewardship Grant Program\Partner Grants\2014 Grants\2014 Grants Reviewer Letter.docx

For Immediate Release:

Contact: Lindsay at 651-644-8888

Dear Community Partner, CRWD is accepting applications for 2014 grants now through Friday, October 25.

CRWD Grants support organizations who share in its mission to protect, manage, and improve the water resources of the District. Eligible clean water projects include, but are not limited to, education programs and materials, organizing projects, workshops, events, rain gardens and pervious pavement.

All grantees are required to track and report general information about project participation. Priority will be given to applicants who propose to also measure project impacts/benefits. This may include the measurement of residents meaningful actions taken, knowledge increase or changes in water quality protection behavior. Projects that receive grant funding must be competed and a final report submitted to CRWD by December 31, 2014.

In 2014, $60,000 is available for grants ranging from $2,000 to $20,000. Groups within CRWD eligible to receive a grant include nonprofit organizations, District Planning Councils, neighborhood groups, schools, local government units, businesses and faith groups. Grants are made on a reimbursement basis.

2013 Partner Grants Timeline: October 25 Applications due in CRWD office by 4:00pm.

Early November CRWD Board committee review of applications.

November 20 CRWD Board approval of 2014 grants.

November 21 2014 grant recipients notified and agreements sent.

An application is attached in both word and pdf formats. Application materials and a list of past recipients can be found on our website here.

Our Mission is to protect, manage and improve the water resources of Capitol Region Watershed District.

2014 – 2015 CRWD Education and Outreach Plan -- Recommendations Education and Outreach Program Water quality is a function of how people go about their everyday activities, so pollution prevention by watershed residents is an important strategy for improving water quality. A watershed, with its natural boundaries dictating the flow and fate of water through the landscape, provides a logical context for education efforts. Capitol Region Watershed District (CRWD) has developed this Education and Outreach Plan (Plan) to guide efforts to increase clean water actions that prevent pollution. This Plan will be updated over time to adapt to changing needs.

CRWD Staff Resources A clear understanding of staff and financial resources for 2014 and 2015 influenced the recommendations for this Plan. In 2014, CRWD will employ one full-time and one part-time staff to carry out Education and Outreach activities. At this time, it is assumed the same staffing resources will be available for 2015.  

Full‐time Staff – 1920 available hours Part‐time Staff – 880 available hours

CRWD staff, Board of Managers (Board) and Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) members may assist with small projects in implementing this Plan. For the purpose of the following recommendations, however, it is assumed the majority of the work will be completed by CRWD Education and Outreach staff. It is important to recognize that an overload of projects will have a negative effect on the implementation of this Plan. The intent is to encourage a focused approach in order to achieve measureable results.

2014 – 2015 Education and Outreach Plan Goals The heart of this Plan is to increase the availability of CRWD staff to citizens to support their clean water actions with an overarching goal to reduce water pollution within CRWD. To achieve this, 12 key objectives to drive community outreach, knowledge increase, education and action were identified. When implemented, each objective will have either a measureable short-term or long-term impact. Using input from the Board and CAC, the objectives were placed into three categories (Critical, Important and Beneficial) in order to focus staff efforts.  Critical: Objectives with the most measurable and short‐term impact  Important: Objectives with measurable impact, but that would likely be seen over a longer‐term  Beneficial: Objectives with impacts that are less tangible, but that would improve the likelihood of achieving Critical and Important objectives

Our Mission is to protect, manage and improve the water resources of Capitol Region Watershed District.

Recommendations Table To capture and manage a two-year education and outreach program, a simplified table was created to provide the team a focused reference tool. The table provides a snapshot of each objective with its associated audience reach, tools, staffing resources and cost. The objectives are listed by priority action level, short-term actions are marked by a water icon while longterm actions are marked by a community icon. The rows with light blue highlights indicate objectives the Board, CAC and CRWD staff identified as opportunities to bring in outside assistance from consultants or volunteers.

Spotlight Program In order to maximize CRWD funds and resources, the Plan calls for continued partnership and collaboration with organizations and municipalities within CRWD, as well as with neighboring watershed districts. CRWD will devote funds and resources to the following programs to maintain and improve the effectiveness of current outreach programs: Artist in Residence/Green Line Initiative: Hydropolis CRWD’s Artist in Residence, Christine Baeumler, will help facilitate program activities as part of Hydropolis. Christine’s vision of Hydropolis is “a city designed and experienced primarily through our relationship to water where residents and government work cooperatively to manage and conserve water in ways that are sustainable, educational and beautiful. As citizens of the Hydropolis, we ask ourselves how our attitudes, behaviors, and actions would change if water were our primary focus and concern. What would the urban fabric look like if water were truly celebrated for its essential role in our lives and the health and vitality of the environment, upstream and downstream?”

CRWD staff sees potential to realize many of the Plan goals and objectives through this partnership including: trash reduction, highlighting the Green Line BMPs, working with diverse cultural groups, engaging small and large businesses and collaboration with schools and community organizations along the Green Line.

Potential program outputs may include:  Goal – Improvement: Stewardship program where individuals adopt a stormwater BMP (rain garden or stormwater planter)  Goal – Education: Temporary public art installments or performance pieces that interpret the technical aspects of the BMPs in a creative way  Goal ‐‐ Education: Partnerships with schools along the Green Line who want to measure pollution reduction in the BMPs or participate in some other type of clean water activity such as Gordon Parks High School, Creative Arts High School, HUB Center or Central High School

Our Mission is to protect, manage and improve the water resources of Capitol Region Watershed District.

 Goals ‐‐ Involvement and Education: A self‐guided walking tour map of clean water projects along the Green Line Objectives Summary Each objective is aimed to reach one or more audiences using various education and outreach tools, techniques and programs. Most of the following tools and programs are established within CRWD and/or with CRWD’s partners. The goal is to focus efforts by using staff and financial resources in an effective and efficient manner in order to make the greatest impact.

The following will outline each objective and the associated tools to provide a work plan as the Plan is implemented in 2014-15.

Objective 1: Reduce nonpoint source (NPS) pollution A. Stop the Rain Drain (SRD) website redevelopment – Also associated with Objective 8 B. Video turf training video development – Also associated with Objective 3 C. Como Curbside Cleanup – Neighbors in Planning District 10 and 6 come together twice annually to remove organic debris, a major phosphorus source, from entering storm drains that lead to Como Lake. This event increases knowledge level, supports citizen action and reduces pollution. CRWD will support the event by codeveloping event messages with Como Lake Neighbor Network and actively promoting the event.

Objective 2: Winter maintenance training for City of Saint Paul staff A. Sponsor spring and winter trainings – CRWD will provide financial support to the City of Saint Paul for spring and winter road maintenance training and certification. City staff will understand the importance of proper maintenance techniques for lawncare maintenance (Parks) and winter safety maintenance tasks (Public Works).

B. Sponsor quarterly maintenance meetings – CRWD will provide financial support and staff resources to assist with the planning and promotion of quarterly maintenance trainings for the City of Saint Paul Public Works winter maintenance staff. Support will include providing images and education content to refresh training materials and assisting with event supplies and logistics.

Objective 3: Turf maintenance training video A. In partnership with Minnehaha Creek Watershed District and Nine Mile Creek Watershed District, CRWD will codevelop and promote a video training for Saint Paul Parks Operations staff and lawncare maintenance professionals. Staff will review and edit videography Request for Proposals, develop learning objectives and major themes for the video, review the script, and carry out one round of draft video edits. Staff will also promote use of the training through typical means including using the CRWD database to carry out a targeted email campaign to area landscape contractors.

Our Mission is to protect, manage and improve the water resources of Capitol Region Watershed District.

Objective 4: Improve grant program promotion and relationships A. Artist in Residence/Green Line Initiative – Assist in the development of a walking tour map of clean water projects along the Green Line including supply of photos, text creation and document review. CRWD will promote the map through SRD and CRWD websites, social media tools and bi‐monthly newsletters.

B. Increased support/grant making to Southeast Asian community organizations – CRWD will increase grantmaking to organizations serving Southeast Asian communities, specifically Hmong American Cultural Center and Asian Outdoor Heritage Group, to support new and existing pollution prevention projects. The goal is to partner with two programs annually and distribute bilingual educational materials as needed or desired by the organizations.

C. Revise and implement SRD identity for use with grant program (2014) – Also associated with Objective 8. In collaboration with a consultant, CRWD staff will update the SRD website for use with the current suite of grant programs.

Objective 5: Contact database A. Purchase and populate new database – CRWD will identify a consulting partner with a web‐based contact management system to track all stakeholder contact information. The database will be secure and user‐friendly for CRWD staff to view, add, track and run reports on contacts and events. Contact lists will be pulled for electronic and mail distribution, media contacts and more.

Objective 6: Leverage existing school relationships A. Hydropolis partnership with Green Line Schools – This will include the development of a clean water program in 2014 with implementation in 2015. A consulting partner or volunteer in collaboration with CRWD Artist in Residence will facilitate the development and implementations of the program.

B. Enhance partnership with local schools ‐ CRWD staff will capitalize on existing relationships with at least three schools or youth organizations. Current programs within the following schools will be continued and enhanced:  Harambee Elementary – Teacher: Jenny Eckman  Gordon Parks High School – Teacher: Randy Starr  Urban Roots Students – Director: Tamara Downs‐Schwei Objective 7: Focus Stewardship Grants in a single geographic area each year A. Focused Grantmaking – CRWD Education staff and BMP Specialist will continue to explore possibilities for focusing Stewardship Grant efforts in one geographic area and only fund projects with pollution prevention and/or public outreach benefits.

B. RSVP partnership – CRWD will continue its partnership with City of Saint Paul Public Works to assist with boulevard rain gardens installed during street reconstruction. Maintenance meetings, print communication and native plant education

Our Mission is to protect, manage and improve the water resources of Capitol Region Watershed District.

will continue, and staff will add a video component to ongoing homeowner maintenance education.

Objective 8: Design and information upgrade to Stop the Rain Drain (SRD) website A. Revise SRD identity for use with grant programs – CRWD will work with a consulting partner to redesign the SRD website to be used as a landing page for the grant programs. “Stop the Rain Drain” will refer to all our preferred pollution prevention practices, not downspout redirection exclusively. The consulting firm will facilitate a workshop to understand the goals, framework, hosting and maintenance of the site. CRWD staff will create content for the site.

Objective 9: Upgrade education tools on CRWD website A. Materials compilation – CRWD will upgrade the current education tools on the CRWD website with the goal of the site becoming a resource for students, teachers and parents to access clean water education materials for use with students grades 4‐12.

B. Website content update –CRWD staff will work with a consulting partner to identify improvements to content, navigation and mapping of the site to identify the best place for education materials and content and will investigate content sharing capabilities for the website.

C. Better utilize e‐news features – CRWD staff will explore and adopt the best ways to send electronic news updates.

Objective 10: Increase variety of audiences A. Artist in Residence/Green Line Initiative – The Hydropolis creates a new mindset for community members to think about their watershed as the focus of their community rather than their neighborhood boundary. This mentality opens up new partnership opportunities with communities, residents, businesses and organizations along the Green Line. CRWD staff is currently in the program development phase with Artist in Residence Christine Baeumler.

B. Educational partnerships with Saint Paul Parks and Recreation – CRWD will provide financial support for ongoing turf maintenance and certification programs.

Additionally, staff will partner with Parks Education staff on new programming with a clean water focus. Possibilities include an urban game, geocaching scavenger hunt or macroinvertebrate education for students ages 8‐14.

Objective 11: Improve quality of outreach to diverse audiences A. Artist in Residence/Green Line initiative – Overall, the idea of focusing staffing resources and efforts on the 12 identified objectives allows CRWD to invest more time in activities and provide quality programs to communities and areas. Two key recommendations to improve quality of outreach moving forward:

Our Mission is to protect, manage and improve the water resources of Capitol Region Watershed District.

 Follow‐up surveys after events, trainings, educational programs for feedback and opportunities for improvement  Limit commitment to activities outside of this recommendation plan to ensure staff resources are available to commit and effectively execute B. Increased support to community organizations – The contact database will allow staff to more effectively manage communication and recognize entities that routinely support and reach out to CRWD. A better understanding of who are the active citizens in CRWD will allow staff to strategize the best ways to become involved from financial, promotional, volunteer and staffing perspectives.

Objective 12: Utilize CRWD displays A. Displays – Educational displays currently being developed by Hamline’s Center for Global and Environmental Education will be used at at least six community events with adults and/or youth ages 10‐16 in attendance. A Macalester College student intern under the codirection of CRWD staff and Dr. Christie Manning will develop supplemental materials and an implementation plan for the displays (2013‐14). A traveling kiosk, board, or comment box is also a simple and cost‐effective way to provide exposure, brand recognition, trigger social media inquiries, and link citizens to CRWD’s work.

B. Display Calendar – CRWD staff will develop an annual calendar of locations where the portable displays can be exhibited:  Libraries  Stewardship Grant sites  Coffee shops  Downtown skyways  City of Saint Paul Public Works or Sewer Utility offices  Green Line businesses  Outdoors on the Green Line in partnership with Metro Transit Ongoing outreach 1.

Events – To improve the quality of CRWD’s presence and partnership in key community events, the following annual events have been acknowledged as having the highest attendance, interest, investment benefit and that reflect CRWD’s vision and outreach messages.  January – Winter Carnival Event Sponsorship (2015)  April ‐ Mother Earth Fest  Summer ‐ Como Fest  October ‐ Como Leaf Clean‐up Four additional community events may be staffed by CAC members in their respective planning districts. Additional partnership efforts may include:

Our Mission is to protect, manage and improve the water resources of Capitol Region Watershed District.

 Host a table with watershed education materials  CRWD recognized as an event sponsor (listed on posters, t‐shirts, website, etc.)  Assist or lead public relations of a local event (advertising, promotion)  Generate group conversations on CRWD Facebook page  Event announcements  Photos and recaps of events 2.

Newsletters – CRWD will develop a bi‐monthly electronic newsletter (six per year). CRWD staff and a potential consulting partner will generate reports to understand the open rates and outreach return on each newsletter. CRWD staff will generate content and review one draft and one final newsletter prior to distribution.

Contact database will be used to generate a mailing list and track newsletter performance.

3.

SRD and CRWD Websites – Following the revision of the SRD and education tool upgrade on the CRWD website, CRWD will work with a consulting partner to manage the content, mapping and resource information on the websites as needed.

4.

Print Materials & Electronic Media – To expand CRWD’s social media presence, Twitter will be explored as an outreach tool and the existing Facebook page will be maintained. Since social media can be time consuming, CRWD will consider a consulting media partner to assist.

5.

Citizen questions and response – CRWD Education and Outreach staff must continue to receive and respond to citizen inquires. As questions are received, they can be logged and tracked in the contact database. Responses to all citizen inquiries will be returned within two business days, at the most.

6.

Blooming Saint Paul awards – In collaboration with Saint Paul Parks Arts and Garden program, CRWD staff will assist with the promotion of the Blooming Saint Paul awards program, nominations for the CRWD Clean Water Award, and training of Clean Water Award judges in partnership with Ramsey County Master Gardeners.

Our Mission is to protect, manage and improve the water resources of Capitol Region Watershed District.

Review and funding recommendation summary Review summary 2014 Partner Grants No.

Organization

Project name

1 2

Alliance for Sustainabiltiy Asian Outdoor Heritage

3

Ce Tempoxcalli

Faith community organizing Outreach to Hmong community, events and training Chalchiutlique festival

4 5

Friends of the Miss. River

Citizens League/CLNN

6 7 8 9 10

Frogtown Green

River stewardship programming

Harambee Elementary

Teacher training, curriculum and events

Metro Watershed Partners

$10,000

$20,000

$5,000

$20,000 $12,000

$12,000

2013 Total

$10,000

Public Art Saint Paul

14 15

Saint Paul Public Schools Urban Roots Wisdom Dances

Recommneded 2014 funding

$8,000

$8,000

$5,000

$10,000

$16,539

$10,000

$10,000

$10,000

$10,000 $12,000

$20,000 $14,635 $13,900

$10,000

2014 Other funding

$15,000 $8,150

$10,000

Clean water promotion Refurbishment of Gateway garden, signage

$10,000 from 22014280

$10,000 $2,000 220-14250

$12,000

$20,000 $10,826 $20,000

$9,000

$9,000

$12,000

$7,000

$7,000

$20,000

$6,000 $2,000 220-14270

$8,000

$20,000 $11,000

$3,000 220-14260

$3,000

$12,006

$10,000 $2,000 220-14275

Artful rain garden at Western and Marshall Murray Jr. High "Murray Water Pilots" Youth internship stipends

$15,000

$5,000

$5,000

Citizen organizing and cultural event TOTALS

$10,000 $224,056

$60,000

$10,000 220-14275 $29,000

Diversity

Citizen action

Measurability

Overall

med high high

low med high

med med high

low high high

low

high

high

high

low

high

low

low high

$10,000

Adopt-a-Stormdrain smartphone app

11

12 13

2014 Request

2014 P. Grant funding

$10,000

Citizen organizing, education and signage Volunteer restoration at Trout Brook Sanctuary

Hmong Corps

$20,000

Review Summary

2013 Other funding

Citizen organizing and leaf cleanup

Great River Greening

Lower Phalen Creek Project

2013 Request

2013 P. Grant funding

$12,000 $10,000 $89,000

high

med

med

med

med

med

low

high

med

high

high

high

low

low

low

high

med

med

med

high

high

high

high

Staff comments Past results questionable for amount of funding spent.

Fits well with 2014Ed Plan. CRWD staff support needed.

Fits well with 2014Ed Plan. CRWD staff support needed.

Fund $10,000 from 220-14280. Continuation of citzien pilot, D10 willing to be fiscal host, but exec. committee meets 11/24.

2014 donation from 220-14265 Partnerships.

Fits well with 2014Ed Plan. CRWD staff support needed. $2,000 from 220-14250 for signage.

Parks has a contract with GRG to revegetate TB Sanctuary. Could possibly partner with GRG on another project.

Good fit with 2014 Ed plan. Some elements reimburseable after 2 years, so contract questions. CRWD staff support needed.

Not a grant proposal, really. Consider hiring them as an outreach consultant.

Parks has burn scheduled for 2014. RCD can do mgmt plan for Maria Bates garden.

Urban Roots grant covers staff time for Gateway Gardens.

Could partner with RWMWD since would be for all of Saint Paul. Anne Weber on deck to promote the project. $2,000 Website & Social Media 220-14270.

high

low

med

med

$3,000 to support artist involvement from 220-14260 Municipal Outreach. No construction plans yet, but construction costs can possibly come from Special Grants.

high

low

med

low

Possible stewardship grant.

high

med

med

high

Youth conservation corps summer stipends.

high

med

high

high

Fits well with 2014 Ed Plan. CRWD staff support needed. $10,000 from 220-14275.

Review and funding recommendation summary Review summary 2014 Partner Grants No.

Organization

Project name

1 2

Alliance for Sustainabiltiy Asian Outdoor Heritage

Faith community organizing Outreach to Hmong community, events and training Chalchiutlique festival

3

Ce Tempoxcalli Citizens League/CLNN

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Friends of the Miss. River Frogtown Green

River stewardship programming

$10,000

$20,000

$5,000

$20,000 $12,000

$12,000

2013 Total

2014 Request

$10,000

$15,000 $8,150

$5,000

$10,000

$16,539

$10,000

$10,000 $12,000

$20,000 $14,635

Citizen organizing, education and signage Volunteer restoration at Trout Brook Sanctuary

Harambee Elementary

Teacher training, curriculum and events

2014 P. Grant funding

2014 Other funding

Recommneded 2014 funding

Diversity

$13,900 $10,000

$10,000

$10,000

Metro Watershed Partners

Adopt-a-Stormdrain smartphone app

Public Art Saint Paul Saint Paul Public Schools

Artful rain garden at Western and Marshall Murray Jr. High "Murray Water Pilots"

14 15

Wisdom Dances

Youth internship stipends

$20,000 $10,826 $20,000 $12,000

Clean water promotion Refurbishment of Gateway garden, signage

11 12 13

Urban Roots

$20,000

Review Summary

2013 Other funding

Citizen organizing and leaf cleanup

Great River Greening

Hmong Corps Lower Phalen Creek Project

2013 Request

2013 P. Grant funding

$20,000 $20,000 $11,000 $15,000

$5,000

$5,000

Citizen organizing and cultural event TOTALS

$12,006 $10,000 $224,056

$0

$0

$0

Citizen action

Measurability

Overall

Staff comments

Capitol Region Watershed District 1410 Energy Park Drive, Suite 4 Saint Paul, MN 55108 capitolregionwd.org (651) 644‐8888

1

2014 Partner Grant Application Form Please submit form and required materials to: Lindsay VanPatten lindsay@capitolregionwd.org Fax: (651) 644‐8894

APPLICANT INFORMATION Name:

Sean Gosiewski

Organization: Alliance for Sustainability Address: Phone:

2801 21st Ave S. Suite 100, Minneapolis, MN 55407

612-250-0389

Email:

sean@afors.org

Website:

www.afors.org

APPLICATION QUESTIONS

1.

Describe your project.

Volunteers and staff from 20 congregations will work together in four geographic clusters and with Ramsey County Master Gardeners to assess their buildings/ grounds and implement storm water BMPs (i.e. rain gardens, turf management, permeable paving, low salt use) engage their members to take action at home (i.e. rain barrels, blue thumb yard care) and their youth groups in spring and fall watershed clean ups in 2014.

