2015 National Environmental Justice Conference

Youth/Emerging Leaders Summit

Hunter Scott and Zri Hitchock -YFLP Student Leaders

Howard University School of Law
March 11-13, 2015

Funders/Partners
Project Partners
Environmental Health Watch and Rid-All Green
Partnership in collaboration with Burten, Bell,
Carr Community Development Corporation.
EPA Environmental Justice Small Grant Project
Sisters Of Charity Foundation of Cleveland

EHW and Rid-All Collaboration

Environmental Justice & Grassroots Activities
Activities and Projects

HUD Roach Research Project

Race, Food and Justice Conferences(2013 & 2014)
Green Houses and Green Houses Project
YFLP Program

Background

EHW

Environmental education, direct-service, research, policy and

advocacy
Neighborhood Leadership for Environmental Health Initiative (EPA
CARE communities)-Community Environmental Health
Affordable Green Housing Center-Healthy Homes

Rid-All

Urban Agriculture Training Center for youth and adults

Growing Power network
Educate through arts, entertainment and direct-service

Project Curriculum Components

Watersheds, and Wetlands as Solutions
Environmental Health, Justice, Policy and
Advocacy parts I and II
Plant Biology, Nutrients, Soils, Aquaponics and
Ecosystems
Food Literacy, Nutrition and Health Disparities
Tying It All Together

What is a Food Desert?

A Food Desert is a area in your neighborhood
where the aren't stores available to get fresh
healthy quality food within walking distance.
A Food Desert is also an area where there are
only fast food restaurants.
There are also transportation issues because
people may not have cars to drive miles away to
get the foods and nutrition that they need.

Place Matters
Urban vs. Suburban

Place Matters
Social Determinants of Health

Unsafe neighborhoods

Substandard housing

Obesity
Poor Nutrition
Heart Disease
Food deserts High Blood Pressure

Mental Health
Stress/Racism
Birth Defects

Health Disparities

Accidental Injury
Toxic Chemicals

Poor Indoor Air

Quality

Asthma
Lead Poisoning

Industrial pollution
9

Food Justice-Urban vs. Suburban

COMMUNITY FOOD ASSESSMENT

CUYAHOGA COUNTY FOOD INSECURITY ANALYSIS
April 16, 2008

Food Justice-Transportation

Program Overview
Organic Farming and Permaculture Design
Plant Science, Composting, and Aquaponics

Leadership and Community Engagement

Presentation, decision making, problem solving,
dialogue sessions, planning community meetings

Nutrition Education and Cooking Classes

Hands-on cooking classes

Student Follow-Up
Participation in environmental clubs
Additional leadership development
Community engagement activities

Nutrition Education & Leadership Training

Daily Lessons and Cooking Class

Daily Nutrition Education
Tuesday through Thursday nutrition education
Vegetarian, vegan, raw
Label reading making healthier choices
Introduction to Indian and Mediterranean diets
Different instructor every 2 weeks
Cooking Classes
Friday- Hands on Instruction
Food preparation
Made and immediate impact on students
Students were given supplies and tool kits

Blenders, cutting boards, chef knife, hat/apron,

steel, nutrition tool kit

Leadership Training
Students implemented 2 community meetings
using their own voice
Meetings were ran by students, no adult
participation
Flyers, meeting agendas, power point presentation

Students had daily team building activities, and

hosted a peer-to-peer day
Other youths involved in community were invited
to come to Rid-All Farm

Leadership Training
Dialogue Days
Two- way conversations
Students read bios, met in groups and
prepared questions
Students learned how decisions were made that
impact communities
Many speakers came from Cleveland
neighborhoods

Leadership Training
Dialogue Days

City Council
City Planners
Entrepreneurs
Executive Directors
Foundations
Artists
Professors
Shaker Lakes Nature
Center

Community Development
Corporations
Non-profit organizations
City of Cleveland office
of Sustainability
Testing at Doan Brook
Watershed
Community Activists and
Residents

Leadership Training
Garden Install Selection Process

Applications were submitted

We voted and prioritized applications
We interviewed the applicants
Students decided on sites
Students designed the gardens utilizing
permaculture and landscaping elements learned
during the program

Garden installations in food deserts

Area 11= Fairfax Neighborhood
Area 21= Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood

Garden Installations
Olivet Institutional Baptist Church -Fairfax
Salaam Community Garden-Mt. Pleasant

Salaam Community Garden- Mt. Pleasant

Herb Garden

Flower Bed

Olivet Church- Fairfax

After YFLP-I am A Leader

Initiating a recycling program at my school
met with school administrators and environmental club

October 2014
CHUH school Principal and administrators toured Rid-All Farm

September 2014
attended the City of Cleveland Sustainability Conference

October 2014
main presenters at the Botanical Garden National Youth Voices
Conference

December 2014
co-presenter at Case Western Reserve University Provost
Scholars Program for high school students

March 2015
Roots of Success Leadership Training

Thank You for Listening!

Contact: Kim Foreman
kim.foreman@ehw.org /216-961-4646 x 104
www.ehw.org