Stewardship of Community Green Space and Workforce Development with Emerald South’s Terra Firma Project

Emerald South Economic Development Collaborative (Emerald South) has begun partnering with Delta Institute on a multi-year neighborhood revitalization plan in the BIPOC-majority Chicago neighborhoods of Washington Park, Woodlawn, and South Shore in concert with Emerald South’s Terra Firma project to streamline green infrastructure stewardship, maintenance, and workforce development. Our efforts will also support and sync with numerous community gardens.

Why Our Work is Needed

Delta knows from our experience working in communities throughout the Midwest and Great Lakes Basin that climate and environmental problems are most acute in disinvested areas living with legacy issues. The BIPOC-majority South Side Chicago neighborhoods of Washington Park, Woodlawn, and South Shore are experiencing chronic flood events that are made worse by more frequent climate-impacted precipitation and failing stormwater infrastructure. These neighborhoods continue to lose tree canopy coverage while vacant and underutilized properties number in the hundreds. Underlying all of this is an ongoing recovery from systemic injustices that extracted wealth, prevented economic development, and limited important resources and infrastructure in these neighborhoods.

Across Chicago’s South Side, over 205 acres of land have been underutilized, polluted, and abandoned as a result from a long history of economic disinvestment and discrimination. Place-based groups like our partners at Emerald South, however, have been working to “beautify, maintain, and activate” the land to catalyze job creation, develop local small businesses, increase access to green space, and ensure a rich, vibrant quality-of-life where families are safe to play, work, and live.

Brief Overview of What We’re Doing

To fulfill this vision, the Emerald South Economic Development Collaborative (Emerald South) has begun partnering with Delta Institute on a multi-year neighborhood revitalization plan thanks to lead funding from the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority’s R3 Program to launch a new community greenspace stewardship, community garden support, and workforce development project in some of Chicago’s impacted communities.

Together, we will address the environmental and socio-economic challenges affecting the South Shore, Washington Park, and Woodlawn communities through the Terra Firma Project. In partnership with Delta Institute, Emerald South restore vacant lots, support local workforce development, and expand community access to green spaces.

Our Impact

This effort focuses on three key objectives:

• Stewardship of Community Green Space: Maintaining 150 vacant lots through contractor-led landscaping and inspections, while engaging community members with surveys, volunteering events, and mapping.
• Adult Workforce Development: Training 20 adults in green infrastructure and sustainability careers through classroom instruction and hands-on fieldwork. The adult program is designed to equip 20+ residents with the skills needed to pursue careers in green infrastructure, landscaping, and environmental sustainability, while also receiving in-class training and certifications like First Aid, CPR, OSHA certification, financial literacy, horticulture, professionalism, and goal setting. These skills directly correlate with the experience necessary to care for the 544 vacant parcels of land being stewarded under the care of the multi-year program.
• Youth Workforce Development: The youth program is designed to engage 100+ high school students in experiential learning activities, raising their awareness about urban environmental challenges and green infrastructure.
• Rebuilding Community Garden Capacity: Supporting existing community gardens by providing materials and assistance with essential gardening improvement tasks as well as coordinating 10 BioBlitz workshops within their gardens.

By listening to community voices, implementing vacant lot restoration work, and inspiring the future workforce, this initiative can result in lasting change. The overall quality of life for residents in the south side neighborhoods will improve by addressing flooding, extreme heat, and crime while also supporting economic development through a strong workforce training program.

Partners

Delta Institute would like to thank Emerald South Economic Development Collaborative for their partnership on this project, and for entrusting us with helping achieve our shared vision for a resilient, green, and healthsome South Side—for everyone.

Delta Institute is deeply appreciative to the Illinois Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) for funding this important work through the R3 Program.

This project stems from a successful Green Infrastructure implementation partnership between Delta, Emerald South, and a wide array of South Side experts, planners, groups, and nonprofits.