University of California/Davis Educates an Andros Audience on Ecosystem Impacts of Mining

C2P2 would like to thank Dr. Alyssa Griffin from the University of California Davis (a big assist from the American Geophysical Union’s Thriving Earth Exchange) for informing the community of North Andros in the Bahamas about the ecosystem impacts of limestone mining in North Andros. She is part of a team of volunteer researchers and scientists who developed the presentation. There was over 300 people, the Member of Parliament representing North Andros, three Cabinet Ministers, some standing in the back of the room, and even more outside! In addition, the session was televised.

Dr. Griffin detailed the impacts on the forest, wetlands, oceans, land, underwater habitats, and marine species in a way easy to understand, but comprehensive in the telling. She outlined options to preserve the natural resources in a way that could provide additional benefits. Her information was positively received and appreciated.

C2P2 thanks Dr. Griffin and the rest of the team for sharing their time and talents to provide important information to the people of North Andros!

Alabama A&M, with assistance from DOE AI Office, Designs Wastewater System for York Ala.

C2P2 would like to thank Alabama A & M for their tremendous work with the City of York, Alabama, to design a new sewage and wastewater system for their city. The students spent countless hours researching systems and equipment to modernize the city’s systems and identified artificial intelligence systems to make the systems easier to oversee and operate. A special thanks goes the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Artificial Intelligence for their support of the project.

The school will continue to work with the city to help go after the EPA’s Community Change Grant funding to make this work a reality. The Mayor expressed his deep appreciation for the students work and ongoing support, and C2P2 is grateful for the school’s support from the President’s office to the students. Great work!

C2P2 Discusses the Partnership with Belhaven, NC to Research Coastal Impacts

C2P2 would like to thank the City of Belhaven, North Carolina, for working with us to determine the impact of climate change on their small coastal city from both the business and economic perspective, as well as the perspective of those who depend on fish to put a meal on their table.

At our townhall meeting with members of the community, we discussed the need to understand the current impacts, future impacts, and the development of strategies to cope with that future. Far too often, people in underserved communities are not able to plan for change because no one has taken the time and effort to educate them on the potential impact of future changes. One resident told us many studies had been conducted, but no one had ever taken the time to look at them. Our response was, “We see you.”

C2P2 exists to make sure that those who need help the most get the help they need…period. We are honored to partner with the citizens of Belhaven and look forward to being their partners today and into the future.

Georgia State University Public Health and The Cleveland Clinic Hold Health Wellness Conference

C2P2 would like to extend a HUGE thanks to students from the Master’s School of Public Health at Georgia State University for organizing a health wellness conference for underserved minority communities in Cleveland, Ohio. They set up a Go-Fund-Me page, set the agenda, arranged the speakers, lined up the venue, solicited the vendors, provided transportation for those who had none, and ensured the conference ran smoothly. They also reached out to the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic to help set up future collaborations with the local nonprofit. The citizens of Cleveland are the beneficiaries of their hard work. Thank you; Phenomenal job!

Columbia University Students Perform a Cost-Benefit Analysis for the Graniteville, Stanton Island Wetlands

To see the report that was highlighted at the 2023 National Environmental Justice and Training Conference click the link: NEJC Deck – ColumbiaU (1) (1).pdf

Students from Columbia University’s Climate School Adapt Their Communication Plan to be Used by any Community Seeking to Build Resilience

Click the link to see the communication plan: Communication Plan for Building Community Resilience.pdf

The School of Architecture at Geargia Institute of Technology and the Tebughna Foundation Team Up to Provide the Village of Tyonek, Alaska a Cultural Experience Center, Site Plan, and More.

Click the link to see the plans: Tyonek, Alaska – SD Set – [02.02.2023]SK.pdf

Improve Urban Water Quality through the Federal Triennial Review Process

Columbia University’s Earth Institute and the South River Watershed Alliance (SRWA) joined hands to develop a descriptive analysis and case study of how the federal Clean Water Act’s Triennial review of local water quality standards can effectively be used to promote and achieve water quality improvements in urban streams and rivers. For a full report, click the link below:

South River Watershed Alliance Workshop Project Proposal 2022-final.pdf

Incorporating Social Determinants of Health (SDH) into an Analysis of Health Disparities in Rural Ga.

Incorporating SDH into Health Outcome AnalysisBest Version_8_13 (5).pptx

Click the link to read the full report prepared by Vivek Ravichandran, MPH Candidate, Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health, Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health.

2023 Applied Practice Experience Site of the Year

On Thursday, April 20th, the School of Public Health at Georgia State University will be hosting its inaugural Celebrating Student Excellence event to honor and celebrate the incredible achievements of their students. As part of that celebration, the Community and College Partners Program (C2P2) has been selected by the public health students as the 2023 Applied Practice Experience Site of the Year. Congratulations on the selection of this most prestigious award!

