RCE Grand Rapids-2018

rce_proj_title_2013

1. Project Title:

Plaster Creek Stewards (update)

2. Thematic area/s addressed by the project

Select your options:

Biodiversity

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)

3. Project partner contact information :

Organization:

Calvin College

Role:

Authorship and transmission

Main Contact:

Gail Heffner

Name:

same

Affiliation:

same

Email:

gheffner@calvin.edu

4. Project type

Select the relevant type for your project:

Engaging with transformative learning and research for SD

Contributing to community engagement

Contributing to capacity development of stakeholders and partners

5. Project description

Provide a short description of the project including strategies, regional challenges, aims and specific project activities.:

Plaster Creek Stewards (PCS) is an initiative of RCE partner Calvin College. Using public and private resources, PCS seeks to restore the environmentally-compromised Plaster Creek watershed through citizen education and action initiatives. Stakeholders include houses of worship, businesses and NGOs. Funding has permitted pre-secondary and secondary school, at-risk children to engage in meaningful environmental action to restore and protect this urban watershed.

6. Project status

On Going

Description:

In 2017 PCS secured a third grant from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (total $2.3MM) to provide community education, faculty and student research, and the installation of several large green-infrastructure projects to reduce storm water runoff into the Creek. Other funding from US Environmental Protection Agency and private philanthropists supported "Green Team" work projects for urban youth in the watershed, including clean-up, tree planting, native plants installations and rain gardens construction.

8. Tagging

Region:

Americas

Tags (choose up to 5):

Community Education