COMMUNITY RESILIENCE
Expanding Partnerships for Equitable Conservation The complex layers of community, infrastructure and natural systems in cities present new challenges and opportunities for conservation work.
Focusing on the human impacts of conservation strategies must be central to how we define success in conservation work in cities. The opportunity to make inclusive decisions today to plan for more sustainable cities will impact our communities and natural resources for decades to come. The Nature Conservancy established the Growing Green Solutions Program to support and co-create community- driven green infrastructure partnerships and projects with special attention to the social impact areas of justice and fairness, community engagement and community resilience in St. Louis. Growing Green Solutions in Action Growing Green Solution Program projects seek to increase equitable access to nature and to invest in practices that reduce harmful nutrients that flow into the Missouri and Mississippi rivers – increasing the overall health and resilience of the region. Following are some examples of the Growing Green Solutions Program in action. With your support, together, we can expand the reach of the Growing Green Solutions Program to change the way we approach and collaborate on projects that impact our youth, neighborhoods and natural resources. Growing Faith-Based Partnerships Current Growing Green Solutions Program recipients, all from St. Louis congregations, have taken on projects
that address a wide range of challenges, from food security and sovereignty to youth programming, energy efficiency
organizations including TNC, are working to acquire and repurpose 14 vacant lots that will become the future Peace Park. The park will provide access to recreational areas, native trees and plants, pollinator habitat, and a place for residents to feel safe and more connected to the natural world and to each other. Growing Green Jobs & Conservation Career Pathways The many green spaces and green infrastructure best management practices that are currently being planned and implemented will also need a trained workforce to properly care for and maintain the sites. A green workforce development program can increase economic opportunity by creating a pipeline of skilled and trained workers, particularly young people, people of color, and those who are earning low-to-moderate incomes, to work on public and private projects that are built to improve the local environment and enhance an area’s climate resilience.
and creating Green Teams. Greener Schoolyards for Our Youth
Green spaces play a key role in the development of sustainable, vibrant and livable communities, providing positive social, economic and environmental outcomes. Access to nature can also provide numerous health benefits. In the urban core, welcoming, naturalized outdoor spaces can be limited, especially for children. TNC has partnered with Saint Louis Public Schools, the Missouri Department of Conservation and other stakeholders to launch a green schoolyard pilot program. Equitable Parks in Our Neighborhoods College Hill is the only neighborhood in the City of St. Louis without its own official city park. Neighborhood residents, along with over 20 partner
THIS PAGE TNC employee, Barbara Charry helps mulch during a volunteer day at Jubilee Community Church © Kristy Stoyer/TNC
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