We will follow up on our successful 2013 CRWD Rain Garden workshops with Congregations to create three clusters of congregations working together. Experienced congregations will host events for new congregations.

When volunteer teams install their rain gardens for their congregation in the Spring of 2014 we will invite volunteers from other nearby congregations who are now considering doing a project to volunteer on the planting day to get them excited to move forward with their own project. We will also match new congregations with Master Gardeners to help them plan, request funding, install and maintain their project.

- Summit/ Mac Groveland/Highland – volunteer teams from Macalester Plymouth UCC, St. Paul’s UCC and Temple of Aaron will plant rain gardens in spring of 2014 and will invite volunteers from Mt. Zion, St, Georges, Pilgrim Lutheran, Unity Unitarian, Gloria Dei, House of Hope, Arlington Hills, & St. Paul JCC to volunteer at a planting day to get motivated to apply for funding for a rain garden or parking lot project.

-

University/Midway/Frogtown – St. Peter Claver staff & volunteers will invite nearby congregations to a community dinner in the winter to meet master gardeners who will help them look for opportunities to do a project at their church (with google earth maps) including Morningstar MBC, New Jerusalem, New Birth, Camphor, St. Paul Fellowship, St. Paul Reformation, St. Stephanus, Central Baptist and Pilgrim Baptist

-

Saint Anthony Park, Como, Falcon Heights/ Roseville – (hosts) Luther Seminary volunteers who installed a rain garden will invite other nearby congregations to a winter pot luck to meet master gardeners who will help them look for opportunities to do a project at their church (with a google earth view) including – Roseville - North Como. St. Christophers, Roseville Lutheran, Como - Como Lake Lutheran, Lauderdale - Peace Lutheran, Falcon Heights UCC, and St. Anthony Park St. Mathews, SAP Lutheran, SAP UMC, SAP UCC. 1

2.

Describe the mission and goals of your organization and how this project helps meet them.

The Alliance for Sustainability was founded in 1983 as a nonprofit in Minnesota. We have 5,000 active members in Minnesota. We link citizens and cities for sustainable communities. We currently support volunteer leaders with green teams in 50 metro congregations, 20 schools and 30 neighborhoods & suburban communities to carry out watershed-friendly projects and sustainability projects for energy efficiency, waste reduction, walking & biking, tree care, as well as buying food from local, sustainable farmers. This project will help us create self-sustaining groups of congregations working together for environmental stewardship in three clusters University/Midway, Highland/Mac/Summit Hill and Como Park/ St. Anthony Park/Roseville/Falcon Heights

3.

How much money are you requesting? (between $2,000 and $20,000) We are requesting $15,000

4.

How will this project prevent water pollution?



We will reduce storm water run-off volume by supporting congregations to develop plans to install rain gardens, rain barrels and permeable pavers, and re-direct down spouts on their properties and by encouraging their members to do the same at home.

We will reduce salt run-off into lakes and the river by helping congregations and their maintenance contractors to adopt low-salt winter maintenance methods We will reduce storm water and phosphorous run off by helping congregations to adopt watershed friendly turf maintenance methods to capture more storm water on site with taller grass length and soil aeration and to keep grass clippings off hard surfaces.

We will help reduce phosphorous run off by engaging youth and adult volunteers to rake leaves out of curbs and storm drains in the fall working with the Fresh Water Society

  

5.

What geographic and/or demographic area do you serve?

We will be reaching residents of all ages and incomes and of many cultures by engaging congregations in neighborhoods of all incomes. Our proposed geographic clusters of congregations for 2014, with mentor congregations inviting new congregations to a dinner to learn about watershed stewardship opportunities are.

-

Summit/ Mac Groveland/Highland – mentor congregations - Macalester Plymouth UCC, St. Paul’s UCC and Temple of Aaron - interested congregations - Mt. Zion, St, Georges, Pilgrim Lutheran, Unity Unitarian, Gloria Dei, House of Hope, Arlington Hills, & St. Paul JCC.

-

University/Midway/Frogtown – mentor congregation - St. Peter Claver - interested congregations Morningstar MBC, New Jerusalem, New Birth, Camphor, St. Paul Fellowship, St. Paul Reformation, St. Stephanus, Central Baptist and Pilgrim Baptist

-

Saint Anthony Park, Como, Falcon Heights/ Roseville – mentor congregation - Luther Seminary interested congregations - Roseville - North Como. St. Christopher’s, Roseville Lutheran, Como - Como Lake Lutheran, Lauderdale - Peace Lutheran, Falcon Heights UCC, and St. Anthony Park St. Mathews, SAP Lutheran, SAP UMC, SAP UCC. (this cluster will also coordinate with Rice Creek and RWMWD)

6.

Describe how CRWD grant funds will be used.

In addition to providing event food, printing and postage to recruit congregations to participate in our 3 geographic cluster meetings CRWD grant funds cover the staff time for Alliance for Sustainability staff Sean Gosiewski and Paris Dunning to do the outreach and follow up work to - Connect congregational volunteers that are doing rain garden installations in the spring with each other and with volunteers from other interested congregations to participate in their planting days.

- Match congregations who are interested in doing a rain garden or parking lot project with help including a site visit from Ryan Johnson and with a Master Gardener skilled at designing rain gardens.

- Form 3 clusters of 7 congregations (20 congregations) that will assess their buildings and grounds, engage their members to take action at home and plug their youth groups into spring & fall watershed clean ups.

2

-

Support all 20 congregations to do one or more water-quality friendly actions in 2014 with their (1) building and grounds), (2) member action at home and (3) spring/fall watershed cleanups 7.

What is the timeline for this project?



January through March – Host Three Learning Events - work with our our mentor congregations in our three cluster areas to host a dinner for other congregations in their area, share the story of how they organized their rain garden project and match interested congregations with resources including Ryan Johnson and a Ramsey County Master Gardeners to assist them to assess their site and design a project.



April to June – Spring Planting Days - Connect congregational volunteers that are doing rain garden installations with each other (Mac Groveland, St. Paul’s UCC, Temple of Aaron) and with volunteers from other interested congregations to invite them to participate in their planting days to generate interest in doing a project.



April to June – Set up site visits with interested congregations with Ryan Johnson and a Master Gardener to assess their sites, help them design a project, apply for funding, install and maintain project.



June through October – Support all 20 congregations to do one or more water-quality friendly actions in 2014 with their (1) building and grounds), (2) member action at home and (3) spring/fall watershed cleanups

8. If applicable, please list other partners and their role in this project.

Site assessment and design partners to help congregations assess their sites, help them design a project, apply for funding, install and maintain project.  

Ryan Johnson, Ramsey Conservation District 651-266-7275 ryan.johnson@co.ramsey.mn.us Ramsey County Master Gardeners 651.704.2071

Design/ Build Partners – may present on past projects at our workshops. They will be available to do an initial consultation over the phone and/or in person with congregations that are thinking of going further. Metro Blooms, Gardening Matters and  Earth Wizards Stace Anderson, 763-784-3833 stace@earthwizards.com www.earthwizards.com  Solution Blue Mitchell Cookas 651- 294-0038. mcookas@solutionblue.com www.solutionblue.com  Barr Engineering Company Fred Rozumalski, (952) 832-2733 frozumalski@barr.com  Emmons Olivier Resources Lisa Tilman, P.E. (651) 2036015 ltilman@eorinc.com  EnergyScapes Douglas Owens Pike, EnergyScapes 612-821-9797 douglas@energyscapes.com  Ecological Gardens Paula Westmoreland, 612-998-1712 paula@ecologicalgardens.com  Krista Leraas Harvest Moon Backyard Farmers, 612-209-2146 krista@harvestmoonfarmers.com  Russ Henry, Giving Tree Gardens (612) 227-0115 rhenry@gtgardens.com Behavior Change Partner Peggy Knapp, Freshwater Society, 763-219-1252 pknapp@freshwater.org providing guest speakers for congregations through the new Watershed Stewards program.

Mentor Congregations – in 2014 we will develop 3 clusters of congregations, working with volunteers from our mentor congregations to reach out to the additional congregations listed (see above.)

9.

How will you measure the success of your project?

Impacts: During 2014 volunteer teams in 20 CRWD congregations will work with one another to implement a measureable project at all three levels (7 congregations working together in 3 clusters) 1. One or more water quality BMPs with their buildings and grounds (i.e. rain gardens, turf management, permeable paving, low salt use)  Low cost BMPs –all 20 congregations will begin to implement at least one of the easy storm water BMPs including redirecting down spouts, regular sweeping of sidewalks and parking lots, wise turf grass management to reduce run off, & low salt use on their sidewalks & parking lots.

3

 

Intermediate steps – 5 congregations will install a rain barrel, a compost system Major Investments – 3 congregations will install rain gardens in the spring of 2014 (St. Paul’s UCC, Macalester Plymouth and Temple of Aaron) and 5 additional congregations will plan, design and apply for matching funds for a larger BMP - installing rain gardens, capturing parking lot run off on site, etc.

2. Five congregations will do home action campaigns with their members (rain barrels, down spout re-direct, blue thumb lawn care, mulching grass clippings, raking leaves off their curbs, sidewalks and storm drains, etc..)

3. Five congregations will send a volunteer team to do a service learning projects with adult or youth volunteer teams (i.e. April 13 earth day clean ups, May 18 Blooming St. Paul Event, October Work for Water Community Clean Up, buckthorn busting, storm drain stenciling, etc.)

10. How did you find out about the CRWD Grant program? We are a partner of the Capitol Region Watershed District

PROJECT SCOPE

Outline the scope of this project in one to six objectives.

1 1 30 3 Start Date: End Date:

ONE Host Three Dinners to launch 3 clusters of 7 congregations working together on projects Objective:

January through March – Host Three Cluster Gatherings - work with our mentor Deliverables:

congregations in our three cluster areas to

 host a dinner for other congregations in their area,

 share the story of how they organized their rain garden project and

 match interested congregations with resources including Ryan Johnson and a

Ramsey County Master Gardener to get them started exploring a project

1 4 30 6 Start Date: End Date:

Objective: TWO Spring Planting Days -

April to June – Spring Planting Days - Connect congregational volunteers that are doing Deliverables:

rain garden installations with each other (Mac Groveland, St. Paul’s UCC, Temple of Aaron)

and with volunteers from other interested congregations to invite them to participate in their

planting days to generate interest in doing a project.

1 4 30 6 Start Date: End Date:

Objective: THREE Set up site visits with interested congregations

April to June – Set up site visits with interested congregations with Ryan Johnson and a Deliverables:

Master Gardener to assess their sites, help them design a project, apply for funding, install

and maintain project.

Start Date: June 1 End Date: Oct 30

Objective: FOUR Support congregations to do their watershed friendly projects

June through October – Support all 20 congregations to do one or more water-quality Deliverables: friendly actions in 2014 with their (1) building and grounds), (2) member action at home and

(3) spring/fall watershed cleanups

4

PROJECT BUDGET

Complete the budget form below and include other funding sources.

Objective Personnel/staff Other costs Cost ($) ($)

1 One – Host three cluster $5,000 Event food gatherings $500 (Sean Gosiewski, Paris Printing/Postag Dunning ‐ 40 hrs x 3 e $250 events hrs x $35 = $5,000

2 Two – Support spring $2,000 Event supplies planting days $250 3 events x 20 hrs x $35 = $2,000 3 Three – Set up site $3,000 assessments with congregations 85 hrs x $35 = $3,000 4 Four – support $5000 congregations to implement watershed friendly projects. 7 hrs x 20 projects x $35 = $5,000

$15,000 $1,000 TOTALS  May include in‐kind donations/labor, cash, etc.

Amount funded

by CRWD ($)

Other funding sources * ($) Xcel Energy $750

Total cost of objective ($) $5,750

Xcel Energy $250

$2,250

$3,000

$5000

$1,000

$16,000

5

2 Capitol Region Watershed District 1410 Energy Park Drive, Suite 4 Saint Paul, MN 55108 capitolregionwd.org (651) 644‐8888

2014 Partner Grant Application Form Please submit form and required materials to: Lindsay VanPatten lindsay@capitolregionwd.org Fax: (651) 644‐8894

APPLICANT INFORMATION Name:

Cheng Lee

Organization: Asian Outdoor Heritage Address: Phone:

995 University Ave #226

651-447-9150

Email:

chenglee@aohmn.org

Website:

http://www.aohmn.org/

APPLICATION QUESTIONS 1.

Describe your project.

For the purpose of educating the Hmong community on clean water, reducing storm water run‐off,

reducing non‐point source water pollution and other water‐related issues, this project will reach out to the

Hmong community within the Capital Region Watershed District through four key projects. Those four key

projects are: 1) A half‐day educational workshop targeted for Hmong community members within the CRWD. 2) Information booths at two of the largest yearly Hmong community events: the Hmong New Year celebration at Excel Energy Center in St. Paul, and at the July 4th Hmong Celebration sports event at McMurray Field in Como Park. Attendance at these two events is expected to reach into the tens of thousands.

3) Youth education and training workshop to be held during the annual AOH youth camping trip.

4) Public Service announcements for radio featuring Hmong community leaders, printed information in Hmong language to be distributed at Hmong events including AOF firearm safety classes (100+ participants four to five times per year) and water‐related interviews on Hmong radio stations to reach out to the broader St. Paul community with clean water messages and information.

1

2.

Describe the mission and goals of your organization and how this project helps meet them.

The mission of Asian Outdoor Heritage (AOH) is to help achieve the highest quality outdoor recreation and natural resources conservation for all Minnesotans and particularly the state's Asian-American communities.

We are an organization that supports outdoor habitat preservation and have expertise in connecting with Hmong community and outdoor enthusiasts. We believe being able to connect with the Hmong community and educate them on ways to better preserve clean water will support future outdoor recreation for all.

3. How much money are you requesting? (between $2,000 and $20,000)

$8150 – see Project Budget Section

4. How will this project prevent water pollution?

By educating the Hmong community of the Capitol Region Watershed on water and water pollution we can begin to change the behaviors of individuals and families toward recycling, the use of non-toxic household cleaners and lawn chemicals, the responsible disposal of yard waste and decreased non-point source pollutants coming from the community. Providing a consistent message about clean water and providing

knowledge to the community will lead to less water pollution in the future.

5. What geographic and/or demographic area do you serve?

AOH seeks to serve as the leading Hmong and Southeast Asian outdoor recreation and conservation organization for the state of Minnesota. For the purposes of this grant we will reach out specifically to the Hmong community with the Capitol Region Watershed District.

6. Describe how CRWD grant funds will be used.

These funds will be used to execute the four key projects outlined in item 1, in cooperation with the board of

directors. Funds will be used to provide all aspects of project execution including hiring a temporary part time project coordinator, cost of materials and supplies, and marketing.

2

7.

What is the timeline for this project?

Planning and execution for the various objectives will be completed within the calendar year of 2014.

8. If applicable, please list other partners and their role in this project.

AOH will seek to engage additional new partners to help facilitate effective execution of project.

Prospective partners would include those community leaders, agencies and organizations seeking to address water-related issues in Hmong populations within the CRWD.

Current partners are:

 Senator Foung Hawj (DFL) District 67 - Minnesota Senate – will record a Public Service

Announcement.

 Tong Vang, MN Department of Natural Resources, Southeast Asian Liaison, Fish and Wildlife

Division – will help identify relevant speakers and provide MN DNR informational materials.

 Hmong Mutual Assistance Association – will help provide marketing and outreach to Hmong

audiences.

 Joe’s Sporting Goods – will provide information on lead-free fishing tackle and other information

relevant to anglers.

9. How will you measure the success of your project?

We will measure our success through the following means:

- Opinion surveys of the participants in our workshop and youth training.

- Surveys on water-related topics, behaviors and interests for those stopping by our booths at Hmong New Year and July 4 sports event.

10. How did you find out about the CRWD Grant program?

AOH learned about the CRWD Grant program from the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization.

3

PROJECT SCOPE

Outline the scope of this project in one to six objectives.

2014 1 2014 12 Start Date: End Date:

Objective: Reach out to the Hmong community through a half-day educational workshop targeted for

Hmong community members within the CRWD on topics relevant to the concerns and issues Deliverables: of the CRWD. All presentations will be translated for Hmong participants with limited

English-language skills.

 Speakers with PowerPoint presentations from relevant agencies

 Clean water displays and demonstrations provided by project partners and relevant

agencies

 Hand-out information, posters and give-away items provided by project partners and

AOH

 Youth activities that engage and educate attending youth through playful

demonstrations and hand-outs.

 Refreshments and food

2014 1 2014 12 Start Date: End Date:

AOH information booths at the two biggest yearly Hmong community events: Hmong New Objective:

Year celebration at Excel Energy Centre in St. Paul and the July 4th Hmong sports event at Deliverables: McMurray Field in Como Park.

 A booth at each of these yearly Hmong community events

 Hand-out information in Hmong language provided by AOH

o Hand-out information including posters and other educational materials

provided by project partners and others.

 Table-top demonstrations showing water-run off, non-toxic cleaning materials and

other interactive content showing various aspects of clean water, non-point source

pollution and other water-related issues for event participants, along with volunteers

to operate and discuss demonstrations.

 AOH board members who will meet the public to discuss water-related issues and

conduct a survey gauging public knowledge, interest and possible behavioral changes

prompted by booth.

4

2014 1 2014 12 Start Date: End Date:

Objective: Youth education and training workshop to be held during the annual AOH youth camping

1. Topic experts to deliver educational training for youth in a focused training during Deliverables: camp-out.

2. Hands-on demonstrations showing the impact of non-point source water pollution,

invasive species and other water-related topics relevant in particular to youth and

families.

3. Information and tour of rain-gardens and natural water-control methods used at the

park where camping trip takes place. Training for youth in building and maintaining

rain gardens at their homes, churches and other appropriate locations within their

community. This will be provided by park rangers and other topic experts.

4. Additional specific and practical steps youth can take in their lives and for their

families to reduce non-point source water pollution, the spread of invasive species,

increase recycling, and help reduce water pollution.

5. Hand-outs and giveaways for youth, such as lead-free fishing tackle, message t-shirts,

native plant seeds, and other fun educationally-relevant materials.

PROJECT SCOPE

Outline the scope of this project in one to six objectives.

2014 1 2014 12 Start Date: End Date:

Run Public Service Announcements on Hmong radio, print brochures in Hmong language, Objective:

and implement four water-related interviews on Hmong radio stations to reach out to the Deliverables: broader St. Paul community with clean water messages and information.

 Pre-recorded public PSAs, recorded by Senator Foung Hawj and other notable Hmong

community leaders to promote clean water messages and information. These PSAs

will be run on Hmong radio stations.

 Brochures in Hmong language with simple clean water messages and practical steps

families and individuals can take to reduce water pollution and the use of toxic

materials in the home.

 AOH board members will purchase time (purchase is required) on Hmong radio

stations to discuss and provide information in Hmong language for listeners.

 Hmong-language radio is an important communications medium in the community,

especially for older Hmong citizens, many of whom are home-owners, business owners, and family and clan leaders. Reaching this audience will greatly improve the

impact of our water-related messages.

5

Objective:

Deliverables:

Objective:

Deliverables:

Start Date: End Date:

Start Date: End Date:

6

PROJECT BUDGET

Complete the budget form below and include other funding sources.

Objective Personnel/staff Other costs Cost ($) ($)

1

Community Training and Workshops

$1000

2

Educational Booths at community Events

$1800

3

Public Announcements for Hmong Community

Youth Program and rain garden project

$125

4

5

6



$625

Total: $1600

1) $600‐ Food/Drink 2) $500‐ promotional items 3) $500‐ printouts/ brochures

Total: $1100

1) $800‐entance fees, parking, food (10 people) 2) $300 – booth fees $600 – radio

Total: $1300

1) $150 – camp fees 2) $800 – food/drinks & supplies, transportation 3) $200 – flyers 4) $150 – rain garden supplies

Amount funded by CRWD ($) $2600

Other funding sources * ($) $3000

$5600

$2900

$500

$3400

$725

Total cost of objective ($)

$725

$1925

$500

$2425

$8,150

$4,000

$12,150

$3,550 $4,600 TOTALS May include in‐kind donations/labor, cash, etc.

7

3 Capitol Region Watershed District 1410 Energy Park Drive, Suite 4 Saint Paul, MN 55108 capitolregionwd.org (651) 644‐8888

2014 Partner Grant Application Form Please submit form and required materials to: Lindsay VanPatten lindsay@capitolregionwd.org Fax: (651) 644‐8894

APPLICANT INFORMATION T. Zea Leguizamon, Executive Director / Contact Person: Felipe Espinoza Day, Cultural Programs Director

Name:

Organization: Ce Tempoxcalli Address: Phone:

179 Robie Street East, Suite 274, Saint Paul, MN 55108

(c) 651-353-0687

Email:

Felipe@ce-t.org

Website:

ce-t.org

APPLICATION QUESTIONS 1.

Describe your project.

This year will mark the tenth anniversary of the Chalchiutlicue Water Ceremony. We have many people who consistently come to the event and will honor this consistent base of participants by incorporating a longitudinal assessment of how people have been impacted by participation over the years, what they have learned, and what they can do now to be even more wise in water conservation in their families and more organized to address the water crisis in the world. In 2001 in Cochabamba, Bolivia the

indigenous people led a successful campaign to prevent the privatization of water and authored a declaration of commitment to

organize to protect both the right of people to water, and the rights of water. This water declaration formed the basis for the evolution of the framework on the Rights of Mother Earth, also emerging out of Cochabamba.

