BE IT RESOLVED, that the County Administrator be authorized to negotiate Green Partners Environmental Education grant agreements to engage residents in environmental education projects, during the period of September 1, 2019 through August 31, 2020, with the total combined amount not to exceed $65,500 with the following organizations, be approved:  

• PR00001305 with Freshwater Society total amount not to exceed $20,000;

• PR00001307 with St. Anthony-New Brighton Independent School District 282 total amount not to exceed $18,500;

• PR00001308 with Three Rivers Park District total amount not to exceed $20,000;

• PR00001311 with Minneapolis Public Schools-Patrick Henry High School total amount not to exceed $7,000; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that following review and approval by the County Attorney’s Office, the County Administrator be authorized to sign the agreements on behalf of the county; and that the Controller be authorized to disburse funds as directed.

History: The Green Partners Environmental Education Program provides support and funding to organizations to implement projects that engage and empower residents to protect and improve the environment. Since the program was established in 2012, 147 grants totaling more than $1.5 million have been awarded. Funding for the Green Partners Environmental Education program comes from the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund.

Hennepin County offers two types of environmental education grants: adult environmental action grants for projects that focus on motivating participants to take environmentally friendly actions and youth environmental education grants for projects to develop an environmental ethic and interest in environmental stewardship using environmental education best practices.

Eligible organizations include: registered nonprofit organizations such as community groups, youth programs and congregations; park districts; and private and public schools and school districts, including community education programs like early childhood family education.

The county released a request for proposals in April 2019. 38 proposals were received and 16 are recommended for funding. The following 12 grant agreements will be approved through the Request for Administrator Approval process, totaling $202,850:

1. Boys and Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities will engage 1,625 youth in learning about natural ecosystems and recycling their lunch waste in Minneapolis clubs and at the Voyageur Environmental Center camp in Mound.
2. Center for Earth, Energy and Democracy will engage 150 residents of Minneapolis in taking action to save energy and reduce their climate footprint.
3. Highpoint Center for Printmaking in Minneapolis will engage 175 youth from Burroughs Community School and Nellie Stone Johnson School in learning about water.

4. Jordan Area Community Council will engage 150 residents in North Minneapolis in recycling and waste prevention in partnership with Minneapolis Climate Action and Off the Blue Couch and their mascot, Rusty the Recycler.

5. Lao Assistance Center of Minnesota in Minneapolis will engage 150 members of the Southeast Asian community (primarily Lao and Hmong) in learning about how to properly dispose of and reduce household hazardous waste.

6. Midwest Food Connection in Minneapolis will engage 750 students in learning about natural ecosystems, pollinators, and waste utilizing garden based curriculum at Seward Montessori and Barton Elementary schools.

7. MIGIZI Communications in Minneapolis will engage 250 community members and American Indian youth in learning and teaching others about ecosystems, renewable energy, and traditional American Indian sustainability practices.

8. Minnesota State Colleges & Universities will engage 2,250 students in preventing waste and composting organics during student events on the Minneapolis Community and Technical College campus.

9. Move Minneapolis will engage 2,500 residents who work downtown Minneapolis in altering their commute by incorporating more public transit, bicycling, and rideshare trips.

10. Spark-Y will engage 500 youth in learning about ecosystems, water, energy, and waste at Edison High, Roosevelt High, and Northeast Middle Schools in Minneapolis.

11. University of Minnesota’s 4-H will engage 150 youth from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center and two additional Minneapolis parks in learning about ecosystems and waste.

12. Urban Strategies Inc. will engage more than 300 youth from the Heritage Park community in Minneapolis to prevent waste and teach others what they have learned and implemented in their own business, the Green Garden Bakery.
       

The remaining four grant agreements require board approval because each organization has executed contracts with the county that exceed $50,000:

1. Freshwater Society ($20,000) will engage 250 county residents in protecting water by piloting a version of the Master Water Stewards program geared to engage local artists in creating art to engage the public.
2. St. Anthony-New Brighton Independent School District 282 ($18,500) will engage 150 high school students and community members in curriculum and service learning projects to learn about climate change and solar energy.
3. Three Rivers Park District ($20,000) will engage 180 middle school youth in outdoor recreation and environmental education through after-school Explorer Clubs at Brooklyn Center, Robbinsdale, Sandburg, and Plymouth middle schools and FAIR school in Crystal.
4. Minneapolis Public Schools ($7,000) will support student green team members in raising awareness and engaging more than 1,000 fellow students in taking action to protect the environment by recycling, reducing waste, and supporting the green team at Patrick Henry High School.

Current Request: This request is to authorize the County Administrator to negotiate Green Partners Environmental Education grant agreements to engage Hennepin County residents in environmental education projects with Freshwater Society, St. Anthony-New Brighton Independent School District 282, Three Rivers Park District, and Minneapolis Public Schools, during the period of September 1, 2019 through August 31, 2020, with the total combined amount not to exceed $65,500.

Impact/Outcomes: The recommended Green Partners environmental education projects support the county’s goals of promoting environmental stewardship, engaging communities, enhancing quality of life and protecting the environment for current and future generations. Groups listed in this request will engage more than 10,500 residents becoming environmental stewards and in taking action to protect the environment. These projects are expected to reach more than 398,650 residents with environmental messages. Thirteen of the projects engage communities of color, immigrant communities, and residents that live in areas of concern for environmental justice, and ten of the projects engage youth.

Organizations are required to administer evaluations developed by the county to assess changes in participants’ environmental behaviors. Previous evaluations have shown that this model of environmental education is effective in motivating participants to make behavior changes that have a positive impact on the environment.