Bridging the Gap, Inc.

Description:this Agreement Provides Funding Under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to Bridging the Gap (BTG). the Recipient's Community Resiliency Project Will Address High Carbon Emissions Inside the Homes of Underserved Residents in East Kansas City, Mo and Urban Heat Island Impacts, Which Both Contribute to Poor Air Quality. the Key Elements Include Conducting Public Education, Doing Energy, Environmental Health, and Household Carbon Footprint Observations, Creating a Local Environmental Justice Advisory Council to Work With Residents, and Partnering With Other Stakeholders to Implement Learned Practices From the Education and Assessment Observations. Activities:the Activities Include: Goal 1) Creating an Environmental Justice Advisory Council (EJAC) to Serve as Advisors Who Will Help Develop Operating Guidelines, Community Resiliency Reports and Processes, and Drive the Conversation to Local Decision Makers and Partners About Improving Residential Resiliency From Negative Climate Impacts. the Ejac Will Also Host a Town Hall Meeting With Bridging the Gap, Their Project Partners, and Kansas City Residents Living in Impacted Areas About the Community Resiliency Investment Project (and Ways to Reduce Carbon Emissions and Lower Utility Bills). Goal 2) Is Focused on Developing a Utility Burden Reduction Program Within the Resiliency Project to Analyze Resident and Program Participant Utility Bill Trends, Creating a Community Energy Benefit Agreement (CEBA) With Local Utility Companies to Reduce the Energy Burden, Ongoing Communication of the Issues, and Increasing Community Access to Renewable Energy by Creating an Energy Resource Hub. Goal 3) Conducting the Community Resilience Investment Program for Households in Low Life Expectancy Zip Codes, Which Includes Energy Efficiency, Carbon Footprint (using Epa's Online Carbon Footprint Tool) and Health Assessments, Followed by Implementing Learned Practices and Encouraging Adaptation Skills Such as Climate Resilience. Goal 4) Develop and Implement Community Education Which Will Consist of Social Media Education, Online Community Forums, and Post Participant Yards Signs All to Increase Participation, Understanding, Collaboration and Awareness About the Community Resiliency Investment Program. Subrecipient:btg's Subawardee Will Be the Black Health Care Coalition Which Is a Community-based Organization With Strong Community Engagement in the Affected Areas and a Solid Track Record of Rallying for Equitable Access to Health Care for People of Color in Kansas City. the Focus of Black Health Care Coalition, the Subawardee, Will Be to Support BTG in Expanding Targeted Residents' Understanding of Their Indoor Air Quality and Outdoor Air by Helping Educate Them About Climate Resiliency and the Impact Carbon Emissions and Utility Burdens Have on Their Families. Activities Will Include: Having a Trained Community Health Worker Go Into Residents' Homes Who Sign Up to Be Part of the Community Resiliency Investment Program and Complete a Health Assessment and Offer Additional Health Resources to Ensure That Families Have a Holistic Approach. They Will Also Show Residents How to Use Epa's Carbon Footprint Tool to See How They Can Create a Healthier and More Energy Efficient Home. Lastly, BHCC Will Support BTG With Recruitment for the Program and Support BTG'S Townhall and Social Media Campaign and Online Forum.outcomes:the Anticipated Deliverables Include Recruiting Residents to Be Part of an Ej Advisory Council Who Will Host Meetings and Help Promote the Community Resiliency Investment Program With Bridging the Gap and Other Partners to Host a Townhall Meeting, Creating a Utility Burden Reduction Program. Then Implementing the Community Resiliency Investment Program That Incorporates All the Key Collaborative Problem Solving Elements to Demonstrate Outcomes Relate to Energy Efficiency and Residential Health. This Also Includes the Ejac Encouraging Up to 250 Residents to Complete the