Assessing Needs and Building Capacity in Under Resourced Louisiana Bayou Communities
The Challenge
Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes are on the front lines of climate change and land loss. The down bayou communities are known for an inherent tenacity and self-sufficient mentality, but the increased frequency and intensity of tropical events and unpredictability of climate change impacts is beginning to adversely affect communities. Additionally, they have had less technical and fiscal resource to navigate complex funding systems and subsequently have not been able to conduct the research, planning, and data collection necessary to systematically advance socioeconomic resilience which is an essential and overlooked aspect of long-term climate resilience.
The Approach
Beginning in 2025, the Center and the Bayou Community Foundation will use a multi-faceted, two-phased approach strategically designed to build sustained momentum and progress towards more holistic climate change resilience. This work will engage people living in historically overburdened and underserved communities in developing a needs assessment and strategic plan, and to begin implementing the strategic plan. This work will establish a leadership cohort across a focused geography that will undertake leadership development trainings and community action events to support the implementation of the plan.
Funding
This project is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program and the U.S. Congressional Community Project Funding.
KEY TEAM MEMBERS