This year Ce Tempoxcalli will collectively author a Twin Cities Declaration on the Rights of Water and organize our community to engage in this year’s Chalchiutlicue Summit as a space to commit to more consciously and holistically reduce the water footprint of our homes, businesses, institutions, communities, and branches of government. The Chalchiutlicue Summit will have 2000 or more participants, and all will be invited to monthly “conversations over water” between January 2014 and the next Summit in June. An on-line tool will be created on our website to invite participation in our longitudinal survey, to regularly blog and how indigenous people are organizing around the Rights of and to Water globally, and what we can do locally. At the on water summit people will participate in demonstrations on activities to conserve and protect water.

2.

Describe the mission and goals of your organization and how this project helps meet them.

Ce Tempoxcalli exists to promote indigenous knowledge production and revitalize families and communities of people of Latino‐ indigenous heritage. We have four program areas designed to facilitate health and wellness in the head, hearts, arms, and legs of our community: an education program; a healing arts program, a food and environment program, and a traditional culture and arts program. The Chalchiutlicue Ceremony and Summit has always been our key event through which we integrate all aspects of our organization’s value system. We educate our community about culture through our ceremony and summit, we connect people to ways to both heal our relation to water and to heal as communities, we do this through an environmentally focused event, and we engage people in a celebration of culture through dance via Danza Mexica Cuauhtémoc.

3.

How much money are you requesting? (between $2,000 and $20,000)

$16,539

1

4.

How will this project prevent water pollution?

This project will discern how much effective action participants have taken so far to reduce use of harsh household chemicals, to prevent storm‐water runoff, to use water conserving techniques in landscaping and gardening, to reduce water consumption in homes, business and institutions and to consider personal responsibility in light of the global challenges around access to clean water.

However much action people have taken personally, this year’s summit will put personal responsibility in the context of global responsibility to protect the water for its own sake, and access to water for quality of life for all people. Building on the Water Declaration at Cochabamba in 2001, we will develop a Twin Cities Declaration on the Rights of/to Water and help people

understand and commit to multiple forms and levels of action to reduce water pollution, increase water conservation, and

regenerate water ecosystems. In order to do this locally and more broadly, we will inform people of the policy aspects of city,

county, state, federal and international law to protect water and access to water.

5.

What geographic and/or demographic area do you serve?

We office on the Westside of Saint Paul, but have always served the Latino‐indigenous community of the entire Twin Cities metropolitan region, and will continue to do so. Ce Tempoxcalli is chartered here locally, and also in CA and AZ, where we are also committed to promoting consciousness and action around water, the environment and traditional culture.

6. Describe how CRWD grant funds will be used.

Fund will support monthly “conversations over water” at which our staff engages former participants of Chalchiutlicue Summits

in considering the many ways they have taken action to address water pollution, conservation, or glean what it take to increase the consistent practice of water responsibility in their homes, businesses, institutions, communities and region. We will inform people of the Rights of Water framework and engage people in helping us reach out to and effectively invite 2000 or more people to actively participate in our Summit in June 2014. Funds will pay for event costs, logistics organizing, education and evaluation.

7. What is the timeline for this project?

January – June 2014. We will begin regularly planning meetings in January 2014, and continue organizing, educating and evaluating through the date of the event in June 2014. The final event date will be set at our January planning meeting, but we expect it will be the fourth weekend of the month (June 27‐29).

8. If applicable, please list other partners and their role in this project.

More than 100 partners will play some role in helping us do outreach and education for this event: MN Pollution Control Agency, U.S. Forest Service, DNR, GLFWC, CRWD, EJAM, AfroEco, Danza Mexica Cuauhtémoc, WSCO, St Paul American Indians in Unity, Wellstone Center, City of Saint Paul, St Paul Parks and Rec, Great River Greening, Friends of the Mississippi, American Indian Nations, Latino Cultural Organizations, refugee and immigrant organizations across the metro area, and many more.

9. How will you measure the success of your project?

1 ‐ # of attendees to Chalchiutilicu; 1000 or more 2 ‐ # of attendees evaluated longitudinal surveys completed; 200 3 ‐ # of Signers to our Twin Cities Declaration on the Rights of/to Water; 500 4 ‐ Measurement of potential impact of pollution prevention and water conservation commitments on the region. a.) Longitudinal study results &

b.) Women’s Journal – findings report

10. How did you find out about the CRWD Grant program?

CRWD has generously supported us in the past, and asked us to apply again this year.

2

PROJECT SCOPE

Outline the scope of this project in one to six objectives.

2014 1 2014 6 Start Date: End Date:

Complete and Analyze Longitudinal Survey Objective:

We will contract with the former organizer of our water summit – Tara Chadwick – who is now running a Deliverables: museum on the Seminole Reservation in Florida to design our longitudinal survey. She has the most embodied

knowledge of what we have done through all the summits, and how it has impacted participants. She is thus

best prepared to design a highly relevant survey tool that allows us to assess how much attitude and behavior

change has occurred among past participants, and where we might best focus our attention to reduce water

pollution and increase water conservation going forward.

We will close the survey window 2 weeks before the Summit and analyze the data in order to frame points of

emphasis at the Summit.

2014 1 6 Start Date: End Date: 2014

Design and Share a Twin Cities Declaration on the Rights of and to Water Objective:

Deliverables: Our Executive Director will glean information from international movements to protect water and from some

of our local experts such as; The Center for Earth, Energy and Democracy; also The Indigenous Environmental

Network. We will craft a local Declaration and invite people to sign on to commitments to change our

personal, familial and collective behavior around water and identify key public policy changes we would like to see made at local to international levels.

We will post the Declaration on our website and invite our 100 or more organizational allies to also post on

their websites – all directing people to join us at the Summit, sign on to the Declaration on line and share the

Declaration in their networks.

27/14 6 29/14 6 Start Date: End Date:

Chalchiutlicue Ceremony and Summit Objective:

Facilitate the 10th annual Chalchiutlicue Ceremony and Summit, with more than 2000 participants who actively Deliverables: learn how far we have come in cleaning up our water and conserving our supply, and what we can do at

individual, household and broader collective levels to protect and conserve water for life.

Start Date: 1 2014 End Date: 6 30/2014

Women’s Water Circle Focus Group Objective:

15 to 20 women will meet at least monthly from January through June to examine how we each relate to Deliverables: water in day to day behavior through our family systems, community and work. We will learn together the

many ways we can act to conserve water and reduce water pollution. All women participants will keep journals

documenting their reflections and behaviors regarding water and discuss what we are thinking about and

doing in relation to water in our circle gatherings each month. At the end of six months, the women’s circle will

present what they have learned and changed in behavior through participation in the circle, and invite all

attendees at the Summit to consider how much of a difference we can make in our “water footprint” and our

role in regenerating water ecosystems through personal and small group work. We will “do the math” on how

much of an impact we could have on water quality, quantity and ecosystems health through these changes.

3

PROJECT BUDGET

$16,539

Complete the budget form below and include other funding sources.

Objective Personnel/staff Other costs Cost ($) ($)

1 Longitudinal Survey $1,500 $1,500

2 Conversations over $1,539 $500 water / Event Planning

3 Design, test and $2,000 $3,000 implement Declaration on Rights of and to Water

4 organize and facilitate $3,000 $6,000 the Chalchiutlicue Ceremony and Summit

5 $10,000 $2,000 Women’s Water Circle Focus Group

6 Administrative overhead $2,000 $2,400

$20,039 $15,400 TOTALS

Amount funded

by CRWD ($) $1,500

Other funding sources * ($) $1,500

Total cost of objective ($) $3,000

$1,539

$500

$2,039

$2,000

$3,000

$5,000

$7,000

$2,000

$9,000

$2,000

$10,000

$12,000

$2,500

$2,400

$4,900

$16,539

$19,400

$35,539

4

4

Name:

Adam Arling and Janna Caywood

Organization: Citizens League and Como Lake Neighbor Network Address:

213 East 4th Street, St. Paul, MN 55101

Phone:

651-293-0575 or 651-261-7416

Email:

aarling@citizensleague.org or janna@watercircles.org

Website:

CitizensLeague.org or CLNN.org

APPLICATION QUESTIONS Describe your project.

Please see addendum for explanation of the “need” for the Como Civic Governance pilot. This program grant request has three components: a pilot project and two associated phosphorus reduction solution strategies.

1.

We are requesting funds for the continuation of the Como Civic Governance pilot project begun in 2013 (and funded by CRWD). The purpose of the pilot is to provide Civic Organizing leadership training for 3 to 5 Como residents who will make up the Leadership Team of the Como Lake Neighbor Network. The Civic Governance pilot includes an introduction to the Civic Organizing framework and approach; knowledge and skill building in Civic Organizing theory and practice disciplines; an infrastructure for organizing other neighbors in Como to the role of “active citizen;” and connection to a larger cross‐sector base, called the Minnesota Active Citizenship Initiative, which is testing and advancing the Civic Organizing framework and approach throughout Minnesota.

The Citizens League provides support for the pilot through teaching and advising. The purpose of the Como Lake Neighbor Network (CLNN) is to create an organized base of active Como citizens who work together – and in collaboration with cross‐sector partners – in solving the problem of phosphorus pollution flowing to Como Lake from the surrounding lakeshed.

2.

Members of the Como Civic Governance pilot (the CLNN leadership team) will plan, coordinate and implement two citizen‐led, phosphorus reduction solution strategies in 2014: a. Spring “Plant it Forward” – CLNN will organize neighbors along Lakeview Avenue to install native pants along the public boulevard. The goal is to prevent sediment from crumbling curb lines from washing into storm sewers and to improve the stormwater absorption capacity of

b.

the boulevard. In subsequent years we would choose another block to install native plants along boulevards. If plants from the previous year’s project are ready to be divided we would use these. Also, we’d use plants grown by neighbors.

Fall “Como Curb Cleanup” – CLNN will organize neighbors across the community to remove leaves “as they fall” from street gutters along home blocks in order to prevent the leaves from leaching their phosphorus into stormwater/storm sewers that drain to Como Lake. (The CLNN won the 2013 Sustainable St. Paul Award for water quality for this project.)

Describe the mission and goals of your organization and how this project helps meet them.

The Citizens League builds civic imagination and civic capacity in Minnesota by:  identifying, framing and proposing solutions to public policy problems  developing civic leaders in all generations who govern for the common good  organizing the individual and institutional relationships necessary to achieve these goals

As a 501 (c)(3) the Citizens League is applying for grant funds and would hire the CLNN’s Lead Organizer, Janna Caywood, as an independent contractor to lead the initiative.

Developing the leadership capacity of Como residents and a cross‐sector network of partners to work with the Como Lake Neighbor Network on the issue of Como Lake’s impaired water quality condition is in keeping with the Citizens League’s mission to build civic governance capacity throughout Minnesota.

How much money are you requesting? (between $2,000 and $20,000)

We are requesting $20,000.

How will this project prevent water pollution?

The Civic Governance pilot is intended to:  Build the civic leadership capacity of a small group of Como residents (3 to 5) who would form the “leadership team” of the Como Lake Neighbor Network  This leadership team would identify, organize and support other neighbors throughout Como to take on the role of active citizen and to work together as an organized base of citizen problem solvers.  This organized base of active Como citizens (organized under the structure of the Como Lake Neighbor Network) would take the lead in advancing solution strategies – in collaboration with cross‐sector partners – that prevent phosphorus pollution from flowing from the watershed into Como Lake.

The two Solution Strategies are intended to:  (Spring ‐ Plant it Forward) Add native plants to boulevards thereby reducing compacted soils so they absorb more stormwater, and reducing crumbling curb lines so they don’t send sediment into storm sewers and the lake.  (Fall ‐ Como Curb Cleanup) Organize households community‐wide to remove leaves from street gutters so the leaves don’t leach their phosphorus into stomwater/storm sewers that drain to Como Lake.

What geographic and/or demographic area do you serve?

This project takes place in the Como neighborhood of St. Paul, specifically Como Lake’s lakeshed.

Como is an older neighborhood, highly urbanized, highly impervious, made up mostly of single‐

family homes. CLNN’s primary focus is adults who are head of household, though we also have several youth partners.

Describe how CRWD grant funds will be used.

Grant funds will be used to pay CLNN’s Lead Organizer for (part of) her time in leading and teaching in the pilot, organizing Como citizen leaders, and organizing and leading the two solution strategies to be advanced in spring and fall. Funds also will be used to pay Peg Michels of Civic Organizing Inc. for (part of) her time as a teaching resource for the pilot. Also, funds will be used to pay for supplies and materials associated with each solution strategy. And funds will be used to pay the Citizens League for administration of the grant (10%).

What is the timeline for this project?

January 2014 through December 2014.

If applicable, please list other partners and their role in this project.

Citizens League – provide support for the Civic Governance pilot University of Minnesota – provide and interpret current research on stormwater nutrient pollution from leaves, specific to Como; partner on planning the solutions District 10 Community Council –partner on communications, planning and implementing solutions City of St. Paul Parks and Recreation, Public Works, City Councilmember (Ward 5) – partner on work with youth partners, planning, logistical coordination, communications and implementing solutions Ramsey County Public Health – partner on logistical planning, coordinating, and implementing solutions 7 Corners Printing, Advanced Disposal – provide free brochures, free roll‐off dumpsters, free supplies Humphrey Job Corps, Girl Scouts, Delta Sigma Pi AE students, North Como Presbyterian – youth partners who take part in the solutions

We will also seek a partnership with Ramsey County Conservation and a native plant supplier

How will you measure the success of your project?

 We will count the number of Como households that take part in the solution strategies and will estimate pounds of phosphorus prevented community‐wide. Our U of M partners will help us estimate P‐source reduction per participating household based on their knowledge of expected leaf drop on Como neighborhood streets. We’ll work with CRWD staff to estimate phosphorus reduction from boulevard native plants.  Effectiveness of the solution strategies will be evaluated through a resident survey, debriefing sessions with partners, and one‐on‐one conversations with key participants.  The Civic Governance pilot will be evaluated through an end‐point evaluation based on civic organizing measures that determine the value of the process. Civic organizing measures include the above measures and will be done by pilot participants.

How did you find out about the CRWD grant program?

From CRWD staff.

Project Scope

Outline the scope of this project in one to six objectives

Start Date: 01/2014 – End Date: 12/2014 Objective 1: Continue the Como Civic Governance Pilot Project Deliverables: Organize 3 – 5 citizen leaders from the Como neighborhood to take part in the pilot Organize a larger network of 20 leaders in Como to be introduced to Civic Organizing Copies of outcomes documents from each month training session Copies of primary policy document, power analysis, and work plan Copies of workshop agenda, curriculum materials Evaluation results Final report

Start Date: 01/2014 – End Date: 06/2014 Objective 2: Plan, Coordinate, and Implement Spring “Plant it Forward” Solution Strategy Deliverables: Organize 10 to 30 neighbors living on Lakeview Avenue to take part in installing native plants on the public boulevard, in collaboration with CLNN and partners Organize 5+ cross‐sector partners, to include new partnerships with Ramsey County Conservation and a native plant supplier Copies of promotional/communications materials and media outreach Copy of logistics coordination plan Evaluation results (resident survey, partner debriefing, one‐on‐one interviews) Final report

Start Date: 07/2014 – End Date: 12/2014 Objective 3: Plan, Coordinate, and Implement Fall “Como Curb Cleanup” Solution Strategy Deliverables: Organize 10+ block leaders and other active citizens to lead block‐level cleanups Organize 5+ cross‐sector partners Copies of promotional/communications materials and media outreach Copy of logistics coordination plan Evaluation results (resident survey, partner debriefing, one‐on‐one interviews) Final report

Project Budget

Complete the budget form below and include other funding sources.

Objective1 Personnel Cost Other Cost CRWD Funded Other Sources Total Cost Continue Pilot $11,000 $2,000 $13,000 $7,000 $20,000

Objective 2 Plant it Fwd $1,000 $1,500 $2,500 $1,500 $4,000

Objective 3 Curb Cleanup $3,000 $1,500 $4,500 $1,500 $6,000

Total:

$20,000 $10,000 $30,000

Why the Como Civic Governance pilot project is needed

The problem of non‐point source pollution is a new problem for our generation. It does not respond as easily to the solutions of the previous generation that worked so well in addressing point sources. The complexity of non‐point sources makes it necessary for all members of the public, and all sectors, to play a role in helping to solve this very serious threat to our freshwater resources.

There is no shortage of good ideas coming from organizations, agencies, or communities on projects or practices intended to tackle this threat. The problem is we struggle to implement these ideas at a scale necessary to have real impact. WHO should do this work, and HOW we are to get it done continues to elude us.

In Como we have a vision. We believe there are many residents who want to be part of the solution to address the phosphorus pollution flowing to Como Lake, but we lack an understanding of the true problem and the capacity to address this problem. The Como Lake Neighbor Network’s definition of the most serious problem for Como Lake is this: There are too few residents living in Como Lake’s lakeshed who see themselves as having a role to play, let alone the capacity, in reducing or preventing the phosphorus that flows to Como Lake each year.

In order to address THIS problem, we need a new approach to “policymaking.” By this we mean “principled decision‐making.” There are tens of thousands of decisions made at the household‐level across the community that all add up to a significant impact on Como Lake. If the majority of these decisions are positive, the impact is positive. If they are mostly negative, the impact is negative. We need an organizing framework that allows us to build a base of active citizens and a governing approach that allows us to make principled decisions that align with the common good.

Through the Como Civic Governance pilot we focus on:

 Creating a mindset for Como citizens to imagine ourselves as being accountable for the decisions we make in the settings where we spend our time, and having a role in public life and an ability to impact the common good;  Building the capacity of Como citizens to engage in all phases of the policymaking process: identify problems, define them in light of our values, work through the tensions that exist between competing goods, find the right balance (the “common good”), make decisions (set policies) that are in alignment with civic principles, and advance solution strategies that are sustainable.  Providing an infrastructure – a place and time - for this imagination and capacity to emerge and grow, and for practicing a democratic governing process that identifies, frames, and advances the common good through the role we all share as governing citizens.

Through one‐on‐one conversations with neighbors, the CLNN identifies Como citizens who demonstrate an understanding of the Civic Organizing analysis and an interest in building their own leadership and governing capacity. All Como citizens who embrace their role as governing citizens are welcomed into the Como Lake Neighbor Network as “active citizens.” We also welcome representatives from our cross‐sector partner organizations ‐ from government, the university, nonprofits, businesses, churches ‐ to be active citizens in our network. Those citizens who demonstrate an interest in deeper training to become a Civic Leader are invited to join the Como Civic Governance pilot to receive Civic Leadership training.

Those who complete the Civic Leadership training will make up the Leadership Team of the CLNN. The Leadership Team’s primary role will be to organize Como citizens to the role of active citizenship, create the community conditions needed for active citizenship to be expressed, and ensure the governing process of the CLNN is in keeping with Civic Organizing principles, standards, and disciplines.

Putting ourselves inside the problem, building our capacity to impact that problem, leveraging our relationships and the resources that come with them, taking our solution strategies to scale, and creating a cross‐sector base of governing citizens who share a set of civic principles, standards, and disciplines as they work from inside the places they have the authority to act – this is how complex public problems get solved.

5 Capitol Region Watershed District 2014 Partner Grant Application

Name: Irene Jones, River Corridor Program Director Organization: Friends of the Mississippi River Address, City and ZIP: 360 North Robert Street, St. Paul, MN 55101 Phone: 651/222-2193 ext. 11 or 651-324-1369 Email: ijones@fmr.org Website: fmr.org 1) Describe your program or project.

The River and Watershed Stewardship Project aims to engage a diversity of local watershed residents in educational programming and hands-on volunteering to improve the health of the river and watershed. The project engages both youth and adults and is designed to increase community understanding of river and water quality issues, and to cultivate a strong sense of stewardship for our local river resources. An overview of the project’s planned events and activities for 2014 is summarized below: Volunteer Events & Activities FMR will train and engage local volunteers in improving the health of the Mississippi River and its watershed through clean-ups, natural area restoration and ecological monitoring and management of river, lakeshore, floodplain and bluff top parks and natural areas in St. Paul.

Crosby Wetland Planting Volunteers will install a new wetland in the same area as the demonstration prairie planting we did in 2013.

This whole area serves as drainage for the newly installed parking lot at the west end of Crosby Park.

During reconstruction of the field, a wet area was delineated as a wetland, and it is badly in need of restoration. St. Paul Park and Rec staff will remove the invasive burdock and reed canary grass from the area and volunteers will replant it with native wetland plants. This whole area can serve as an excellent place for interpretation, with new BMPs installed, the demonstration prairie and wetland all within eyeshot of each other.

Mississippi River Gorge Bluff Plantings Bluff erosion along the river in St. Paul is a chronic problem, especially during the control and management of dense buckthorn stands with little or no remnant understory. Restoration activities will include remediation of bluff erosion in areas where buckthorn was recently removed and little to no understory exists (between Hidden Falls and Marshall Street). Volunteers and SPPR staff will install native shrubs/plants and erosion blanket to one or more areas along the bluff.

Mounds Park Overlook Prairie Planting Community volunteers and Harding High School Earth Club members will tend newly installed plants, conduct site prep for expansion area, and plant native prairie plants at the Carver's Cave Overlook in Mounds Park. This planting will complete this project, providing 17,000 square feet native planting that will

FMR Proposal - River and Watershed Stewardship Project Page 1 of 8

prevent bluff erosion as well as framing an iconic view of downtown St. Paul. Participants will learn about the unique geology and ecology of the bluff and students will be invited to present at a fall interpretive tour of Mounds Park.

