2019-2020 Activities

We will define early success around engaging with our students, the community, and broader circles beyond Springfield. We plan to move toward collective action to and identifying new goals for advocacy, policy, and community engagement that are established by the communities we must work more deeply in to truly address challenges associated with redlining.

• Brooke Wagner and Amber Burgett have completed research on landscaped sources of nutrients and small pond biodiversity. This work reveals that fertilized residential sites may contribute to locally poor water quality. While low-income residents may be the least responsible for poor water quality, all pay for it in our utilities.
• Christ Episcopal Church hosted Becoming a Beloved Community exploring racial division in Springfield, Ohio including the legacy of redlining and racial covenants. Rick Incorvati co-led programming efforts (Summer & Fall 2019, Spring 2020).
• Elena Dahl & Sarah Fortner & John Wheeler (Springfield Promise Neighborhood Association) engaged 17 Environmental Science and Art students & 200 community members in lead literacy, testing, & community empowerment in collaboration with the Springfield Promise Neighborhood and multiple health partners (September 2019). This was funded by AGU 100 Grant.
• Environmental Science Research Methods students explored redlining in their class project. A summary of results appear here
• Mother Stewart's and the Westcott House sponsored a PechaKucha night featuring lead pollution and health awareness building (Fall 2019)
• Nancy McHugh & Sarah Fortner hosted an Environmental Justice webinar through NAGT that will highlight ways to incorporate the skills and habits of environmental justice work into the curriculum (Fall 2019)
• Asharee Jones & Jubileen Kombe empowered Black 4th and 5th grade STEM students at the Ark through a Science Fair mentored by Joshua Moore (Spring 2020)
• Marie Bashaw, Sarah Fortner, & Nancy McHugh are collaborating with the Springfield Promise Neighborhood on multiple grants to advance lead and food equity outcomes through citizen science and health justice advocacy. They will also help implement the Clark County Health Communities Grant through land use health equity planning.