2C Mississippi Towards Sustainable Educated & Empowered Misssissippi

Going Green for a Cool, Healthy Jackson (CHJ) funded by USDA Forest Service The project designed through RWJF funds (described above) moved to implementation phase funded by USDA FS in April of 2024 and since then: The engineering survey was ordered, completed and received. The full design for how sites 2 and 3 are going to be developed (including specie selection) was created and illustrated including rendering and a flyover. It was unveiled during a press conference attended by community members and press on May 28, 2024: The survey instrument was developed by CAPA Strategies, followed by an effective campaign (conducted by Communities of Shalom) to recruit volunteers secured volunteers for perception data collection which took place during the Juneteenth celebration organized on the project site on June 22, 2024. Volunteers collected 127 survey questionnaires, 115 of which were fully and properly completed. The questionnaire data was then analyzed in by CAPA Strategies. The installation process of four stationary heat/humidity censors was completed and the measurements were collected on weekly basis for a 6 week duration period (August-September) by volunteers and send to CAPA for analysis. The contractor Selection Committee was formed and includes representatives from 2C Mississippi, our partner Communities of Shalom, and JCDC. A local, minority owned and operated company specializing in Environmental Assessment, Advanced Environmental Consultants, Inc., was hired in May 2024 to conduct Phase I Environmental Assessment on all 3 project sites.

Flood Controling System of Microparks in West Jackson funded by EPA24 and Hilton Foundation The project co-designs with communities and develops a system of microparks replacing abandoned and dilapidated properties and transforming them into multifunctional nature based solutions to flooding, extreme heat, crime and more. In 2024, the following outcomes were accomplished: * Conducted a hydrological modeling analysis on 250 abandoned properties in West Jackson and Jim Hill HS grounds to identify parcels most suited for rainwater interception, redirection and flood mitigation (CAPA Strategies); * Collected physical flooding and other site-specific data from the 250 abandoned properties and the Jim Hill HS grounds to supplement the modeling results (Jackson Community Design Center and 2C Mississippi's staff); * Based on the hydrological and physical flooding analysis the final project location was selected to include 5 abandoned properties in the Colonia Hights Neighborhood (spanning 1.5 acres) to host flood controlling infrastructure in the form of a microparks system; * Ordered and obtained a civil engineering and topographic survey of the sites chosen as the project's final location (Baird Engineering); * Developed an institutional partnership with a newly established Colonial Hights Neighborhood Association; * Developed educational materials for community engagement; * Conducted the first set of community engagement events (Voice of Calvary Ministries) * Developed a 'deep interviews' survey instrument to conduct pre- and post-intervention data collection, as a part of the qualitative project assessment (CAPA Strategies). * Developed preliminary, conceptual micropark's drawings (JCDC). Capacity Building Grant funded by Park Foundation. Everyday institutional, administrative activities conducted by 2C Mississippi's staff.