Tending the Demonstration Prairie Planting Volunteers will tend newly planted prairie that was installed atop a berm that slows the stormwater runoff from the parking lot. If needed volunteers will also tend the rain garden shrub planting installed in spring of 2013. An overview and discussion of the water quality benefits of the newly constructed parking lot, rain garden/other drainage areas and the native plantings will be included.

Tending the Elway Raingarden and Swale Plantings Volunteers will tend newly planted native shrubs and plants that were installed during the past two seasons.

The rain garden is adjacent to the new Elway parking lot, and the planted swale runs alongside a newly constructed trail down to the east end of Crosby Farm Park. An overview and discussion of the water quality benefits of the rain garden, swale planting and pervious pavers at the Elway parking lot will be part of the event.

Floodplain Forest Restoration & Training Volunteers will pull invasive garlic mustard and bitter cress in an area of high quality floodplain forest at Crosby Park. Volunteers will be trained and asked to “Pledge to Pull” at the site for 5-8 additional hours on their own. An overview and discussion of the importance of protecting and restoring floodplains to improve river and watershed health will be included Watershed Clean-ups FMR will conduct 2-3 litter clean-up events at parks in the watershed with organized student or volunteer groups. The events will include an educational component about preventing stormwater pollution. FMR will coordinate the events with City staff.

Educational Events and Activities FMR will provide educational workshops, tours and presentations for watershed residents and other interested citizens to learn about river and watershed ecology, the causes and impacts of urban stormwater runoff pollution, the importance of conserving and protecting our drinking water and what citizens can do to improve water quality in their homes and community. Planned educational activities include: Watershed Action Workshops FMR will plan and organize a new workshop aimed at educating renters and other local residents about ways to prevent water pollution in their home or apartment building in the watershed. The workshop will focus on raising awareness about protecting and restoring river and watershed health, conserving and protecting water at home, and preventing trash and toxic substances from entering the sanitary and stormwater systems. We will also present an overview of stormwater best management practices that will benefit the river and watershed, and provide ideas, examples and resources for citizens to communicate with landlords, condo associations and local businesses owners about steps they can take to protect water quality. Concurrent to this workshop, we will host a “trade in your triclosan” drive, asking participants and other local residents to bring in products containing triclosan and trading them for a kit to make non-toxic cleaners and/or donated health and beauty products from Aveda or other businesses.

FMR Proposal - River and Watershed Stewardship Project Page 2 of 8

Watershed Friendly Yard Care Workshops FMR will plan, promote and organize two community workshops and within the CRWD. The workshop is designed to increase understanding by local residents and volunteers about urban runoff issues, and ways to prevent pollution from residential homes and yards from entering the storm sewer system. A variety of lawncare, gardening and landscaping techniques will be presented, along with resources and printed materials for the participants to take home. One of the workshops may include a make and take rain barrel component.

Large Format Water Quality Lecture/Discussion FMR will coordinate an auditorium-style program featuring a local expert or experts on water quality, followed by an interactive panel/discussion. The topic for 2014 has not been selected yet, but examples of recent programs (attended by 100-250 people) are "History of Pollution on the Upper Mississippi River" by Dr. John Anfinson of the National Park Service; "The Dirt on Sediment Pollution" by Dr. Dan Engstrom of the St. Croix Watershed Research Station; and “The State of the River Report” by Lark Weller of the National Park Service and Trevor Russell of FMR. Participants will be encouraged to get involved with other stewardship events and workshops in the watershed.

2) Please describe the mission and objectives of your organization and how this program or project helps meet those goals.

Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) engages citizens and other stakeholders to protect, restore and enhance the Mississippi River and its watershed in the Twin Cities region. We envision an ecologically healthy Mississippi River that is recognized and celebrated as the vital thread in our community’s natural, cultural, historic and scenic landscapes. We envision a community that actively embraces an enduring river ethic and welcomes its role as steward of our great river's many public assets.

We work to produce replicable models for community engagement, and regularly measure and refine our goals and benchmarks to ensure that we are achieving tangible improvements in the river’s health and vitality, and demonstrating a benefit to our community. We use the following interconnected focus areas as a basic framework for our efforts: Protecting and enhancing water quality Water quality is one of the most pressing concerns for the Mississippi River and its watershed. FMR is working to make the Twin Cities and the state a model for decision-making that positively impacts water quality. Through our program activities we work to activate and engage individual citizens in monitoring and stewardship, and help local and state government prioritize strategies and implement best practices to improve and protect water quality.

River corridor stewardship The Mississippi River brings a unique quality to the Twin Cities. FMR works to foster appreciation of the river’s values through educational events and volunteer and recreational opportunities for individuals and families, thereby establishing a large and diverse constituency of river stewards. We encourage citizens to become active stewards and work with them at the local level to promote land use and policy decisions that respect and embrace the special assets of the river, and ensure the public’s access.

FMR Proposal - River and Watershed Stewardship Project Page 3 of 8

Conserving and restoring land along the river and its tributaries FMR is working to restore and permanently protect land along the Mississippi and its important tributaries in the Twin Cities. Our place-based focus enables us to build and maintain the long-term relationships with landowners and the land that are necessary for land protection and habitat management. Our long-term goal is to make the river in the Twin Cities the backbone of an interconnected system of natural areas and green corridors that provides habitat for fish and wildlife, protects water quality and public health, ensures public access, and offers natural amenities for people to enjoy.

FMR’s overall goal of a healthy river environment and a healthy community requires a multifaceted approach to river and watershed protection. We achieve this by weaving together outreach and education, hands-on volunteer events, watershed stewardship work with local and state agencies, and land protection and restoration to holistically pursue our mission and goals. This proposed project fits well within our organization goal of fostering river and watershed stewardship by citizens in river communities to ensure a cleaner and healthier river in the future.

3) How much money are you requesting? (between $2,000 and $20,000) FMR respectfully requests $14,635.00 from CRWD to support our River and Watershed Stewardship Program.

4) How does this program or project prevent water pollution or positively impact water quality?

Engaging several hundred people in these high quality educational and volunteer activities provides both direct and indirect positive impacts for pollution prevention and water quality.

Personal behavior changes that will lead to improved water quality will be fostered by teaching, empowering and encouraging program participants to make changes at home and in their daily lives. Past participant evaluations have demonstrated that the more people participate, the more they learn about and become inspired to take actions to protect the river on their own.

The water quality and habitat value of the Mississippi River in St. Paul will be directly improved by restoring native plant communities with deep root systems in the river floodplain, enhancing wildlife habitat, preventing bank erosion and providing natural filtration and storage for stormwater runoff before it enters the river.

5) What geographic and/or demographic area do you serve?

FMR recognizes that a broad and diverse constituency of area residents is necessary for river and watershed protection efforts to be successful. The Mississippi River is a public asset, accessible to everyone in the region, and as such will benefit from a community that demonstrates an enduring river and watershed protection ethic. As a place-based organization, FMR has the opportunity to build diverse, strong, long-term and collaborative relationships that foster this river ethic with key stakeholders and constituents that are so critical to our success.

FMR's overall work focuses on the Mississippi River and its watershed in the Twin Cities area, and will focus on communities within the CRWD for this program grant. We have 1,700 members and we annually FMR Proposal - River and Watershed Stewardship Project Page 4 of 8

engage approximately 5,000 program participants and volunteers. More than half of our members and volunteers are from St. Paul and Minneapolis, and we continue to conduct outreach, connect with new audiences, and build participation in the core cities to engage local residents, businesses and youth groups in caring for the urban river and watershed.

Many area residents consider the stewardship focus areas included in this request to be among their community’s greatest assets. Building on this strong sense of place and community pride offers many opportunities to bring people together to protect and improve these important natural areas in the heart of the Twin Cities. We encourage program participants to spread the word and engage others as well as experience the resources and initiate stewardship activities on their own.

As the program brings people from many different communities and backgrounds together, it also provides opportunities for people to learn about other residents in their watershed who share similar values, to network, and to collaborate on river and watershed protection efforts that are important to them. The activities that involve schools and other youth groups foster a stewardship ethic among young people and bring an inter-generational component to the program – increasing awareness of the important work young people are doing to protect the environment that they are inheriting.

6) Please describe in detail how CRWD grant funds will be used and attach a program budget.

CRWD funds will be used to pay for approximately 47% of FMR's staff time on program activities within the CRWD boundary. Funding from the City of St. Paul, State of Minnesota and private sources will cover the remaining staff time and program materials. An overview of the program staffing and work to be completed is described below.

• Outreach and Volunteer Recruitment: FMR’s volunteer coordinator and event registrar will conduct outreach to watershed residents and youth groups, and recruit and register participants for hands-on river protection efforts and educational opportunities. Outreach will be conducted through email, postcards, flyers, e-newsletters, web/calendar postings, social media, press releases, and outreach to partners and neighborhood groups.

• Education and Stewardship Event Coordination: FMR’s stewardship events coordinator, youth coordinator and program interns will work with organizational partners and community groups to plan, organize and lead volunteer events and educational programming in the watershed.

• Promotion and Communications: FMR staff will promote and recognize the program's goals, accomplishments, partners and funders through FMR's newsletter and website, feature articles submitted to local and online media, and by organizing and sharing a web-based collection of photos from events and volunteer activities.

• Ecological Planning and Management: FMR’s restoration ecologists will work with St. Paul Parks to plan ecological restoration and planting activities in river parks and natural areas, including the Mississippi Gorge, Crosby Farm Park and Mounds Park.

7) What is the timeline for this project?

• March – Finalize schedule of events and activities • March- September – Plan and coordinate events • March-September – Conduct program outreach/publicity • March – November – Recruit and register participants • April – November – Lead and document events • December – Prepare and submit final report FMR Proposal - River and Watershed Stewardship Project Page 5 of 8

8) If applicable, please list other partners and their role in this project.

• • • •

• • •

City of St. Paul Parks & Recreation staff will work with FMR to plan, organize and manage ecological restoration events and activities, order and deliver plants and other materials, collect invasive plant waste and provide ongoing management and watering as needed.

City of St. Paul Public Works provides a portion of the funding support for the water quality workshops and educational programs, BMP bus tour, native plantings and litter clean-up events.

Harding High School Earth Club is partnering with FMR on the Carver’s Cave Overlook Prairie planting project.

Metro Conservation Corridors provides funding and oversight for a portion of the native plant materials and ecological management of key corridor sites including Crosby and Mounds Park. FMR coordinates a portion of this state program that is funded by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation provides funding for a portion of our staff time and plant materials for the plantings at Crosby and Mounds.

National Park Service/Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA) provides staff support for our educational programs and volunteer activities.

REI, Xcel, Pentair, the McNeely Foundation and other private sources contribute funding support for FMR's community stewardship and education programs throughout the metro area.

9) How will you measure the success of your project/program?

Success and impact is be determined by the number of participants in educational programs, number of active stewardship volunteers and volunteer hours, and the number of native species planted, invasive species removed and amount of trash cleaned up.

FMR's volunteer & event registrar conducts pre-registration for all our events and activities, and keeps electronic records of all volunteers and participants for each event or activity. We conduct a survey each year for our volunteers and educational program participants to find out what they learned and what changes they are making in their daily lives to improve the river and watershed. We also take photos at our events to record site conditions before and after and provide examples of volunteers and participants in the field.

10) How did you find out about the CRWD Grant program?

Professional contacts. We are a previous grantee.

FMR Proposal - River and Watershed Stewardship Project Page 6 of 8

Describe the scope of the project, including tasks, deadlines and deliverables Goals/Tasks

Deadlines

Deliverables

Goal: Inspire community members to take action to improve water quality Task: Conduct outreach, volunteer recruitment, pre-event registration and pre and post event communications

11/30/14

Summary of online and social media outreach* Copies of postcards, flyers, media hits CRWD named as partner/funder in all print and web communications

Goal: Increase community understanding of water quality issues and pollution prevention Task: Plan, coordinate and lead educational events and programs

11/15/14

5 events 220 participants Links to Flikr photo collections Summary of work completed*

Goal: Train and cultivate citizen stewards through hands-on volunteerism Task: Plan, coordinate and lead volunteer restoration and clean-up events and programs

10/31/14

7 events 200 volunteers 500 volunteer hours Links to Flikr photo collections Summary of work completed*

Goal: Improve the health of the river Task: Work with St. Paul parks staff to plan and implement natural area restoration, plantings and clean-ups

10/31/14

150-200 native shrubs planted 200-300 wetland plants installed 800-1,000 native prairie plants planted Native seed mix planted Summary of work completed* Goal: Evaluate project success and survey participants Conduct project evaluation (including questions about behavior changes to protect WQ)

11/15/14

Summary of participant and volunteer survey

Document project and submit final report

12/30/14

Final Report * Included in final report

FMR Proposal - River and Watershed Stewardship Project Page 7 of 8

River & Watershed Stewardship Project Proposed 2014 Budget Projected Expenses Food and Meals Mailings/Flyers Event supplies/equipment Native plant material/planting supplies Room Rental Mileage Operations

CRWD

-

MATCH Total 300.00 300.00 400.00 400.00 300.00 300.00 7,000.00 7,000.00 300.00 300.00 300.00 300.00 8,600.00 8,600.00

Stewardship Events Coordinator Outreach & Volunteer Coordinator Youth Coordinator Events Registrar Restoration Ecologist River Corridor Program Director Stafftime

4,800.00 2,160.00 2,365.00 1,980.00 1,680.00 1,650.00 14,635.00

5,700.00 2,940.00 2,735.00 2,545.00 1,120.00 1,425.00 16,465.00

10,500.00 5,100.00 5,100.00 4,525.00 2,800.00 3,075.00 31,100.00

Expense Totals

14,635.00

25,065.00

39,700.00

FMR Proposal - River and Watershed Stewardship Project Page 8 of 8

Capitol Region Watershed District 1410 Energy Park Drive, Suite 4 Saint Paul, M N 55108 capitolregionwd.org (651) 644-­‐8888

6

2014 Partner Grant Application Form Please submit form and required materials to: Lindsay VanPatten lindsay@capitolregionwd.org Fax: (651) 644-­‐8894

APPLICANT INFORMATION Name:

Patricia Ohmans, MPH

Organization: Frogtown Green, a program of Health Advocates Address: Phone:

843 Van Buren Avenue Saint Paul Minnesota 651-757-5970

Email:

Patricia.ohmans@gmail.com

Website:

www.frogtowngreen.com

APPLICATION QUESTIONS 1.

Describe your project.

With support and technical assistance from the Capitol Region Watershed District, Frogtown Green proposes to develop

educational signage and programming related to three rain gardens in a commercial mall parking lot at Pierce Butler Route and

Milton Avenue. These recently installed but poorly maintained rain gardens offer an untapped opportunity to educate individuals who may not be very familiar with the concept of watershed protection, including low income, immigrant and school-aged audiences.

The Minnehaha Mall, at 775 North Milton Avenue, sits directly west of 750 Milton, a low income high-rise apartment, and houses the Al Ihsan Islamic Center, which includes a mosque, school and day care center. The mall, which is owned by several different entities, has a large parking lot in its center. Three years ago, a large rain garden was installed on land north of the parking lot and directly south of Pierce Butler Route, as part of construction of a new building at 946 Pierce Butler Route, owned by Banbro, Inc. Two smaller rain gardens were installed in the center of the mall parking lot at the same time. These three gardens may still to filter roadway and parking lot runoff, but they have become overgrown and in the case of the smaller gardens, trashfunction strewn.

Frogtown Green proposes to collaborate with the businesses on the 946 Pierce Butler property and in the Mall and with leaders of the Islamic Center to develop appropriate signage and educational programming for these gardens, so that they remain better

maintained and so that residents, customers and business owners understand their function.

2.

Describe the mission and goals of your organization and how this project helps meet them.

Frogtown Green is an initiative to make the Frogtown neighborhood a healthier, greener place by supporting efforts to create and maintain parks, gardens, farms, and other open spaces. We are an arm of Health Advocates, a communications and public health social enterprise housed in Frogtown since 1997, which focuses on public health issues and programs for cross-cultural, immigrant and international communities. Frogtown Green sponsors meetings and neighborhood get-togethers; hosts classes and workshops; collaborates with local businesses, non-profits and public agencies; reports on neighborhood development issues in social media and on the Frogtown Green website, and publishes the Greening Frogtown newsletter. Health Advocates founder and co-director Patricia Ohmans, MPH, coordinates Frogtown Green. A volunteer Master Gardener for Ramsey County and a member of the St Paul Garden Club, Patricia was named Gardening Advocate of the Year in 2011 by the city of St Paul, and is a Bush Foundation Leadership Fellow. There is more information about Frogtown Green on our website, www.frogtowngreen.com. .

1

3. How much money are you requesting? (between $2,000 and $20,000)

Frogtown Green requests $13,900 from CRWD to help cover costs of project coordination and evaluation; signage design and fabrication; and development and delivery of educational programming. The total project budget is $21,350.

4. How will this project prevent water pollution?

The gardens in question are in the parking lot shared by the businesses at the Minnehaha Mall, (at Milton Street and Minnehaha Avenue) and Banbro Inc, the company that owns two businesses housed in a new building at 946 West Pierce Butler Route (Pierce Butler and Milton). Although they were obviously designed and installed to help prevent pollution from parking lot run off, their impact could be greatly enhanced if they were properly maintained so that business owners, customers and employees in the mall can appreciate their function and beauty. In addition, educational signage and occasional, targeted programming would increase

Frogtown residents’ overall understanding of the impact of large impervious surfaces (such as an asphalt parking lot) on water

quality.

5. What geographic and/or demographic area do you serve?

Frogtown Green serves the neighborhood of Frogtown, also known as the Thomas-Dale Planning District, or District 7. Frogtown

is Saint Paul’s most demographically diverse neighborhood. Its residents are primarily low-income, multiracial and multicultural,

and overwhelmingly young; nearly 50 of Frogtown residents are children under age 15.

Since 2011, Frogtown Green has coordinated a community garden on Banbro, Inc land, adjacent to the Minnehaha Mall parking lot. Gardeners are from three key demographic groups: participants in a Frogtown youth leadership development program called

Youth Farm; employees of the two businesses housed at Banbro; and residents of the high rise at 750 Milton across the street.

is traditionally a first home for refugees and immigrants, and an increasing number of Somali families are finding homes Frogtown

in the neighborhood.

The mosque in the Minnehaha Mall draws worshippers and families from the neighborhood and throughout

Saint Paul.

6. Describe how CRWD grant funds will be used.

Funds will be used to by Frogtown Green to coordinate a year-long project in 2014 which will strengthen understanding of, and

investment in, watershed protection among a variety of stakeholders who use the Minnehaha Mall.

Frogtown Green will accomplish this goal by:

1.

Designing, fabricating and installing educational signage for three rain gardens within the Mall

2.

Developing and delivering at least three separate educational events for three distinct audiences: Somali families who

attend the Islamic Center; Mall business owners; and Frogtown residents

3.

Evaluating the impact of the signage and educational events

7. What is the timeline for this project?

We propose to start the project coordination and planning in early winter 2014; design, fabricate and install signage in spring; conduct educational programs in late spring, summer and fall; and complete the project by December, 2014.

8. If applicable, please list other partners and their role in this project.

Frogtown Green will assume responsibility for the year-long project, but will need to call on various collaborators throughout the year, including (but perhaps not limited to) the CRWD (for technical expertise and support); staff at the 750 Milton apartment and at the Islamic Center (to help create and recruit audiences for educational messages and programming); and owners of the various businesses that use the Minnehaha Mall (to invest in and maintain the rain gardens and the signage in the future). Neighborhood

organizations such as the Frogtown Neighborhood Association and the Greater Frogtown Community Development Corporation

will be asked to support the project with publicity, in-kind donations and some cash.

9. How will you measure the success of your project?

In terms of watershed protection, he Minnehaha Mall rain gardens project will be successful if, at the end of a year, the gardens’

function is enhanced, and if business owners show that they are invested in continuing garden maintenance, as well as maintenance

of the educational signage.

In terms of public education, the project will be successful if participants in programming report a greater understanding of the general role of rain gardens in watershed protection, as well as a specific sense of investment and interest in the fate of the rain gardens in the Mall parking lot.

2

10. How did you find out about the CRWD Grant program?

The Ramsey County Master Gardener program to which I belong offers various volunteer opportunities to Master Gardeners to help plant rain gardens. This is where I first learned about the CRWD. Christine Bauemler, artist in residence for the CRWD and a member of my Bush Fellowship cohort, has also kept me informed of the program. Finally, this summer I helped Lindsay Van Patten briefly with an educational campaign, and she gave me grant information.

PROJECT SCOPE

Outline the scope of this project in one to six objectives.

Start Date: 01 2014 End Date: 12 /

OVERALL GOAL: Strengthen understanding of and investment in watershed protection among GOAL: stakeholders who use the Minnehaha Mall

2014

Deliverables:

See project-related deliverables, below.

2014 Start Date: 01 2014 End Date: 04

Objective: 1. Designing, fabricating and installing educational signage for three rain gardens within the Mall

Deliverables:

Three or more long lasting and attractively designed signs that explain, in simple and engaging fashion, the

purpose of rain gardens and their features. Signs and/or interactive displays installed at each of the three rain

gardens.

