Environmental Justice Work Group

New Environmental Justice Grant: Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund

(Applications due Sept. 12, 2022) The Long Island Sound Study has announced a new Environmental Justice program focused on the Long Island Sound watershed. The Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund (LISCIF) will direct funds and technical assistance to communities experiencing or affected by adverse and disproportionate environmental and human health risks or harms. EPA is seeking proposals from organizations to partner on launching the LISCIF and will provide up to $5 million for this program with Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds. Applications are being accepted through Sept. 12, 2022. Learn more at grants.gov.

Purpose

The Environmental Justice Work Group (EJWG) brings together people in the watershed to help LISS actively move forward in its Environmental Justice implementation work and better serve the needs of minority and underrepresented communities who are disproportionately affected by environmental hazards.

EJWG Goals

To improve DEIJ (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice) literacy among existing partners to ensure an inclusive work environment and to effectively view projects through a DEIJ lens
To enable meaningful involvement of disadvantaged and underserved groups in LISS decision-making processes
To ensure all EJ needs within the watershed are fully identified and addressed

EJWG Objectives

Identify barriers to LISS representation and access to resources
Examine LISS implementation projects and develop a process to hold the program accountable to EJ priorities
Set aside funds for EJ engagement and implementation
Establish meaningful, strong working relationships with diverse and underrepresented groups
Create mechanism, resources, programs, etc as necessary to support the meaningful involvement of new partners in LISS WGs and committees

Work Group Members

Co-chairs

Nicole Tachiki, EPA Long Island Sound Office
Bessie Wright, EPA Region 1
Jimena Perez-Viscasillas, New York Sea Grant

Members

LISS encourages all interested organizations, groups, and individuals to join the EJWG. If you would like to join, please email Jimena at [email protected] to be added to our group mailing list.