C2P2 Receives the Honor of Presenting at the Environmental Justice Conference in Washington, DC

On Wednesday, March 8th, the Community and College Partners Program (C2P2) presented and held a panel discussion on the specific impacts the lack of policy equity has on the local and national level for underserved communities. The presentations and panel members included; Land Use Plan for the Village of Tyonek, Alaska, with Dr. Deden Rukmana, Professor and Chair for the Department of Community and Regional Planning, Alabama A&M University; Restoring Urban Wetlands: A Cost-Benefit Analysis for the Restoration of New York City’s Green Space for Increased Climate Resiliency, Ms. Kamryn Rose Voutes, Sustainable Development BA Candidate Concentrating in Applied Statistics at Columbia University; Using Virtual Reality to Capture and Educate Tribal Youth on Tribal Customs, Culture, and History, Mr. James Ross, Founder and CEO Virtual Gwich’in; and, Mr. Michael Burns, Founder and Executive Director of C2P2.

Current Projects

C2P2 utilizes its partnerships to create positive experiences for communities in need. Browse this page for announcements regarding projects.

C2P2 is engaged in the current projects (see blog for details)

• Alternate Energy Project; Completed but will be revised due to a new location. Working with Drexel University.
• Cultural Experience Center; In Progress, expected to be completed the Spring of 2023. Working with Georgia Tech.
• Broadband Plan; on hold awaiting new partners.
• Housing design; In progress; should be completed by Spring of 2023. Working with University of Florida.
• Business plan for Cultural Experience Center; not started, expected to start and be completed by Fall of 2023. Partner is still to be determined.
• Land Use Plan; working to set a schedule and completion date with Alabama A&M.

Native American Village of Tyonek, Alaska works with C2P2 on various projects. See the video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch7bHM7xEYQ

• Plan to prevent erosion of dam in City Park in Fulton, Mo.; was completed the Fall of 2022 with the University of California at Santa Barbara.
• Plan to develop alternate energy sources due to closure of coal plant in Fulton, Mo.; was scheduled to be completed the fall of 2022; however, it has not been started, partner is still to be determined.
• Plan to address the increased climate change influenced flooding in the downtown areas of Wellsville, Mo.; scheduled completion was Fall of 2022, revised completion is the Spring of 2023. Working with the University of South Alabama.
• Design of sewage system updates utilizing artificial intellegence for the City of Wellsville, Mo.; to be completed the Spring of 2023. Working with the University of South Alabama.
• Analysis of Bridge Integrity for Marshall, Mo.; to be completed the Spring of 2023. Working with the University of South Alabama.

• Design of dual-purpose gathering place/emergency shelter for the Biloxi-Chitimacha tribe in Houma, LA; to be completed spring of 2024. Working with Purdue University.
• Community plan to address the impact of the loss of income for Asian/African American/Cajun Fishing communities in Plaquemines Parrish, LA; scheduled completion is the Spring of 2023. There is currently no status as we await feedback from schools. The partners on this project are the Thriving Earth Exchange; the University of South Carolina; and the University of Toronto.
• Recommendations to address the impact of drug addiction on homeless population in Cancer Alley; Scheduled to be completed the Fall of 2022. Working with Georgia State University.
• Recommendations to address food insecurity issues in Cancer Alley; Completed. Worked with Georgia State University.
• Development of a public health education program for Cancer Alley; Completed. Worked with Georgia State University.

• Feasibility study on the development of a co-op for Gullah Geechee Fishermen in coastal Georgia; Completed. Worked with the Coastal College of Georgia.
• Investigation of cancer issues due to local polluting factories; completed the Fall of 2022. Worked with Georgia State University.
• Recommendations for the improvement of the lack of pediatric care in minority communities; completed the Fall of 2022. Worked with Georgia State University.
• Recommendations to address the disparity of access to mental health care for people of color; Was scheduled to be completed in the Fall 2023; however, it is completed. Worked with Georgia State University.
• Case study to support increasing the number of miles of the South River classified for recreational use – to be completed in Spring of 2023 (Mike) Columbia University.

• Cost benefit analysis of the development of a blue field on Long Island; Completed. Worked with Colombia University.

• Development of an alternative energy project for an urban farm; completed. Worked with Drexel University.

• Development of a broadband plan for Lowndes County; Planned for completion in Fall of 2022. Not yet complete; City received funding to complete.
• Development of a sewage plan utilizing artificial intelligence to address lack of proper sewage in the City of York, Ala.; Planned for completion the Spring of 2023. working with Alabama A & M University.

• Impact of limestone mining on freshwater lens on Andros Island; to be completed Spring 2023. Working with the Thriving Earth Exchange.
• Development of a plan for sustainable farming on Andros Island; On hold; awaiting support from EDF.
• Design of a green water bottling plant on Andros Island; under development; completion TBD. Research in the Spring of 2023; design done fall of 2023. Working with Georgia Tech.
• Support for National Park System from Everglades National Park – First visit completed; second meeting was scheduled for November 2022. Bahamas has not yet requested a follow up visit due to a change in parliament.

• Development of a strategic plan for Artic Innovators, and indigenous company; completed Spring of 2022.
• Support for 3D virtual capture of indigenous history; support ongoing.
• Support of use of artificial intelligence to support teaching of tribal languages; ongoing.

• Nationwide
• Lack of equity in public health policy; Scheduled for Spring 2023. Completed. Georgia State University.
• Research summery on the health impacts on air pollution from Airplanes. To be completed by of 2023. Georgia State University.