2014 Start Date: 05 2014 End Date: 10

Objective: 2. Developing and delivering at least three separate educational events for three distinct audiences: Somali

families who attend the Islamic Center; Mall business owners; and Frogtown residents Deliverables:

Three or more educational events that target the different audiences. We envision a workshop or educational session at the Islamic Center, conducted in Somali; a workshop and meeting over lunch for the Mall business owners; and a neighborhood water-themed mini-festival and celebration for Frogtown residents.

3

2014 Start Date: 01 2014 End Date: 12

3. Evaluating the impact of signage and educational events Objective:

Process and outcome evaluations that document the extent of that understanding and investment among (at Deliverables: minimum) these stakeholders:

• Business owners

• Mall customers

• Educational program participants

• Frogtown residents

PROJECT BUDGET

Complete the budget form below and include other funding sources.

Objective Personnel/staff Other costs Amount funded Other funding Total cost of Cost ($)

by CRWD sources * objective ($)

($) ($) ($) 1 Overall coordination, $12,250

$9,000 $3,250 $12,250 project administration

and evaluation

2 Sign design, fabrication

$2,100 $1,400 $700 $2,100 and installation 3 Educational program

$2,000 $1,500 $500 $2,000 costs (materials and meeting supplies for Somali and business owners program)

4 Educational program

$5,000 $2,000 $3,000 $5,000 costs (insurance, materials and supplies for neighborhood water festival)

TOTALS $12,250 $9,100 $13,900 $7,450 $21,350

1) Frogtown Green will donate in-­‐kind staffing for $3,250 of the total personnel costs. Staff hours will vary, depending on the time of year, but will average 7 hours per week, over 50 weeks, at an average hourly rate of $35. Total project time: 350 hours.

2) Mall businesses will be asked to contribute 30% of cost of sign fabrication and installation, either with cash or in-­‐kind donation of labor 3) Mall business owners and other neighborhood organizations will be asked to contribute to either in-­‐kind or with cash to the cost of food served at educational events 4) The Frogtown Neighborhood Association and the Greater Frogtown CDC will be asked to contribute to the cost of any insurance needed for the neighborhood water festival, as well as in-­‐kind materials and supplies for the festival.

4

7 Capitol Region Watershed District 1410 Energy Park Drive, Suite 4 Saint Paul, MN 55108 capitolregionwd.org (651) 644-8888

2014 Partner Grant Application Form

Please submit form and required materials to: Lindsay VanPatten lindsay@capitolregionwd.org Fax: (651) 644-8894

APPLICANT INFORMATION Name:

Deborah Karasov

Organization: Address: Phone:

Great River Greening

35 West Water Street, Suite 201, Saint Paul, MN 55107

651-665-9500

Email:

dkarasov@greatrivergreening.org

Website:

www.greatrivergreening.org

APPLICATION QUESTIONS 1.

Describe your project.

Great River Greening will engage the community in several watershed education activities, using as a focus the restoration of Trout Brook Nature Sanctuary, a new 37-acre site located in the heart of a heavily urbanized area just north of downtown Saint Paul, along the Trout Brook Regional Trail. East Saint Paul is a diverse neighborhood where 40% have household income less than $35,000, 30% speak a language other than English, and 60% of the population are nonwhite. Such diversity requires watershed education to be delivered in innovative ways. Great River Greening’s model of education is based on the concept that knowledge comes from experience: through hands-on learning people experience the significance of personal action and changes both positive and negative to our water resources. The result of a remarkable collaboration of CRWD and Saint Paul, the Trout Brook project as a whole will create an ecologically-important wildlife corridor connecting with the Mississippi River, and will include day-lighting a brook that was filled in and put underground. The Great River Greening portion will be to involve and educate at least 200 people through multiple programs over the course of the year--including public events, Science Area Teen Network, Summer Youth Job Corps, Internships, and public tours. It is a collaboration with Saint Paul Parks and Recreation, and CRWD funds will help match recommended Outdoor Heritage Funds, City funds, foundation funds, and a 2014 All-Star Legacy grant from the Minnesota Twins.

2.

Describe the mission and goals of your organization and how this project helps meet them.

Great River Greening’s mission is to secure the legacy of Minnesota lands and waters through community stewardship, restoration and partnerships. With a track record of 30,000 volunteers, we work in collaboration at a grassroots level so partners and volunteers feel connected to the resource, understand their role in stewardship, and are protective of the land and water legacy that we pass on to future generations. Through multiple programs, this project will engage volunteers, including neighborhood residents and at-risk youth, give them the opportunity to connect to the Mississippi River, educate them during the project about the water resource benefits, demonstrate the positive impact they can have, and empower citizens to advocate for effective environmental stewardship.

3.

How much money are you requesting? (between $2,000 and $20,000)

$20,000

1

4.

How will this project prevent water pollution?

As noted in the CRWD's water resource study for the site, the value of reconnecting the residents of Saint Paul with the water resources that flow around them and beneath their streets is key to District water quality goals. The challenge of connection is particularly significant in the District because of the level of development as well as the District's cultural and racial diversity.

Hands-on involvement is one of the most effective means of education about these issues, and Great River Greening events put education objectives on par with the actual work done. At events, volunteers work in small work units, led by a trained volunteer supervisor, and ecologists spend time with each work unit to teach and answer questions on an intimate level. The youth programs also include a hands-on component, complemented with classroom presentations and conversations with community mentors on green jobs. Classroom presentations and handouts (in multiple languages) will serve as a prelude to the field component. The Trout Brook project, which will be the focus of these activities, will include a stormwater management system of filtration ponds and wetlands, and volunteers and youth will learn about them in detail.

5.

What geographic and/or demographic area do you serve?

Great River Greening has collaborated for more than a dozen years to restore the blufflands and floodplains that frame the Mississippi River in Saint Paul. Although we have expanded our work to other regions of the state, our roots continue to be anchored in Saint Paul, including a large proportion of our volunteers as well as our partnerships with Saint Paul schools, Parks & Recreation, and CRWD.

6.

Describe how CRWD grant funds will be used.

CRWD funds will match recommended Outdoor Heritage Funds, City funds, foundation grants, and a 2014 All-Star Legacy grant from the Minnesota Twins for the community events, targeted youth programs and related educational outreach. Expenses include staff (ecologists, outreach and volunteer manager, field crew), site subcontractors, youth crew, restoration materials, volunteer event materials, and educational material. Trout Brook Nature Sanctuary will serve as the focus for these activities, however, if CRWD rain garden projects continue in 2014, the internships may be involved with those projects as well.

7.

What is the timeline for this project?

Although the project has multiple phases, this application is for the first phase of activities during calendar year 2014. In general, we organize our work by season: a) January-April: event and project planning for spring season; b) May-June: spring event season including public events and youth activities; c) May-November: crew and contractor implementation of some project work, summer internships and summer youth crews; d) August-September: event and project planning for fall season; e) October: fall event season including public events and youth activities; f) November-December: project evaluation, design work and planning for next year.

8.

If applicable, please list other partners and their role in this project.

Saint Paul Parks & Recreation: land manager and partner for education; 3M: liaison with many east metro schools for the Science Area Teen Network; Conservation Corps of Minnesota: partner for the Summer Youth Job Corp; CRWD: partner for internships and education.

9.

How will you measure the success of your project?

Numbers of volunteers and youth engaged (200) through events and targeted youth programs, trees, shrubs, grasses and forbs planted, and seed spread. Our volunteers come from many different communities; because this is a special opportunity to engage an inner-city neighborhood, we also will track the youth and adults engaged from CRWD specifically.

10. How did you find out about the CRWD Grant program?

We are active partners with CRWD, including rain garden planting and educational outreach

2

PROJECT SCOPE Outline the scope of this project in one to six objectives.

Start Date:

01

2014

End Date:

12

2014

Objective:

Community Engagement

Deliverables:

Minimum 200 volunteers engaged, at least 50% youth through targeted programs Implementation, evaluation and photo documentation of Science Area Teen Network, Summer Youth Job Corps, Internships, and Volunteer Events

Start Date:

01

2014

End Date:

Objective:

Phase I Vegetation Restoration

Deliverables:

At least 12,000 forbs and grasses planted At least 1000 trees and shrubs planted At least 10 acres of invasive species removed from forest edge

Start Date:

12

2014

End Date:

Objective: Deliverables:

3

PROJECT BUDGET

Complete the budget form below and include other funding sources.

Objective Personnel/staff Other costs Cost ($) ($)

1

Community Engagement 82,000 53,000

2 Phase I Vegetation 45,000 122,500 Restoration

3

4

5

6

TOTALS 127,000 175,500  May include in‐kind donations/labor, cash, etc.

Amount funded

by CRWD ($)

Other funding sources * ($)

Total cost of objective ($)

20,000

115,000

135,000

0

167,500

167,500

20,000

282,500

302,500

5

Youth engagement 2013, Science Area Teen Network & Summer Youth Job Corps

Woodland activity

Shoreland planting

GPS activity in prairie

Rain garden plant id

Prairie activity

Summer Youth Job Corps

8 Capitol Region Watershed District 1410 Energy Park Drive, Suite 4 Saint Paul, MN 55108 capitolregionwd.org (651) 644‐8888

2014 Partner Grant Application Form Please submit form and required materials to: Lindsay VanPatten lindsay@capitolregionwd.org Fax: (651) 644‐8894

APPLICANT INFORMATION Name:

Jenny Eckman

Org:

Harambee Elementary School

Address:

30 E Cty Rd B, Maplewood, MN 55117

Phone:

651-379-2569

Email:

Jennifer.eckman@isd623.org

Website:

1. Describe your project The 4th and 5th grade teams at Harambee will work with the environmental science specialist to plan and implement a 2 year project with water education as a focus. Because we use a “looping” model, this year’s 4th grade students will stay with their classroom teachers next year to complete a 2 year “loop”. The teachers currently teaching 5th grade are in their second year with their students and will “loop back” to start 4th grade again in 2014‐15. Our project involves staff development for the teachers, activities for students, family/community involvement and lastly, curriculum writing so that the project can become a standardized element and expectation at Harambee during 4th and 5th grade.

State science standards require teachers to introduce students to the water cycle in 4th grade and the standards contain multiple mandates to teach about how human and natural systems interact. However, we have seen that more than one exposure or experience with these important concepts is needed. Students need authentic, engaging, and integrated experiences with environmental science if these concepts are to become truly part of their lives. This project gives us the tools to create a 2 year scope and sequence of learning. We envision students leaving 5th grade with a solid foundation of water education, an understanding of issues around water use and protection, and the motivation to advocate for environmental stewardship around water!

Component 1: Staff development and Activities for Students

Engineering is Elementary workshops at Science Museum of MN. Sessions: “Water, Water Everywhere: Designing Water Filters” and “A Slick Solution: Cleaning an Oil Spill” These courses are designed to help teachers use engineering projects as part of classroom practice. These two particular projects would provide students with real‐life applications connecting to water use. Sessions are in December and January.

https://www.smm.org/eie/programs/upcoming

Engineering is Elementary Curriculum modules We would purchase curriculum kits for each classroom with the materials needed to complete the water focused engineering challenges (water filters and oil spill). These kits also have a story that accompanies the activity. In each story, there is a protagonist who discovers an environmental problem related to water and designs a solution. The multicultural element of these books is a nice match for the diverse population of our school and our community cultures focus.

http://www.eie.org/content/water

http://www.eie.org/content/ecosystems

Engineering is for Everyone Family Event Following our work with engineering projects in class, we would work with the Science Museum of MN staff for a family event. In this program, museum staff present a 30 minute demonstration followed by an hour of free exploration time where students and families can try a variety of engineering activity stations. We would design ours around projects with a water focus and provide students the chance to share their previous learning with their parents and family members.

https://www.smm.org/eie/familyevent

Big River Journey This program is a partnership of the National Park Service, Padelford Packet Boat Company and several other environmental or educational agencies; including MN DNR, St.Paul Audubon Society, Science Museum of MN and others. This project includes a riverboat excursion on the Mississippi River that is a real highlight for students. Program partners provide learning stations both on land prior to the trip and during the boat ride. Teachers who are involved in Big River Journey participate in an advance workshop designed to help them incorporate pre and post trip activities in their classrooms. These activities are aligned with MN standards and involve both the science and history of the river. We are proposing that the cohort of students in 4th grade this year would participate in a Big River Journey field trip in the fall of 2014, their 5th

grade year. Teacher workshop is in February. (This year’s 5th grade students participated this fall)

A critical component of Big River Journey is a curriculum trunk that schools can check out from the park service and use for pre and post trip activities. These activities are designed to increase student understanding of important concepts. Several of the activities are from Project WET and have direct connections to the water cycle and watershed. With two trunks available for multiple schools, we have limited access to the trunk. We would like to create our own trunk to be shared between the 3 classrooms and the environmental science classroom. With this resource in our building, we have the flexibility to use these materials and activities year round.

http://www.nps.gov/miss/forteachers/brjindex.htm

Macroinvertebrate Inquiry Over the past several years, the environmental science specialist has collaborated with grade level teams to provide an inquiry experience in our backyard wetland. This project requires larger chunks of time than are normally allotted for each classroom to work with the specialist.

We have relied on creative scheduling and lots of volunteer time. With the specialist being full time this year, there is no longer an option of her volunteering time for this project. By utilizing a substitute teacher to cover other classes, the specialist could devote the appropriate amount of time to take the 4th and 5th grade classes to the wetland, get water samples, investigate the macroinvertebrate population we find, and work with students to determine what our sample may indicate about our pond water quality.

Hamline Center for Global Environmental Education (CGEE) Rivers Institute This is a 3 day course is field based and “ designed to increase teachers' knowledge in water related content, enhance STEM‐focused investigation skills, expand literacy skills, and help area

educators translate professional experiences into meaningful, engaging classroom investigations for students.” (from CGEE website) Harambee teachers who have attended in the past have returned inspired and prepared to make rivers/watersheds an integral part of their classrooms. In addition to the training, teachers receive curricular materials and resources for water education. The current 5th grade teachers (who are in their second year with last year’s 4th graders) attended in 2012. They have recommended it highly and are interested in working with the current 4th grade teachers to develop a 2 year scope and sequence for water education. The institute is in July and is free for teachers, however with our year‐round calendar, we can only attend if costs for substitute teachers are covered.

http://www.hamline.edu/education/cgee/rivers‐institute.html

Component 2: Community Involvement

Friends of the Mississippi River Service Project As a program partner of Big River Journey, the Friends of the Mississippi River (FOMR) offer a free service project for students following their field trip. We would do a walking field trip to the neighborhood around Lake McCarrons,(residential area close to Harambee) connect with a representative from CRWD to learn about the sediment project there and then do storm drain stenciling and informational door hangers for the neighborhood. We would work with CRWD, FOMR and other watershed districts as appropriate to determine project opportunities for students’ home neighborhoods as well.

Science Fusion The Science Museum of MN sponsors a unique experience on four Saturdays in January and February. As noted on their website: “Unique to the Science Museum of Minnesota, this four‐part series brings scientific and educational professionals to a connecting place with kids, tweens, teens, and adults. Nowhere else can you meet, learn from, and communicate with industry people in a you‐based atmosphere full of activities. The Science Museum of Minnesota is committed to the future of science and wants to bring Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) career opportunities to everyone. Come celebrate the diversity, creativity, and science expertise within our Twin Cities community.” These events bring scientists from communities of color together with young people and families. Up to four children are free with paid adult admission. This kind of event would be perfect for inspiring and motivating our students to see themselves as the future scientists and engineers who will help to solve global water issues. We also see the museum as a community resource that we’d like our families to be connected to and involved with. We are planning to promote these events within our school community but are aware that for many of our families, the adult admission price and unfamiliarity with the museum will be barriers. We can mediate these barriers by offering scholarships and having a Harambee staff member attend each Saturday to serve as a liaison for families. Part of the expectation for the event will be for students and their families to visit the Mississippi River Gallery at the museum, then complete and turn in a hand out. Because this gallery contains

work connected to the Big River Journey field trip art project, they will be able to see past art work and hopefully motivation to be more involved with our water education efforts. http://www.smm.org/sciencefusion http://www.smm.org/visit/mississippi Rain Barrel Family Event Harambee will partner with CRWD to provide a rain barrel workshop in the spring. Our plan is to use rain water for our school garden and to give families a chance to purchase a rain barrel for their residence at a reduced cost. We have a tradition of two environmental science family events per year and have drawn up to 150 people from our school. We also have hosted environmental education for the larger community. For this event, we would publicize to the Harambee students’ families but also to the other elementary schools in the district and to some of our other community partners.

Culminating Project It is part of our current practice to celebrate learning through shared events. We have multiple established and well‐attended events to showcase learning including school wide literacy celebration and Science, Creativity, and Cultures Fair. In addition, grade level teams will often invite families or community members to be involved in culminating experiences for projects such as a living museum or author’s tea. We envision an event/celebration at the end of 5th grade where our students would celebrate and showcase their own learning along with providing education and inspiration for others. We are looking at the possibility of bringing in a community partner such as the Heart of the Beast Puppet Theater for their water themed presentation “Are you Thirsty?”

http://hobt.org/invigorate/phase‐2/

Component 3: Teaming and Planning This project has been in the works for several years and we have done pieces of it in various forms. We believe that for students to leave Harambee environmentally literate, they must understand the complex concepts and issues around water. However our biggest barrier is teacher time. For other similar kinds of projects, we’ve found that a block of uninterrupted time is needed for teachers to meet, discuss, look at standards, consider our other curriculum requirements, and lay out a concrete plan for how and what we will implement. While we don’t need all classroom teachers at all meetings, we are looking for a representation of 4th and 5th grade along with the environmental science specialist. We are including both planning time and time to check in, monitor and adjust along the way. This time will allow us to complete a scope and sequence document showing which components of the water project will happen at which points in the year. We will align our water focus scope and sequence to the MN state standards and the other mandated Harambee curricular elements. This document will be a guideline for 4th and 5th grade teachers to use over the course of the grant project and into the future.

2.

Describe the mission and goals of your organization and how this project helps meet them

Harambee is a unique place. We are a multi‐district school with a focus on voluntary integration. Our students come from 10 different school districts representing both urban and suburban geographic areas. We operate on a year‐round calendar and have two magnet foci; environmental science and community cultures. We use these magnet focus areas as integrating contexts for student learning.

Harambee was designed with a deliberate focus on environmental education. We are located on 28 acres of land. A trail system that circles the property is maintained year round and includes a wetland habitat plus two outdoor classroom spaces and the school garden. We utilize our backyard for outdoor learning on a regular basis. Our environmental science program focuses on relationships between people and the natural world. It encourages understanding of these relationships through consideration of ecological, cultural, and social systems. They learn that in order to build a more sustainable society, many different ecological and social perspectives need to be thoroughly considered before environmental decisions can be made.

One of the key concepts in environmental education and sustainability education is perspective.

In order to understand the complex processes involved any environmental question, it is first necessary to be able to see multiple perspectives. This is an area where our other magnet focus, community cultures, becomes particularly relevant. Because of our diverse population and our deliberate and explicit focus on multiple perspectives and cultural connections, our students are more easily able to grasp the idea of multiple perspectives in environmental issues. Our grade level teams and specialists consider environmental concepts and projects as a vehicle to spark learning in multiple subject areas. We continue to seek creative avenues for integrated learning and ways to connect our commitment to culturally relevant and responsive teaching with green school efforts. Water is a focus that provides a wealth of opportunities for connection and integration in other subject areas.

One of the important elements of Harambee is the diversity of our student population. We are proud of how our students learn to celebrate and value differences in language, religion, race, culture, class and more! However, 67% of our students live at an income level that qualifies them for free or reduced price lunch. This means a majority of our families do not have the financial means to contribute to school. For events like field trips, we can’t count on or expect families to contribute. We have an active parent group that does fund raising and contributes to activities like field trips or purchasing materials but we are often struggling for funding. Our goal is for students to leave Harambee with not only an understanding of ecological systems and cycles but also how the natural world and human world are integrally connected. Students with this kind of knowledge and skills are not only environmentally literate, but in a position to use that literacy to impact change. This project provides critical components for us to reach these goals in the area of water education.

3.

How much money are you requesting? $10,226.00

4.

How will this project prevent water pollution?

We believe that in order to be involved in protecting water resources, students need both knowledge and motivation. We imagine that with this project, Harambee staff would have what they need to provide both of these elements for students. We have also added deliberate pieces to involve family and community. We have seen with other initiatives that what happens at school can make an impact in students’ homes. Our food waste recycling program has inspired and educated many of our families. We think this project would plant the seeds for future involvement and interest in water issues for our students, their families, and the many other people they will come across in the future.

5.

What geographic and/or demographic area do you serve?

We are located at Rice Street and County Rd B in Maplewood. Our property is bordered by a Maplewood open space wetland buffer and the Trout Brook preserve. This gives us a perfect place for our own watershed study!

We have 427 students enrolled coming from 10 districts with the two largest being St. Paul (46%) and Roseville (19%). Our student body is diverse culturally and racially; 72% of our students are students of color; African American, Asian, and Hispanic students. 25% of our students are learning English as a second (or third) language and 12% receive special education services.

6.

Describe how CRWD grant funds will be used.

