Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision Project

TO COORDINATE AND DIRECT EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT AND STRENGTHEN THE ECONOMY IN DETROIT.

SDEV'S HEALTHY AIR PROGRAM IN 2021 ACCOMPLISHED A SUITE OF ACTIVITIES TO INFORM AND ENGAGE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE BUSINESSES IN REDUCING POLLUTION AND EDUCATING DECISION-MAKERS TO IMPLEMENT SOLUTIONS TO THE CLIMATE CRISIS. COLLABORATIONS INCLUDED PROJECTS INVOLVING UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS, LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL AGENCIES, PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS, AS WELL AS THE GNERAL PUBLIC. WE WORKED WITH COMPANIES AND PUBLIC AGENCIES TO ELIMINATE OVER 2,000 TONS OF DIESEL POLLUTION IN 2021 BY REPLACING PRE-EMISSIONS STANDARD DIESEL VEHICLES WITH VEHICLES MEETING OR EXCEEDING CURRENT U.S. EPA EMISSIONS STANDARDS FOR DIESEL ENGINES.

IN 2021, SDEV'S LAND & WATER TEAM MANAGED THE FOLLOWING URBAN AGRICULTURE, GREEN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE, AND COMMUNITY & YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING: AT CADILLAC URBAN GARDENS SDEV IMPLEMENTED SOCIALLY DISTANCED PRODUCE DISTRIBUTION DATES & TIMES: OPEN WEDNESDAY - FRIDAY 10-4PM OR BY APPOINTMENT ONLY THAT HAS SAFELY DISTRIBUTED NEARLY 2.05 TONS OF PRODUCE, SUPPORTING 955 DETROIT RESIDENTS; INCLUDING 30 BAGS OF FRESH PRODUCE PER WEEK TO BRILLIANT DETROIT FOR 13 WEEKS THAT WERE DISTRIBUTED TO FAMILIES FACING FOOD INSECURITY. SDEV MANAGED 2,478 VOLUNTEER HOURS ON COMMUNITY BEAUTIFICATION, GREEN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE, AND URBAN AGRICULTURE PROJECTS. GREEN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS INSTALLED, MAINTAINED, AND IMPROVED 41,945 SQUARE FEET THROUGH FIVE RAIN GARDENS TO MANAGE OVER 300,000 GALLONS OF STORMWATER RUN-OFF. GM CARES WEEK TOOK PLACE SEPTEMBER 21ST - 25TH USING SOCIAL DISTANCING PRACTICES TO WORK ON RAIN GARDEN INSTALLATIONS, NEIGHBORHOOD TRASH AND WHIPPET SWEEPS, GARDEN AND PARK CLEAN UPS, AND NUMEROUS OTHER PROJECTS. PROJECT METRICS INCLUDE: 150 VOLUNTEERS; 750 VOLUNTEER HOURS; 10 PROJECT & TEAM LEADS FROM 9 DIFFERENT COMMUNITY PARTNERS: SDEV, IDEAL GROUP, BRILLIANT DETROIT, HOLY REDEEMER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, DETROIT CRISTO REY HIGH SCHOOL, SDBA, BRIDGING COMMUNITIES, INC. AND SW DETROIT RESIDENTS. HOSTED 13 STUDENT INTERNS TO MANAGE LAND & WATER PROJECTS.

IN 2021 AND 2022, THE COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TEAM CONNECTS RESIDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS WITH CRITICAL PARTNER COMMUNITY RESOURCES. SDEV CONDUCTED OUTREACH TO REGISTER RESIDENTS IN OUR ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROJECT, ENROLLED LOCAL BUSINESSES IN OUR HEALTHY BUSINESS PROGRAM ENROLLING 22 BUSINESSES, AND ENGAGED RESIDENTS IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES LIKE ENERGY RESOURCES, VOTER REGISTRATION, AND HELD 6 REDISTRICTING MEETINGS IN SOUTHWEST DETROIT. SDEV ENGAGED RESIDENTS IN OTHER POLICY COMMENT PERIODS FOR THE CITY OF DETROIT CITY COUNCIL FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OR INDUSTRY PROJECTS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACTS THE HEALTH OF SOUTHWEST DETROIT RESIDENTS.