2021
Reaching Latinos in the Greater Riverdale Area
The EFC supported the Central Kenilworth Avenue Revitalization Community Development Corporation (CKAR) in conducting targeted outreach to the Latino community in the Greater Riverdale Area. The goal of the project was to assess community needs and develop tailored outreach focused on family and community health and wellbeing. EFC provided technical expertise in strategy development, focus group and interview design, data analysis and synthesis, and development of messaging and communications delivery mechanisms.
2018 -2019
Montgomery County Stormwater Outreach
With support from the Chesapeake Bay Trust and the Montgomery County Water Quality Protection Fund, the EFC provided stormwater education and outreach to residents in Montgomery county, Maryland. The EFC worked with five communities - McKenney Hills-Carroll Knolls Civic Association, Wheaton Hills Civic Association, Glenmont Forest Neighbors Civic Association, Rosemary Hills Neighbors Association, and Parkside Condominiums Homeowners’ Association - to address issues such as pet waste management, litter reduction, and pesticide reduction.
2022 - 2025
Mid-Atlantic Climate Action Hub
The Mid-Atlantic Climate Action Hub (MATCH) was established to build connections across Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and Pennsylvania, targeting communities disproportionately impacted by the effects of climate change due to historic disenfranchisement, coupled with proximity to environmental hazards and underlying social, economic and geographic vulnerabilities. Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, MATCH was led by the Center for Community Engagement, Environmental Justice and Health (CEEJH).
2024 (November)
Landscape Architecture: Maximizing the Economic Benefits of Nature-based Solutions Through Design
The University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center developed a brief to help translate the benefit values (monetary) of landscape architects’ work on nature-based solutions. The brief offers an overview of nature-based economic benefits in five key areas: health and livability, expanded investment and sustainable jobs, increased biodiversity, carbon sequestration and improved resilience. A supplementary analysis offers lessons from 175 case studies in the U.S. Five key takeaways from the EFC brief include:
2019 - 2022
Getting the MOST for Maryland Black Mayors
EFC, in partnership with Maryland Black Mayors, Inc. (MBM) created a training program to educate and better connect MBM elected officials and staff with stormwater management solutions. The training program includes in-person workshops, MOST Center online courses, facilitated peer-to-peer discussion forums, and matchmaking with local watershed groups and technical service providers.
2019 - 2020
Financing Urban Tree Canopy Programs
EFC partnered with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay to develop Financing Urban Tree Canopy Programs: Guidebook for Local Governments in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. This resource is the result of a year-long collaboration between EFC and the Alliance, along with additional partners including the USDA Forest Service, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG), and the Chesapeake Bay Program Forestry Workgroup. It draws on input from representatives of local and state government from every jurisdiction in the Bay Watershed.
2023 - 2025
Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (EJ TCTAC)
What is the Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers Program (EJ TCTAC)?
2021 - 2022
Emmitsburg Phase I Stormwater Utility Feasibility Study
The Environmental Finance Center assisted the Town of Emmitsburg, MD in developing a sufficient, sustained, and equitable financing strategy for stormwater management.The Town is required to comply with a Phase II National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for discharges from small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4). As a result of evaluating potential future budget solutions, the Town is considering a stormwater utility as a viable alternative to funding its stormwater management program services.
The SIRJ Lab currently has more than 20 undergraduate and graduate students that conduct research as graduate assistants, teaching assistants or volunteers. Reach out if you are interested in joining our team!
Resilience and Mitigation of Water-related Risks in Vulnerable Communities: Sharing Collaborative Approaches and Experiences
The main goal is to develop a community-driven, spatially informed framework for adaptive flood management that enhances resilience and flood risk adaptation for disadvantaged communities in the U.S. and Brazil by applying spatial analysis and environmental justice principles. Flooding is one of the most frequent hazards occurring globally.