Rivers Institute: Sub costs 4 teachers for 3 days: $1452.00

Science Museum engineering classes w/water focus: $75 per class, $121 per sub. 4 teachers attend each class: $784 per class x 2: $1568

Engineering is Elementary curriculum and materials with water focus: $1629

Engineering is Elementary Family Event: $325 (Family and Community Involvement)

Big River Journey field trip: Teacher training $484, Bus for field trip: $500

Macroinvertebrate Inquiry: sub costs: $363

Big River Journey Harambee’s own trunk: materials $300, time to purchase and prepare materials: 20.00 per hour x 10 hours: $200: Total $500 (Materials and Resources)

Rain Barrel Workshop: Harambee parent group has budgeted $100

Drain stencil: possible bus if we can’t do walking field trip: $500

Culminating Project: $600

Science Fusion: Teacher time $20 an hour x 4 hours x 4 Saturdays: $320 Scholarship budget for families: $100

Teacher meeting time: 2 days sub cost for 5 teachers for curriculum writing, developing scope and sequence and assessment tools: $121.00 x 5 x 2: 1210.00 , other after school or meeting times during break, $20 an hour x 5 teachers= $100 an hour, estimating 10 hours of meeting time Initial meeting; 1 hour Planning meetings: 3 at 2 hours each: 6 hours Check in meetings 2 at 2 hours each: 4 hours : $1000.00

7. What is the timeline for the project:

The initial project would go over two school years; 2013‐14 and 2014‐15. We have already started the 2013‐14 school year with a focus on water. The 5th graders participated in the Big River Journey field trip and have been doing some water related activities in their classrooms and in environmental science. The 4th graders have been introduced to the concept of the watershed and had a visit from CRWD staff member for an Enviroscape demonstration. If we receive the grant, we would have the resources to continue our water focus throughout the year and into the following year. Our goal is to create a scope and sequence of water concepts that would become the standard for 4th and 5th grade at Harambee and would be followed in the future beyond the grant timeline.

8. If applicable, please list other partners and their role in this project.

Harambee is in our second year of working in partnership with the Jeffers Foundation. Jeffers staff come to Harambee for staff development and family education/involvement opportunities and the environmental science specialist consults with Jeffers staff on a regular basis. Jeffers provides us with science notebooks for every student in the building each year and with teacher resources including a weather‐phenology calendar, activities for integrating environmental education into our morning meeting routines, and a set of tools for each student to use during outdoor learning. (Each classroom gets a set of “lookits” from Jeffers that include a thermometer, measuring tape, and magnifying lens per student). Jeffers Foundation was established in March 2005 for the following purpose: "...to provide for direct primary education and the development of primary education principles, models, and curricula aimed at teaching young persons the value of wise stewardship of natural resources... and insuring the conservation and preservation of natural resources for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations." (from website) Jeffers staff would serve as an additional resource for us as we plan and implement the project.

http://www.jeffersfoundation.org/index.php

9. How did you find out about the grant program?

In the 2012‐13 school year, following her first experience with the Hamline Rivers Institute, Jenny contacted CRWD to find out what resources were available for schools. After contact and conversation with Elizabeth and Lindsay, she quickly saw how a connection between Harambee and CRWD would benefit students. Lindsay shared information about the partner grants after coming out to do presentations to students.

Capitol Region Watershed District 1410 Energy Park Drive, Suite 4 Saint Paul, MN 55108 capitolregionwd.org (651) 644‐8888

2014 Partner Grant Application Form Please submit form and required materials to: Lindsay VanPatten lindsay@capitolregionwd.org Fax: (651) 644‐8894

PROJECT SCOPE

Outline the scope of this project in one to six objectives.

2013 12 2014 8 Start Date: End Date:

Prepare Harambee staff for instruction with water focus Objective:

Teachers attend: Deliverables:

Engineering is Elementary Training Dec 2013 and Jan 2014

Big River Journey workshop February 2014

Hamline Rivers Institute Summer 2014

2013 11 2014 8 Start Date: End Date:

Provide resources and materials for water focus

Objective:

Purchase 2 engineering curriculum models with water focus and use them with students Deliverables:

Purchase materials for Harambee Big River Journey curriculum trunk and use activities as determined by our

scope and sequence

2014 5 2015 8 Start Date: End Date:

Provide students with high quality active experiences to educate about water and inspire involvement Objective:

2014‐15 5th graders participate in Big River Journey field trip Deliverables:

2013‐14 and 2014‐15 school year; 4th and 5th graders participate in macroinvertebrate water sampling in

Harambee pond

Students participate in service project with Friends of the Mississippi and CRWD

1

PROJECT SCOPE

Outline the scope of this project in one to six objectives.

2014 4 Start Date: End Date:

Provide events to involve family and community Objective:

Rain barrel workshop—goal is 50 participants Deliverables:

Culminating Event—goal is 100 participants

Science Fusion—goal is 50 participants

Engineering is Elementary Family Event—goal is 100 participants

8

2015

8

2015

2013 11 Start Date: End Date:

Objective:

Deliverables:

Provide time for teachers to meet, plan, and create scope and sequence for Harambee water curriculum Document will be created and shared that provides guidelines for what elements will be taught and when Assessment tools will be developed for us to measure students’ understanding

Start Date: End Date:

Objective:

Deliverables:

2

PROJECT BUDGET

Complete the budget form below and include other funding sources.

Objective Personnel/staff Other costs Cost ($) ($)

1 Sub costs: Science Staff development BRJ 484 Museum EiE

Rivers Institute class costs: 1452 600 Science museum 968

Total: 2904

2 $200 $1629 Materials/Resources Harambee BRJ EiE curriculum

trunk: time for and materials

teacher to $300.00 purchase, Supplies for prepare trunk materials 3 $363 sub for $500 Student Activities macro water BRJ bus study $500 bus for community service project

4 Science Fusion‐ Science Fusion Family and Community staff time Scholarship Involvement $320 fund

$100 Culminating Project $600 5 Sub costs: 1210 Teacher Planning and Teacher time: Curriculum Writing 1000

6



5997

4229

Amount funded

by CRWD ($) 3504

Other funding sources * ($)

Total cost of objective ($) 3504

2129

Harambee Environmental Science budget will cover any materials $100

2229

1363

Harambee will cover water study supplies $400

1763

1020

Rain Barrel Workshop Harambee contribution $100

1120

2210

Additional time provided in environmental science specialist schedule‐ Harambee contribution 600

2210

10226

10826

TOTALS May include in‐kind donations/labor, cash, etc.

3

4

9

10 Capitol Region Watershed District 1410 Energy Park Drive, Suite 4 Saint Paul, MN 55108 capitolregionwd.org (651) 644-­‐8888

2014 Partner Grant Application Form Please submit form and required materials to: Lindsay VanPatten lindsay@capitolregionwd.org Fax: (651) 644-­‐8894

APPLICANT INFORMATION Name:

Dr. Meg Cavalier, Project Coordinator

Organization: Lower Phalen Creek Project Address: Phone: Email: Website:

th

733 East 7 St. St Paul, MN 55106

651-894-3357 meghancavalier@gmail.com

www.lowerphalencreek.org

APPLICATION QUESTIONS 1. Describe your project. th The Lower Phalen Creek Project designed and installed two rain gardens on the east side in 1997. The first is located at East 7 Street and Bates Avenue, adjacent to the Swede Hollow Café and is referred to as the Maria Bates Garden. The second is located at th Payne and East 7 and is referred to as the Gateway Garden, given is proximity to the Bruce Vento Regional trail. The gardens have not been successfully maintained, in part because of staff turn over and the absence of a management plan.

This project will: 1. Purchase shrubs and native plants to revitalize the gardens and create lower maintenance, 2. Perform a controlled burn (or application of herbicides) to rid the area of unwanted weeds and grass, 3. Establish a long-­‐term partnership with Urban Roots for the maintenance of the garden, 4. Develop a management plan to ensure the sustainability of the rain gardens, and 5. Install an interpretive sign at the Maria Bates garden highlighting the purpose, history and partners of the garden (Lower Phalen Creek Project, Urban Roots, City of St. Paul, and Capitol Region Watershed District).

2. Describe the mission and goals of your organization and how this project helps meet them.

The Lower Phalen Creek Project was founded in 1997 as a partnership between Saint Paul’s East Side and Lowertown neighborhoods. Our project area stretches from Lake Phalen to the Mississippi River and our work is powered by a Steering Committee of citizens that represent the neighborhoods and cultural communities with ties to this area. We actively partner with the City of Saint Paul and others to: • Complete the redevelopment of the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary as an ecological, cultural and educational resource and vibrant community asset; • Create and promote use of new trail and green space connections that link Saint Paul’s East Side to Lowertown and the Mississippi River and fill key local gaps in the regional trail system; and • Improve the water quality and ecological health of our communities through rain gardens and other sustainability initiatives.

Investing in a management plan and the revitalization the rain gardens is directly aligned to the Lower Phalen Creek Project’s mission. The organization has consistently partnered with the City of St. Paul and other organizations to achieve cultural education, trails, green space and improve water quality. The rain gardens are an extension of this work.

3. How much money are you requesting? (between $2,000 and $20,000) $12,000

1

4. How will this project prevent water pollution?

The rain gardens were designed to absorb runoff water and naturally filter the water. In turn, there is less pollution in ground water, lakes and rivers. This project will revitalize and develop a sustainable management plan for two rain gardens in St. Paul, thus positively impacting the prevention of water pollution.

5. What geographic and/or demographic area do you serve?

The Lower Phalen Creek Project serves the east side of St. Paul and Lowertown. Please see the attached google map with the locations of both rain gardens. The organization engages diverse community members in service and education.

6. Describe how CRWD grant funds will be used.

Capitol Region Watershed District funds will be used to purchase plants, perform a controlled burn, compensate Lower Phalen Creek Project staff to develop a maintenance plan, contract the ecological consultant (Fred Rozumalski at Barr) who did the original design at the Maria Bates garden and compensate Urban Roots employees for the ongoing maintenance of the gardens. Funds will also be used to purchase and install a sign at the Maria Bates garden.

7. What is the timeline for this project?

January – September 2014 The management plan will be developed January-­‐August 2014. Urban Roots will be an active partner in the project from March-­‐ September 2014. A controlled burn will be completed May – June 2014. Shrubs and native plants will be purchased and installed May – July 2014. The sign will be installed in June 2014.

8. If applicable, please list other partners and their role in this project.

Urban Roots (formerly Community Design Center): Urban Roots will provide the majority of the labor for planting and up keep of the gardens.

City of St. Paul: The city will be involved in the development of the management plan and provide final approval. I have also discussed the controlled burn with Meghan Manhatton.

9. How will you measure the success of your project?

The success of the project will be measured by whether or not the deliverables below are achieved. The management plan will ultimately be a tool for the Lower Phalen Creek Project, Urban Roots, City of St. Paul, and community members to use in sustaining effective and beautiful rain gardens. The gardens will thrive not only in 2014, but also in years to come. The sign will successfully be installed and clearly communicate the garden’s history, purpose and partners.

10. How did you find out about the CRWD Grant program?

I found about the grant from Lower Phalen Creek Project steering committee member Christine Baeumier.

PROJECT SCOPE

Outline the scope of this project in one to six objectives.

2014 Start Date: 5 2014 End Date: 7

Purchase shrubs and native plants to revitalize the gardens and create lower maintenance.

Objective:

Additional plants and shrubs will be purchased and planted by Urban Roots. A significant amount of weeding, Deliverables: pruning and other care is needed at both gardens. This will create a more manageable and effective rain

garden. Community members will notice a vast difference in the gardens after this work is complete! Urban

Roots will be responsible for the ongoing care of the gardens including watering and weeding when needed.

2

2014 Start Date: 5 2014 End Date: 6

Objective: Perform a controlled burn (or application of herbicides) to rid the area of unwanted weeds and grass.

The outcome of the control burn will be the elimination of unwanted weeds and grass. This will also create a Deliverables: more manageable and effective rain garden. The burn will be dependent on weather and may not be possible.

Another option would be to apply herbicide to the area.

Objective:

Deliverables:

Objective:

Deliverables:

Start Date: End Date:

Start Date: 3/2014 End Date: 9/2014

Establish a long-­‐term partnership with Urban Roots for the maintenance of the gardens.

Compensating the non-­‐profit for their work is an investment not only in the sustainability of the rain gardens, but also in a collaboration that provides young people meaningful employment. Consistent communication between Lower Phalen Creek Project and Urban Roots will ensure that the improvement and maintenance of the gardens. LPCP staff will coordinate the entire process including the revitalization, creation and installation of the sign, in addition to the work of Urban Roots, City of St. Paul, and the contracted ecologist

Start Date: 1/2014 End Date: 8/2014 Develop a management plan to ensure the sustainability of the rain gardens.

The Lower Phalen Creek Project will contract the ecological consultant, Fred Rozumalski at Barr who did the original design at the Maria Bates garden in 1997 to support the development of a management plan. The plan will include redesign if necessary, improvements and detailed maintenance plan. There may be opportunities for future growth, which will also be described in the management plan. The gardens are not currently thriving, because a working document such as this does not exist. The management plan will ultimately be a tool for the Lower Phalen Creek Project, Urban Roots, City of St. Paul, and community members to use in sustaining effective and beautiful rain gardens.

3

Start Date: 3/2014 End Date: 6/2014

Install an interpretive sign at the Maria Bates garden highlighting the purpose, history and partners.

Objective:

The sign will successfully be installed and clearly communicate the garden’s history, purpose and partners.

Deliverables: (Lower Phalen Creek Project, Urban Roots, City of St. Paul, and Capitol Region Watershed District).

PROJECT BUDGET

Complete the budget form below and include other funding sources.

Expenses Income Total

Objective Personnel/staff Cost Other costs Amount funded Other funding Total cost of ($) ($)

by CRWD sources * objective

($) ($) ($) 1 Purchase shrubs and native

$3,000 $2,000 $1,000 (St. $3,000 plants to revitalize the gardens

Paul Garden and create lower maintenance Club) 2 Perform a controlled burn (or

$500 $500

$500 application of herbicides) to rid the area of unwanted weeds and grass 3 Establish a long-­‐term $5,000

$4,000 $1,000 (in $5,000 partnership with Urban Roots kind donation for the maintenance of the of labor) garden 4 Develop a management plan to $1,000 Ecological

$3,500

$3,500 ensure the sustainability of the consultant rain gardens. $2,500 Lower Phalen Creek Project 5 Install an interpretive sign at

$2,000 $2,000

$2,000 the Maria Bates garden highlighting the purpose, history and partners.

TOTALS $8,500 $5,500 $12,000 $2,000 $14,000 *May include in-­‐kind donations/labor, cash, etc.

4

11 Capitol Region Watershed District 1410 Energy Park Drive, Suite 4 Saint Paul, MN 55108 capitolregionwd.org (651) 644-­‐8888

2014 Partner Grant Application Form Please submit form and required materials to: Lindsay VanPatten lindsay@capitolregionwd.org Fax: (651) 644-­‐8894

APPLICANT INFORMATION Name:

Jana Larson

Organization: Metro WaterShed Partners and the Center for Global Environmental Education at Hamline University Address: Phone:

1536 Hewitt Ave. MS-­‐A1760, St. Paul, MN 55413 651-­‐523-­‐2812

Email:

jlarson25@hamline.edu

Website:

www.hamline.edu/cgee; www.hamline.edu/cgee/watershed

APPLICATION QUESTIONS 1.

Describe your project. science research posits that people tend to adopt sustainable behaviors when they see evidence, or social proof, that Social

sustainable behavior is acceptable and desirable. The Center for Global Environmental Education (CGEE) will create a web-­‐ app and commitment program that will reinforce, measure, and creatively engage local residents in protecting storm based from run-­‐off pollution; and will make (often invisible) water-­‐friendly actions and commitments visible in the community drains and online.

To do this we will create an Adopt-­‐a-­‐StormDrain app which will allow residents in the Capitol Region Watershed District (CRWD) to adopt a storm drain in their neighborhood, and pledge to keep it free of pollutants. Based on the City of Boston’s Adopt-­‐a-­‐Hydrant app (www.adoptahydrant.org), the app will consist of an online map of storm drains in CRWD (in St. Paul) and

a simple interface that allows people to sign up to “adopt” a storm drain. Adopted storm drains will be flagged with the name resident who has adopted it on an online map; in the real world, adopted storm drains will be marked by signs or of the

stencils.

We will work with the City of St. Paul to procure legal permissions to develop and use this tool. We will then pilot this program in two neighborhoods: a neighborhood already engaged in protecting a local water body, like the Como neighborhood, and an urban neighborhood without a strong pre-­‐existing connection to a water body, such as Frogtown. Recruitment of participants will be conducted in partnership with the City of St. Paul’s storm drain stenciling staff and volunteers.

To inform program development, we will conduct a total of four focus groups (two in each neighborhood) to gain knowledge about how best to motivate and recognize participation in this program, and in water protection efforts in general.

2.

Describe the mission and goals of your organization and how this project helps meet them.

The mission of the Metro WaterShed Partners (WSP) is to promote a public understanding that inspires people to act to protect water quality in their watershed.

The mission of CGEE is to foster environmental literacy and stewardship in citizens of all ages.

This project will help WSP develop a new collaborative platform that partner organizations can use to encourage residents of their respective service areas to become involved in protecting water. This program also makes the work of protecting water visible, which helps to build social norms around water protection and best management practices.

1

3. How much money are you requesting? (between $2,000 and $20,000)

$20,000 from Capitol Region Watershed District; to match $20,000 in-­‐kind from Hamline University and the City of St. Paul.

4. How will this project prevent water pollution?

This project will directly engage residents in regularly clearing off storm drains and keeping the street clean, thereby preventing pollutants from entering storm drains.

The Adopt-­‐a-­‐StormDrain program will also work to create new social norms around water water-­‐friendly behaviors. According to psychological researchers like Robert Cialdini, making commitments (to protect water) visible: 1) provides social cues to the community at large that water protection is the right thing to do; and 2) makes people who are making the commitment significantly more likely to follow through. Thus, by taking commitments and making them visible, we will foster and reinforce water protection in the community.

5. What geographic and/or demographic area do you serve?

Metro WaterShed Partners serve the Twin Cities metro area; Hamline University is in the Capitol Region Watershed District The

and will be working in partnership with the City of St. Paul to pilot this project in our area.

6. Describe how CRWD grant funds will be used.

• Develop new technology to document commitments to protect water in CRWD by creating an Adopt-­‐a-­‐StormDrain app

and putting it online.

• Gain knowledge about what would motivate residents of CRWD to adopt water-­‐friendly behaviors in two different

neighborhoods by holding focus groups with residents.

• Create outreach tools such as door-­‐hangers, yard signs and/or storm drain stenciling kits.

• Systematize implementation so the program is scalable.

7. What is the timeline for this project?

Obtain legal permissions from St. Paul, adapt app, put it online, and hold focus groups – December 2013 thru April 2014 Create outreach materials – May thru July, 2014 Recruit participants in community – August thru November, 2014 Create final report – December 2014

8. If applicable, please list other partners and their role in this project.

• The Adopt-­‐a-­‐Hydrant app was created by Code for America for the City of Boston.

• Seward, Inc. will work with us to adapt the app for storm drains.

• City of St. Paul Sewer Utility will provide GIS coordinates for storm drains, and help procure the necessary legal

permissions.

• Volunteers for the City of St. Paul’s storm drain stenciling program will distribute promotional materials to recruit

program participants.

9. How will you measure the success of your project?

• Successful production and use of a new tool to document and foster citizen engagement in water protection. In this

first iteration, this tool should leverage an existing storm drain stenciling program to engage residents in year-­‐

round maintenance of storm drains and surrounding streets and sidewalks; and provide a tool to measure and

visualize that work.

• Increased knowledge about what motivates residents in CRWD to adopt water-­‐friendly behaviors.

• Sucessful implementation of educational tools and systems in two target neighborhoods, with an understanding of

how to implement them on a broader scale.

• Number of residents in target neighborhoods that have “adopted” a storm drain.

10. How did you find out about the CRWD Grant program?

Email notification from CRWD

2

PROJECT SCOPE

Outline the scope of this project in one to six objectives.

2014 Start Date: 12 2013 End Date: 3

Produce a new tool to document and foster citizen engagement in water protection.

Objective:

We will work with the City of St. Paul to get the requisite legal permissions to engage citizens in keeping Deliverables: pollutants out of storm drains. We will then use GIS layers provided by the City of St. Paul to create an app that

1) maps all of the storm drains in CRWD in St. Paul and 2) allows residents to sign up to adopt a storm drain.

Seward Inc. will re-­‐purpose code developed by Code for America for the City of Boston’s Adopt-­‐a-­‐Hydrant app

to create the app.

2014 Start Date: 1 2014 End Date: 4

20 20 Objective: Conduct focus groups with CRWD residents 12 13

To gain knowledge about how best to motivate and provide recognition for participation in this program we Deliverables: will hold a total of four focus groups: two focus groups with residents in each of the two target neighborhoods.

Focus group participants will provide information that will guide us in framing the program, developing

promotional materials, and in deciding what type of signage or recognition is most appealing to participants

(eg. storm drain stencils, stickers to put on house windows, yard signs, or other).

Objective:

Deliverables:

2014 Start Date: 5 2014 End Date: 7

Create outreach materials to promote the project and make participation visible in the community 20

13 Based on the feedback given by focus group participants, we will develop 1) outreach materials such as door hangers to be used in recruiting participants and 2) signage or stencils to recognize program participants and/or mark adopted storm drains.

3

PROJECT SCOPE

Outline the scope of this project in one to six objectives.

2013 Start Date: 8 2013 End Date: 11

Intensive outreach to residents in two target neighborhoods 20 Objective: 13

In partnership with the City of St. Paul storm drain stenciling staff and volunteers, we will distribute Deliverables: promotional materials to recruit participants – residents who will adopt a storm drain in their neighborhood.

This will leverage the work of an existing public education campaign to foster direct citizen engagement in

protecting water quality. This tool will also provide a means to measure and map that work and its impacts.

Start Date: End Date:

Objective:

Deliverables:

Start Date: End Date:

Objective:

Deliverables:

4

PROJECT BUDGET

Complete the budget form below and include other funding sources.

Objective Personnel/staff Other costs Amount funded Cost ($)

by CRWD ($)

($) 1 Produce a new tool, the $12,000 $12,000 $10,000 Adopt-­‐a-­‐StormDrain app,

to document and foster citizen engagement in water protection.

2 3

4

5 6

•

Conduct focus groups with CRWD residents Develop promotional materials and signage to promote and make project visible in the community Intensive outreach in community to recruit participants

$4,000

$1,000

$5,000

Other funding sources * ($) $10,000 in-­‐kind, Code for America; $4,000 in-­‐kind, Hamline University

$3,000

$2,000

$5,000

$5,000

$6,000

$0

$6,000

$4,000 in-­‐kind, City of St. Paul; $2,000 in-­‐kind, Hamline University

$20,000

$20,000

$40,000

$25,000 $15,000 TOTALS May include in-­‐kind donations/labor, cash, etc.

Total cost of objective ($) $24,000

$5,000

5

Screen shot of the Adopt-­‐a-­‐Hydrant app we would adapt and use for the Adopt-­‐a-­‐StormDrain app.

When you click on an area of the map and/or zoom in, new hydrants show up on the map. You can then click on a hydrant icon and register to adopt it.

6

12 Capitol Region Watershed District 1410 Energy Park Drive, Suite 4 Saint Paul, MN 55108 capitolregionwd.org (651) 644‐8888

2014 Partner Grant Application Form Please submit form and required materials to: Lindsay VanPatten lindsay@capitolregionwd.org Fax: (651) 644‐8894

APPLICANT INFORMATION Name:

Christine Podas‐Larson

Organization: Public Art Saint Paul Address: Phone:

351 Kellogg Boulevard East 651‐290‐0921

Email:

cpl@publicartstpaul.org

Website:

www.publicartstpaul.org

APPLICATION QUESTIONS 1.

Describe your project.

We seek support to engage an artist to collaborate with engineers in creating an artful stormwater element integrated into the

Western Avenue streetscape in Saint Paul. This project will (1) build upon the CRWD and Public Art Saint Paul (PASP) partnership

and work over the past 5 years of CRWD artist in residence Christine Baeumler to bring forth the “expressive potential of the

watershed” and make the invisible stormwater infrastructure visible and (2) seize the tremendous opportunity of the Western

Avenue streetscape project’s stormwater element. After years of thought and advocacy led by PASP and the District 8 Planning Council, the City of Saint Paul has secured $1.8 million in funding to make improvements to Western Avenue from Selby to University. The overall streetscape project will promote pedestrian and bicycle use and safety; create a sustainable, distinctive, amenable, and artful connection between Summit University’s large, diverse, and underserved population on the north side of I‐ 94 and the concentration of civic and educational resources to the south. It will promote economic development, synergy and

vitality; and provide a meaningful pedestrian link to the Central Corridor at a critical node. The rain garden element of the streetscape project is a significant opportunity to transform an invisible stormwater element into a beautiful, visible reflection of

the infrastructure that cares for us and our water.

2.

Describe the mission and goals of your organization and how this project helps meet them.

PASP brings artists together with communities to shape a public realm that fosters imagination, explores civic values and the community’s evolving history, and strengthens public places as vessels of public life. We bring forth the beauty of the City; promote the future sustainability of our environment, and foster the spirit, health, and hope of our citizens. Our work illuminates conditions and changes the way individuals behave and cities work as we chart the urban future. This project will create a beautiful streetscape, promote water quality awareness, and change individual water system‐impactful behaviors. It will provide a model for artists working with engineering and scientific collaborators in BMP for stormwater management and for socially‐based public art practice.

3.

How much money are you requesting? (between $2,000 and $20,000)

$20,000

1

4.

How will this project prevent water pollution?

The project will be part of a larger and integrated Western Avenue Streetscape stormwater element that will filter out sediment and pollution before it goes down to ground water or to the river via the storm sewer. Pending results of current soils and other testing, the City aims to build an underground infiltration trench. With support from CRWD and PASP’s program fund, an additional surface feature will be constructed over the trench as “artful rain garden.” This is art that intends to deeply engage its public audience, raise awareness of stormwater management, change behaviors to prevent water pollution, and set a model that can be replicated more broadly in the work of the CRWD, PASP and the City.

5.

What geographic and/or demographic area do you serve?

PASP serves the City of Saint Paul and all who are impacted by City systems, from water to food, from energy to social interaction: citizens, workers, students, and visitors to the City: 285,000 residents; 174,000 workers, and 13.8 million annual visitors. On a daily basis, this project will serve the diverse population of Summit University (17,000), workers in and visitors to the state Capitol area, and riders on the new LRT “Green Line” at the Western Station area.

6.

Describe how CRWD grant funds will be used.

CRWD funds will be used to (1) engage an artist(s) to collaborate with Saint Paul Public Works in design of the Western Avenue improvement project’s stormwater management element, (2) to implement that artful design, and (3) to evaluate the process and outcome to inform future collaborations with artists in pursuit of water quality.

7. What is the timeline for this project?

Immediate. Funding for Western Avenue streetscape improvements has suddenly become available. As a condition of funding, streetscape design must be completed by March 31, 2014 and the project will be constructed in 2014‐2015. Our intention is for the artist to be at the table as design of this stormwater element begins and throughout the entire process of design and implementation.

8. If applicable, please list other partners and their role in this project.

Saint Paul Public Works will lead streetscape design, including of this stormwater element, and intends to reach out to CRWD to partner in that effort. Public Works serves as the home of the City Artist in Residence (CAIR) Program; CAIR Marcus Young and Watershed AIR Christine Baeumler will be involved in the streetscape design process and in selecting any other artists who will be engaged. District 8 Council partnered with PASP to propose these streetscape improvements.

9. How will you measure the success of your project?

The project will have impact and effect change: it will increase knowledge and foster changes in water quality protection behaviors. To best plan for and understand that, we will engage an evaluation consultant to work with us throughout the project to understand its core values and how design and art strategies will increase awareness and catalyze personal, institutional and civic action in pursuit of water quality. We hope to collaborate with CRWD in that effort. In addition to quantitative evaluation (the scientific and public participation metrics), we also wish for evaluation to illuminate our own understanding of short and long‐term impacts and changes and to inform our programmatic and investment decisions.

10. How did you find out about the CRWD Grant program?

Since 2009, PASP has partnered with CRWD in a Watershed Artist Residency program to bring forth “the expressive potential of

the watershed” and matched a previous CRWD grant to support that work.

2

PROJECT SCOPE

Outline the scope of this project in one to six objectives.

2013 12 2014 3 Start Date: End Date:

To design an “artful rain garden” as part of stormwater management in the Western Ave streetscape project Objective:

1. Engagement of an artist as a member of the collaborative team designing the streetscape and its Deliverables: stormwater element(s).

2. An artful rain garden design, integrated into the overall streetscape design.

3. Agreement by the City and CRWD that the design meets BMP standards for design

4. Agreement by PASP that the design meets critical standards as art.

2014 3 2014 6 Start Date: End Date:

Approval of the artful rain garden design for implementation Objective:

1. Streetscape project funding source approval of the design (Municipal, State, Federal, CRWD) Deliverables: 2. Community awareness of the plan and understanding of its water quality intention through presentations

by the artist and collaborating designers.

2014 6 2015 9 Start Date: End Date:

Implementation of the artful rain garden as part of Western Ave Streetscape project Objective:

1. Completed artful rain garden project Deliverables:

3

PROJECT SCOPE

Outline the scope of this project in one to six objectives.

2014 1 2015 9 Start Date: End Date:

Public Awareness of the Artful Rain Garden and its Water Quality Intention Objective:

1. Broad public awareness of the project and of its water quality intention through a variety of public Deliverables: information and media strategies

2. Integration of the artful rain garden into PASP’s annual Western Sculpture Park education programs that

reach the broader population of neighborhoods surrounding Western Avenue, including 500 young people

who participate in our workshops each summer.

2013 12 2015 12 Start Date: End Date:

Evaluation of the Artful Rain Garden Objective:

1. Engagement of an evaluation consultant to follow the process from planning through implementation Deliverables: 2. Collaboration with City and CRWD as well as the streetscape and rain garden design team and the

community in evaluating the project.

3. Evaluation reports to all partners, noting both quantitative and qualitative findings.

Start Date: End Date:

Objective:

Deliverables:

4

PROJECT BUDGET

Complete the budget form below and include other funding sources.

Objective Personnel/staff Other costs Amount funded Other funding Total cost of Cost ($)

by CRWD sources * objective ($)

($) ($) ($) 1 Rain Garden Design 4,500 500 2,500 2,500 5,000

2 Approval 1,000 500 750 750 1,500

3 Implementation 4,000 22,500 14,000 12,750 26,500 (Construction)

4 Public Awareness 1,000 3,000 1,500 2,500 4,000

5 Evaluation 2,000 1,000 1,500 1,500 3,000

6

12,500 27,500 20,000 20,000 40,000 TOTALS  May include in‐kind donations/labor, cash, etc. *Includes PASP staff time: CAIR and Western Park Program Director; cash contributions to PASP program fund; the Western Avenue Streetscape Improvement fund; in‐kind contributions of City of Saint Paul.

We understand that this important project may be eligible for alternative or additional CRWD partnership and support.

5

13 Capitol Region Watershed District 1410 Energy Park Drive, Suite 4 Saint Paul, MN 55108 capitolregionwd.org (651) 644-8888

2014 Partner Grant Application Form

Please submit form and required materials to: Lindsay VanPatten lindsay@capitolregionwd.org Fax: (651) 644-8894

APPLICANT INFORMATION Name:

Deborah Karasov

Organization: Address: Phone:

Great River Greening

35 West Water Street, Suite 201, Saint Paul, MN 55107

651-665-9500

Email:

dkarasov@greatrivergreening.org

Website:

www.greatrivergreening.org

APPLICATION QUESTIONS 1.

Describe your project.

Great River Greening will engage the community in several watershed education activities, using as a focus the restoration of Trout Brook Nature Sanctuary, a new 37-acre site located in the heart of a heavily urbanized area just north of downtown Saint Paul, along the Trout Brook Regional Trail. East Saint Paul is a diverse neighborhood where 40% have household income less than $35,000, 30% speak a language other than English, and 60% of the population are nonwhite. Such diversity requires watershed education to be delivered in innovative ways. Great River Greening’s model of education is based on the concept that knowledge comes from experience: through hands-on learning people experience the significance of personal action and changes both positive and negative to our water resources. The result of a remarkable collaboration of CRWD and Saint Paul, the Trout Brook project as a whole will create an ecologically-important wildlife corridor connecting with the Mississippi River, and will include day-lighting a brook that was filled in and put underground. The Great River Greening portion will be to involve and educate at least 200 people through multiple programs over the course of the year--including public events, Science Area Teen Network, Summer Youth Job Corps, Internships, and public tours. It is a collaboration with Saint Paul Parks and Recreation, and CRWD funds will help match recommended Outdoor Heritage Funds, City funds, foundation funds, and a 2014 All-Star Legacy grant from the Minnesota Twins.

2.

Describe the mission and goals of your organization and how this project helps meet them.

Great River Greening’s mission is to secure the legacy of Minnesota lands and waters through community stewardship, restoration and partnerships. With a track record of 30,000 volunteers, we work in collaboration at a grassroots level so partners and volunteers feel connected to the resource, understand their role in stewardship, and are protective of the land and water legacy that we pass on to future generations. Through multiple programs, this project will engage volunteers, including neighborhood residents and at-risk youth, give them the opportunity to connect to the Mississippi River, educate them during the project about the water resource benefits, demonstrate the positive impact they can have, and empower citizens to advocate for effective environmental stewardship.

3.

How much money are you requesting? (between $2,000 and $20,000)

$20,000

1

4.

How will this project prevent water pollution?

As noted in the CRWD's water resource study for the site, the value of reconnecting the residents of Saint Paul with the water resources that flow around them and beneath their streets is key to District water quality goals. The challenge of connection is particularly significant in the District because of the level of development as well as the District's cultural and racial diversity.

Hands-on involvement is one of the most effective means of education about these issues, and Great River Greening events put education objectives on par with the actual work done. At events, volunteers work in small work units, led by a trained volunteer supervisor, and ecologists spend time with each work unit to teach and answer questions on an intimate level. The youth programs also include a hands-on component, complemented with classroom presentations and conversations with community mentors on green jobs. Classroom presentations and handouts (in multiple languages) will serve as a prelude to the field component. The Trout Brook project, which will be the focus of these activities, will include a stormwater management system of filtration ponds and wetlands, and volunteers and youth will learn about them in detail.

5.

What geographic and/or demographic area do you serve?

Great River Greening has collaborated for more than a dozen years to restore the blufflands and floodplains that frame the Mississippi River in Saint Paul. Although we have expanded our work to other regions of the state, our roots continue to be anchored in Saint Paul, including a large proportion of our volunteers as well as our partnerships with Saint Paul schools, Parks & Recreation, and CRWD.

6.

Describe how CRWD grant funds will be used.

CRWD funds will match recommended Outdoor Heritage Funds, City funds, foundation grants, and a 2014 All-Star Legacy grant from the Minnesota Twins for the community events, targeted youth programs and related educational outreach. Expenses include staff (ecologists, outreach and volunteer manager, field crew), site subcontractors, youth crew, restoration materials, volunteer event materials, and educational material. Trout Brook Nature Sanctuary will serve as the focus for these activities, however, if CRWD rain garden projects continue in 2014, the internships may be involved with those projects as well.

7.

What is the timeline for this project?

Although the project has multiple phases, this application is for the first phase of activities during calendar year 2014. In general, we organize our work by season: a) January-April: event and project planning for spring season; b) May-June: spring event season including public events and youth activities; c) May-November: crew and contractor implementation of some project work, summer internships and summer youth crews; d) August-September: event and project planning for fall season; e) October: fall event season including public events and youth activities; f) November-December: project evaluation, design work and planning for next year.

8.

If applicable, please list other partners and their role in this project.

Saint Paul Parks & Recreation: land manager and partner for education; 3M: liaison with many east metro schools for the Science Area Teen Network; Conservation Corps of Minnesota: partner for the Summer Youth Job Corp; CRWD: partner for internships and education.

9.

How will you measure the success of your project?

Numbers of volunteers and youth engaged (200) through events and targeted youth programs, trees, shrubs, grasses and forbs planted, and seed spread. Our volunteers come from many different communities; because this is a special opportunity to engage an inner-city neighborhood, we also will track the youth and adults engaged from CRWD specifically.

10. How did you find out about the CRWD Grant program?

We are active partners with CRWD, including rain garden planting and educational outreach

2

PROJECT SCOPE Outline the scope of this project in one to six objectives.

Start Date:

01

2014

End Date:

12

2014

Objective:

Community Engagement

Deliverables:

Minimum 200 volunteers engaged, at least 50% youth through targeted programs Implementation, evaluation and photo documentation of Science Area Teen Network, Summer Youth Job Corps, Internships, and Volunteer Events

Start Date:

01

2014

End Date:

Objective:

Phase I Vegetation Restoration

Deliverables:

At least 12,000 forbs and grasses planted At least 1000 trees and shrubs planted At least 10 acres of invasive species removed from forest edge

Start Date:

12

2014

End Date:

Objective: Deliverables:

3

PROJECT SCOPE Outline the scope of this project in one to six objectives.

Start Date:

9

14

End Date:

12

14

Objective:

Ongoing education about stormwater management

Deliverables:

Educational materials about the rain garden will be developed to coincide with the earth science curriculum including utilizing the actual garden during future 8th grade classes.

A final report will be created and will include: final design specs, photos, the educational materials, student updates, partner updates and the true stormwater reduction analysis results The final report will be given to CRWD as well as any other interested parties

Start Date:

End Date:

Start Date:

End Date:

Objective: Deliverables:

Objective: Deliverables:

4

PROJECT BUDGET Complete the budget form below and include other funding sources.

Objective

Personnel/ staff Cost ($)

1

Community Engagement

2

4000 Phase I Vegetation Restoration

3 4

Other costs ($)

Amount funded

by CRWD ($)

Other funding sources * ($)

Total Cost of Objective ($)

In-Kind Donations 5500

9500

9500

900

900

900

600

600

600 Ongoing education about stormwater management

5 6 TOTALS

$ 4,000.00

$ 7,000.00

$ 0.00

$ 11,000.00

$ 0.00

* May include in-kind donations/labor, cash, etc.

5

14 QUESTIONS 2, 8 AND 9 IN BIGGER TYPE Urban Roots MN‐ CRWD Partner Grant Application 2013‐2014 Question 2: Urban Roots (formerly Community Design Center of Minnesota) is a Saint Paul‐ based organization whose mission is to build vibrant and healthy communities through food, conservation and youth development. Our vision is to be a leader and innovator in using food, conservation and youth development programs so that youth and community members: Have opportunity for learning, leadership, service and career connections; engage with their community and environment, and learn about and access healthy food. We operate food and ecology programs that place the tools of personal and community development in the hands of young people and families. Our gardening, cooking and conservation programs help children and youth: Develop work, entrepreneurship, gardening, cooking, environmental restoration and public speaking skills, Improve their health and their community’s health and environment through conservation, cooking, gardening, and eating well, Become environmental leaders and stewards in their community, and Make connections to career opportunities and professionals in food and ecology. Our Conservation Program's work involving rain gardens, environmental restoration and water quality and environmental education enables youth interns to improve their community's environment and environmental skills and knowledge and to improve their own environmental skills and knowledge.

Question 8: We will work with CRWD, City of St. Paul, Lower Phalen Creek Project, MN DNR, and others. We will communicate with CRWD regarding rain garden maintenance as possible and needed.

Of our other key partners, the City of St. Paul will provide work sites in public spaces and staff coordination; Lower Phalen Creek Project will help with coordination of projects and management of activities, and numerous community organizations and residents will host a rain leader disconnect or boulevard rain garden, or make an environmental career‐focused presentation to the youth interns, or host a presentation. We’ll also work with St. Paul Parks and recreation and local community based organizations for our youth interns to provide interactive learning sessions about improving water quality and other environmental improvement topics. We have relatively new partnerships with the DNR and US Forest Service, and through our partnership with these organizations we are both providing career education for our youth interns and exploring work project and environmental education potential at the DNR’s Warner Road regional office.

Additional partners include St. Paul Public Schools ‐program space and partners,

recruitment; Macalester College‐ provide student workers and interns, staff collaboration; Metropolitan State University‐ provide meeting space, student and faculty support; Belwin Outdoor Science‐ host interns from our program, provide technical support; Dayton’s Bluff District 4 Community Council‐ collaborate on projects including boulevard planters; District 1 Community Council‐ collaborate to maintain Suburban Ave planters; East Side Network Café‐ assist with recruiting youth and community partners for our education and rain gardens; St. Paul Riverfront Corporation‐ provide training, technical support, event and outreach collaboration; Sprockets: St. Paul’s Out of School Time Network‐ increase awareness, systems support; University of Minnesota‐ CFANS and Institute on the Environment‐ shared VISTA, interns, education and many others!

Question 9: Environmental Impacts 1) Number and square footage of rain gardens installed & maintained (at least 2‐4 small public or residential rain leader disconnect sites, plus maintenance of 6‐9 boulevard rain gardens) ~We will estimate volume of water and pollution diverted from storm drains using square footage.

2) Nature Sanctuary and local natural area maintenance completed ~We will estimate volume or area of invasive plant removal, plantings, and other related outcomes and obtain feedback from partner organizations.

Environmental Education Impacts 1) Environmental Hands‐on Community Education (co‐led by staff and youth interns) 200 program participants will increase their environmental knowledge ~This will be measured by surveying participants.

2) Conservation Corps Youth Internship 20‐35 teenage youth interns will: a) Increase their skills and knowledge related to water quality improvement and environmental conservation b) Increase their awareness of environmental careers ~This will be measured by assessments administered by the program supervisor. **If we receive a pending grant from the St. Paul and Bigelow Foundations we will expand and hire an additional staff and reach 35‐40 youth instead of 20 youth and will therefore need additional youth wages to pay these additional youth.**

14 Capitol Region Watershed District 1410 Energy Park Drive, Suite 4 Saint Paul, MN 55108 capitolregionwd.org (651) 644-8888

2014 Partner Grant Application Form

Please submit form and required materials to: Lindsay VanPatten lindsay@capitolregionwd.org Fax: (651) 644-8894

APPLICANT INFORMATION Name:

Deborah Karasov

Organization: Address: Phone:

Great River Greening

35 West Water Street, Suite 201, Saint Paul, MN 55107

651-665-9500

Email:

dkarasov@greatrivergreening.org

Website:

www.greatrivergreening.org

APPLICATION QUESTIONS 1.

Describe your project.

Great River Greening will engage the community in several watershed education activities, using as a focus the restoration of Trout Brook Nature Sanctuary, a new 37-acre site located in the heart of a heavily urbanized area just north of downtown Saint Paul, along the Trout Brook Regional Trail. East Saint Paul is a diverse neighborhood where 40% have household income less than $35,000, 30% speak a language other than English, and 60% of the population are nonwhite. Such diversity requires watershed education to be delivered in innovative ways. Great River Greening’s model of education is based on the concept that knowledge comes from experience: through hands-on learning people experience the significance of personal action and changes both positive and negative to our water resources. The result of a remarkable collaboration of CRWD and Saint Paul, the Trout Brook project as a whole will create an ecologically-important wildlife corridor connecting with the Mississippi River, and will include day-lighting a brook that was filled in and put underground. The Great River Greening portion will be to involve and educate at least 200 people through multiple programs over the course of the year--including public events, Science Area Teen Network, Summer Youth Job Corps, Internships, and public tours. It is a collaboration with Saint Paul Parks and Recreation, and CRWD funds will help match recommended Outdoor Heritage Funds, City funds, foundation funds, and a 2014 All-Star Legacy grant from the Minnesota Twins.

2.

Describe the mission and goals of your organization and how this project helps meet them.

Great River Greening’s mission is to secure the legacy of Minnesota lands and waters through community stewardship, restoration and partnerships. With a track record of 30,000 volunteers, we work in collaboration at a grassroots level so partners and volunteers feel connected to the resource, understand their role in stewardship, and are protective of the land and water legacy that we pass on to future generations. Through multiple programs, this project will engage volunteers, including neighborhood residents and at-risk youth, give them the opportunity to connect to the Mississippi River, educate them during the project about the water resource benefits, demonstrate the positive impact they can have, and empower citizens to advocate for effective environmental stewardship.

3.

How much money are you requesting? (between $2,000 and $20,000)

$20,000

1

4.

How will this project prevent water pollution?

As noted in the CRWD's water resource study for the site, the value of reconnecting the residents of Saint Paul with the water resources that flow around them and beneath their streets is key to District water quality goals. The challenge of connection is particularly significant in the District because of the level of development as well as the District's cultural and racial diversity.

Hands-on involvement is one of the most effective means of education about these issues, and Great River Greening events put education objectives on par with the actual work done. At events, volunteers work in small work units, led by a trained volunteer supervisor, and ecologists spend time with each work unit to teach and answer questions on an intimate level. The youth programs also include a hands-on component, complemented with classroom presentations and conversations with community mentors on green jobs. Classroom presentations and handouts (in multiple languages) will serve as a prelude to the field component. The Trout Brook project, which will be the focus of these activities, will include a stormwater management system of filtration ponds and wetlands, and volunteers and youth will learn about them in detail.

5.

What geographic and/or demographic area do you serve?

Great River Greening has collaborated for more than a dozen years to restore the blufflands and floodplains that frame the Mississippi River in Saint Paul. Although we have expanded our work to other regions of the state, our roots continue to be anchored in Saint Paul, including a large proportion of our volunteers as well as our partnerships with Saint Paul schools, Parks & Recreation, and CRWD.

6.

Describe how CRWD grant funds will be used.

CRWD funds will match recommended Outdoor Heritage Funds, City funds, foundation grants, and a 2014 All-Star Legacy grant from the Minnesota Twins for the community events, targeted youth programs and related educational outreach. Expenses include staff (ecologists, outreach and volunteer manager, field crew), site subcontractors, youth crew, restoration materials, volunteer event materials, and educational material. Trout Brook Nature Sanctuary will serve as the focus for these activities, however, if CRWD rain garden projects continue in 2014, the internships may be involved with those projects as well.

7.

What is the timeline for this project?

Although the project has multiple phases, this application is for the first phase of activities during calendar year 2014. In general, we organize our work by season: a) January-April: event and project planning for spring season; b) May-June: spring event season including public events and youth activities; c) May-November: crew and contractor implementation of some project work, summer internships and summer youth crews; d) August-September: event and project planning for fall season; e) October: fall event season including public events and youth activities; f) November-December: project evaluation, design work and planning for next year.

8.

If applicable, please list other partners and their role in this project.

Saint Paul Parks & Recreation: land manager and partner for education; 3M: liaison with many east metro schools for the Science Area Teen Network; Conservation Corps of Minnesota: partner for the Summer Youth Job Corp; CRWD: partner for internships and education.

9.

How will you measure the success of your project?

Numbers of volunteers and youth engaged (200) through events and targeted youth programs, trees, shrubs, grasses and forbs planted, and seed spread. Our volunteers come from many different communities; because this is a special opportunity to engage an inner-city neighborhood, we also will track the youth and adults engaged from CRWD specifically.

10. How did you find out about the CRWD Grant program?

We are active partners with CRWD, including rain garden planting and educational outreach

2

PROJECT SCOPE Outline the scope of this project in one to six objectives.

Start Date:

01

2014

End Date:

12

2014

Objective:

Community Engagement

Deliverables:

Minimum 200 volunteers engaged, at least 50% youth through targeted programs Implementation, evaluation and photo documentation of Science Area Teen Network, Summer Youth Job Corps, Internships, and Volunteer Events

Start Date:

01

2014

End Date:

Objective:

Phase I Vegetation Restoration

Deliverables:

At least 12,000 forbs and grasses planted At least 1000 trees and shrubs planted At least 10 acres of invasive species removed from forest edge

Start Date:

12

2014

End Date:

Objective: Deliverables:

3

PROJECT SCOPE Outline the scope of this project in one to six objectives.

Start Date:

9

14

End Date:

12

14

Objective:

Ongoing education about stormwater management

Deliverables:

Educational materials about the rain garden will be developed to coincide with the earth science curriculum including utilizing the actual garden during future 8th grade classes.

A final report will be created and will include: final design specs, photos, the educational materials, student updates, partner updates and the true stormwater reduction analysis results The final report will be given to CRWD as well as any other interested parties

Start Date:

End Date:

Start Date:

End Date:

Objective: Deliverables:

Objective: Deliverables:

4

PROJECT BUDGET Complete the budget form below and include other funding sources.

Objective

Personnel/ staff Cost ($)

1

Community Engagement

2

4000 Phase I Vegetation Restoration

Amount funded

by CRWD ($)

22693

3 4

Other costs ($)

12006

Other funding sources * ($)

Total Cost of Objective ($)

In-Kind Donations

22693

5500

9500

9500

900

900

900

600

600

600 Ongoing education about stormwater management

5

0

6

0 TOTALS

$ 4,000.00

$ 7,000.00

$ 0.00

$ 11,000.00

$ 0.00

* May include in-kind donations/labor, cash, etc.

5

Urban Roots MN 2013‐2014 Income Conservation Program Corporate and foundation support $70,990 Government grants and contracts, client fees $1,750 In‐kind salaries (grad interns, volunteers, VISTA) $5,000 In‐Kind intern stipends (YJC) $15,000 Total Income $92,740 Expense Full‐time, part‐time and seasonal staff VISTA Interns‐youth stipends, YJC summer Interns‐ CDC portion, academic year & summer In‐Kind Salaries (interns, volunteers, VISTA) Payroll Taxes Worker's Compensation Health Insurance Subtotal Staffing Costs Consulting/Professional Fees Program IT Facilitation Evaluation Other professional services Subtotal Consulting and Professional Fees Project Supplies / Expenses Office Supplies Phone Print / Copy Postage Internet, Website, Email Equipment Insurance Total Operating Expenses Rent Utilities Building Repair and Maintenance Total Occupancy Expenses Travel Expenses Professional Development Dues, subscriptions, registration Miscellanous Expense Depreciation Total other expenses Total expenses Net Income/(Loss)

$28,329 $4,000 $15,000 $10,000 $5,000 $2,266 $252 $900 $65,747

$500 $620 $710 $775 $1,240 $3,845 $2,000 $930 $714 $930 $434 $248 $310 $1,860 $5,426 $5,978 $248 $310 $6,536 $4,530 $1,240 $310 $155 $2,946 $9,181 $92,736 $4

Conservation Estimates Academic Year Session Weeks Winter CC Spring CC Totals Academic Year Youth Council

Months

Conservation Interns on Youth Council

Summer New Youth Returning Youth Masters Youth Council Totals

Total Year Estimated Total (including Youth Council)

# of interns 10 8 18

Hrs/wk 10 10 20

# of interns

7

3

Hrs/mo

2 Number of Interns

Weeks

Wage/hr $/youth 4 $ 7.25 $ 290.00 4 $ 7.25 $ 232.00 $ 522.00

Wage/hr

7

$/youth

7.25

Total $ Total # of hrs $ 2,900.00 400 $ 2,320.00 320 3 youth $ 5,220.00 720 $ 1,566.00

Total $

355.25 $ 710.50

Total # of hrs

98

Hours/Week Wage/hr $/youth Total $ Total # of hrs 23 8 7.25 $ 174.00 $ 4,002.00 552 9 youth

10 10

9 1

16 20

7.25 $ 1,160.00 $ 10,440.00 7.25 $ 1,450.00 $ 1,450.00

1440 $ 10,440.00 200

10 10

6 33

2

7.25 $ 145.00 $ 870.00 7.25 $ 16,762.00

120 $ 12,006.00 total

$ 22,692.50

Total Year without Youth Council $ 21,112.00

15 Capitol Region Watershed District 1410 Energy Park Drive, Suite 4 Saint Paul, MN 55108 capitolregionwd.org (651) 644-­‐8888

2014 Partner Grant Application Form Please submit form and required materials to: Lindsay VanPatten lindsay@capitolregionwd.org Fax: (651) 644-­‐8894

APPLICANT INFORMATION

Name:

Emily Jarrett Hughes

Organization: Wisdom Dances (Fiscal sponsor: Springboard for the Arts) Address:

4244 24th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55406

Phone:

(612) 729-4857

Email:

Emily@wisdomdances.com

Website:

www.wisdomdances.com 1. Describe your project Weathering a Storm is a project that will engage the diverse communities surrounding University Avenue in a two step process in pursuit of behavior change around water stewardship. The unique approach of this project is to cultivate cultural dance groups as water advocates and to create a public performance event on the Green Line that uses the arts to inspire commitments to change behavior.

(Pictures from Weathering a Storm 2013)

Weathering a Storm Weathering a Storm will take place in front of Gordon Parks High School at Griggs and University during St. Paul Open Streets 2014, a time when people are exploring the street without motorized traffic and are more receptive to experiencing their surroundings in a new way. In honor of the many new features to improve water quality that were part of the reconstruction, six different cultural dance groups will perform, representing the diversity of cultures in the neighborhood including West African, Latino, European, and Southeast Asian traditions. The dance groups will engage the audience with information about how their dance represents their culture’s values towards water, water stewardship, and resilience. Educational information about the watershed and water quality issues will be interspersed in the performance.

This project is based upon a pilot Weathering a Storm event that took place during St. Paul Open Streets 2013 and was funded by a one-time mini-grant from Irrigate. That event showed how powerful arts groups can be at capturing attention for landscape features that can so easily be overlooked. The cultural groups brought new meaning to these projects to redesign our city. One of the lessons learned from the event is that further development of dance groups as advocates would strengthen our message.

Therefore this proposal includes an investment in building the capacity of cultural dance groups to be advocates.

Developing Cultural Dance Groups as Water Advocates While cultural minorities are often disproportionately negatively affected by water issues they have commonly been underrepresented in water stewardship efforts. Engaging cultural dance groups as water advocates is a way to build leadership in diverse communities.

Dance is a primary way that a culture represents itself and shares its values with others. This is why events such as the Festival of Nations have such a significant dance festival aspect to them. Dance is accessible because you don’t need language to enjoy it. Dancers experience full-body engagement with the meaning of their dance. Dance draws attention in public settings with its combination of music and movement.

This project develops dance groups’ capacity to interpret their cultural values as they relate to water and prepare them to be advocates about water stewardship.

Through a group training for all groups and

follow-up sessions with each individual group, performers will receive: 1. A watershed 101 education for all performers in the project. Education will include information about how climate change is changing the characteristics of storms and exacerbating water quality issues. Information will include what people can do to protect water.

2. Creative engagement with the themes of water stewardship and weathering storms. How are each group’s dances related to important rivers in other parts of the world? If trout fishing, open beaches, boating without sediment issues, and clear drinking water are all positive results of good water stewardship, are there dances that relate to enjoying rivers, fishing, swimming or using water for purification? How else has dance been used to weather figurative storms?

3. Practice speaking as water advocates. Participants will practice succinctly describing their cultural values for water stewardship, preparing them to speak at the Weathering a Storm event.

Wisdom Dances is pursuing funding from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council to expand the training to include more artistic development and collaboration that would enhance the artistic quality of community events.

2. Describe the mission and goals of your organization and how this project helps meet them.

Wisdom Dances uses dance to awaken the creative power within individuals and communities to transform lives and the world. The dance education programming of Wisdom Dances often uses dance to foster a connection with the natural world and has included a partnership with Dodge Nature Center. Wisdom Dances also has a performing group called Living Wisdom that uses the practice of dance from the Balkans and Asia Minor to build a community with a life-sustaining relationship to the land. Wisdom Dances builds partnerships with other cultural dance groups to foster multi-cultural exchanges about how our cities foster environmental sustainability. This project helps invest in building the capacity of dance groups to work together on environmental issues and offers another opportunity to refine these concepts for cultural collaborations in partnership with community agencies.

3. How much money are you requesting $10,000 4. How will the project prevent water pollution?

At the event during Open Streets volunteers will invite people to make a public commitment to what water stewardship action they are interested in taking by filling out a self-addressed postcard. Resource tables about water stewardship will help people get

the information they need to accomplish the action that interests them. Postcards will be collected, counted, and mailed to recipients one month after the event. This approach is based on research showing that making a public commitment increases the likelihood that people will take a specific action. The postcard received in the mail one month later will serve as a second nudge to encourage (or celebrate) the new behavior.

At the conclusion of the project all performers will be surveyed to assess what changes in water stewardship behavior they have made and how they have influenced others in their community.

5. What geographic and/or demographic area do you serve?

Weathering a Storm is a project designed to serve the communities surrounding University Avenue. Utmost effort will be made to have participating cultural dance groups represent the surrounding community and may include West African, Southeast Asian, East African, Native American, Latino and European dance groups.

6. Describe how CRWD grant funds will be used.

Wisdom Dances will provide artistic leadership for the project as well as project and communications coordination, totaling $4,150. Other personnel related costs include graphic design, photography and videography, totaling $1,000. Fair compensation for performing groups is essential to supporting creative engagement with water issues and ideally among performance groups. The six dance groups will be compensated for their performance as well as the advocacy training process because the training will require creative response which will be used in performance (totaling $3,300). Costs for printing, materials and meeting expenses total $836. Springboard for the Arts is the fiscal sponsor for Wisdom Dances and charges 7% of the grant award, totaling $654.

7. What is the timeline for this project?

January 6, 2014 April 1, 2014 June 7, 2014 July 15, 2014 September 7, 2014

Apply for Metropolitan Regional Arts Council for funds to expand artist development training.

Begin recruiting and preparing for artist training Advocate training for cultural dance groups Finalize performers and publicity for Weathering a Storm event Estimated date for St. Paul Open Streets and date of Weathering a Storm event.

8. If applicable, please list other partners and their role in this project.

The three performing groups that participated in Weathering a Storm 2013 will be the anchors for the 2014 project. These groups are Voice of Culture Dance and Drum (West African), Danza Mexica Cuauhtemoc (Aztec), and Living Wisdom (Balkans and Asia Minor). These groups will be joined by three additional dance groups that represent the

neighborhood and are characterized by including education about cultural values with their dance tradition and/or a history of community engagement.

Partners in water stewardship education at both the advocate training and public event may include, in addition to the Capitol Region Watershed District, the Freshwater Society (confirmed) and Friends of the Mississippi River and Metro Blooms.

9. How will you measure the success of your project?

Success of the Weathering a Storm project will be measured by: □ Measured behavior changes by performers in cultural dance groups. □ Measured influence on others regarding water issues □ The number of people attending the Weathering a Storm public event □ The number of postcards collected, each representing a commitment to behavior change.

10. How did you find out about the CRWD Grant Program?

From Elizabeth Beckman following earlier collaborations.

Outline the scope of this project in one to six objectives.

6/15/14 Start Date: 4/1/14 End Date:

Build capacity of cultural dance groups to be water advocates.

Objective:

Provide training to all performers in 6 cultural dance groups that includes: Deliverables:

□ Information about watersheds, water stewardship, and how climate change is affecting

water.

□ Creative engagement with water themes based on cultural traditions

□ Practice speaking as water advocates

Measure changes in behavior of performers and how they have influenced others.

9/30/14 Start Date: 6/7/14 End Date:

Objective: Inspire people to act to improve water quality.

Deliverables: Hold a public event in proximity to new features promoting water quality on University

Avenue during St. Paul Open Streets.

□ Six cultural dance groups will perform

□ Resource tables will provide information on water stewardship

□ Postcards will be collected as commitments to new water stewardship behaviors.

PROJECT BUDGET Complete the budget form below and include other funding sources.

Objective Personnel/ Other costs Amount staff Cost ($) funded by ($)

CRWD ($) 1 Build capacity of six $2,407 $1,241 $3,648 cultural dance groups

as water advocates

2 Inspire people to act to $2,033 $4,319 $6,352 improve water quality

$4,440 $5,560

TOTALS

Other funding sources * ($)

Total cost of objective ($)

0

$3,648

0

$6,352

$10,000

October 22, 2013 Elizabeth Beckman Capitol Region Watershed District 1410 Energy Park Drive, Suite 4 St. Paul, MN 55108 Re: Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement Dear Elizabeth, As requested by Emily Jarrett Hughes of Wisdom Dances, I am writing this letter to notify you that Springboard for the Arts has agreed to act as fiscal sponsor for their Partner Grants proposal.

If this award is made, Springboard for the Arts will assume full responsibility for its proper fiscal management and accounting and will endeavor to the best of our ability to ensure that all reports required by the Capitol Region Watershed District are accurate and submitted on a timely basis.

While project funds are dedicated to each project's charitable purpose, Springboard for the Arts retains “variance power,� that is, discretion and control over how funds are disbursed and the unilateral right to select those specific recipients whom we believe will best accomplish the project. Springboard for the Arts is exempt from federal income tax under Sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Sincerely,

Laura Zabel Executive Director Springboard for the Arts

Internal Revenue Service

Department of the Treasury P. O. Box 2508 Cincinnati,OH 45201

Date: July 16,2002

Springboard for the Arts 308 Prince St Suite 270 St Pau'l r'vH~ 55101-1437706

Person to Contact: Yvette Davis 31-07341 Customer Service Representative Toll Free Telephone Number: 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. EST

877-829-5500 Fax Number: 513-263-3756 Federal Identification Number: 41-1690483

Dear Sir or Madam: ThiS is in response to the amendment to your organization's Articles of Incorporation filed with the state on January 24, 2002 We have updated our records to reflect the name change as indicated above." This letter will take the place of the copy you requested.

Our records indicate that a determination letter issued in October 1991, granted your organization exemption from federal income tax under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. That letter is still in effect.

Based on information subsequently submitted, we classified your organization as one that is not a private foundation within the meaning of section 509(a) of the Code because it is an organization described in section 509(a)(1) and 170(b)( 1)(A)(vi).

This claSSification was based on the assumption that your organization's operations would continue as stated in the application If your organization's sources of support, or its character, method of operations, or purposes have changed, please let us know so we can consider the effect of the change on the exempt status and foundation status of your organization.

Your organization is required to file Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax, only if its gross receipts each year are normally more than $25,000. If a return is required, it must be filed by the 15th day of the fifth month after the end of the organization's annual accounting period. The law imposes a penalty of S20 a day, up to a maximum of $10,000, when a return is filed late, unless there is reasonable cause for the delay.

All exempt organizations (unless specifically excluded) are liable for taxes under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (social security taxes) on remuneration of $100 or more paid to each employee during a calendar year Your organization is not liable for the tax imposed under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) Organizations that are not private foundations are not subject to the excise taxes under Chapter 42 of the Code However. these organizations are not automatically exempt from other federal excise taxes.

DOllors may deduct contributions to your organization as provided in section 170 of the Code. Bequests, legacies, deVises, transfers, or gifts to your organization or for its use are deductible for federal estate and gift tax purposes if they meet the applicable provisions of sections 2055, 2106, and 2522 of the Code.

---足

-2足

Springboard for the Arts 41-1690483 Your organization IS not required to file federal income tax returns unless it is subject to the tax on unrelated business income under section 511 of the Code. If your organization is subject to this tax, it must file an income tax return on the Form 990-T, Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Return. In this letter, we are not determining whether any of your organization's present or proposed activities are unrelated trade or business as defined In section 513 of the Code.

The law requires you to make your organization's annual return available for public inspection without charge for three years after the due date of the return. You are also required to make available for public inspection a copy of your organization's exemption application, any supporting documents and the exemption letter to any individua'i who requests such documents in person or in writing You can charge only a reasonable fee for reproduction and actual postage costs for the copied materials. The law does not require you to provide copies of public inspection documents that are widely available, such as by posting them on the Internet (World Wide Web). You may be liable for a penalty of $20 a day for each day you do not make these documents available for public inspection (up to a maximum of $10,000 in the case of an annual return).

Because this letter could help resolve any questions about your organization's exempt status and foundation status, you should keep it with the organization's permanent records.

If you have any questions, please call us at the telephone number shown in the heading of this letter.

This letter affirms your organization's exempt status.

Sincerely,

9~2~ John E. Ricketts, Director, TE/GE Customer Account Services