by Tangier Barnes Wright, Groundwork USA’s Manager of Land and Water Programs

Last week, Groundwork USA’s Director of Capacity Building Kate O’Brien and I attended the New Partners for Smart Growth Conference in Portland, Oregon. February 11 was a busy day in which we hosted both a conference session on how to create successful and emblematic brownfields area-wide plans and a workshop aimed at furthering equitable development outcomes by engaging youth in brownfield planning and advocacy. We were able to offer this workshop as part of Groundwork USA’s EPA-funded Brownfields Technical Assistance Program.

The conference session panel featured a diverse set of practitioners, including Groundwork Hudson Valley’s very own Green Team member, Samantha Robinson. Samantha shared her insights and experience as a youth involved with the Putnam Rail Trail area-wide planning process in Yonkers, NY, helping the audience understand the importance of engaging youth in brownfield, area-wide planning processes.

Making sure youth are involved in brownfield planning and redevelopment projects is just one way of ensuring more equitable outcomes. As is the case in Yonkers, young people often have more intimate and trusting relationships with their communities and can serve as liaisons between their communities and city hall, particularly when members of their community do not speak English as their first language.

Directly after the conference session we hosted a workshop for local community practitioners on engaging youth in brownfield planning and advocacy. It was a hit! We appreciate everyone who made time after a long day at the conference to attend. Thank you to Groundwork Portland, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and EPA Region 10 for helping make this happen.

Workshop participants represented various non-profit organizations from Portland, Seattle, and Kansas City. Material presented included:

• An introduction to brownfields (“Brownfields 101”);
• How to conduct a Phase I environmental assessment;
• Using the C-FERST mapping tool created by EPA Region 10 and piloted by Groundwork Portland; and
• How to create an advocacy campaign for re-purposing brownfield sites.

Equitable development means, among other things, the inclusion of all people in planning and decision-making processes. Equipped with information and tools gathered at the workshop, participants can feel more confident initiating a discussion about brownfields in their communities and can participate more meaningfully when brownfield redevelopment projects are up for consideration.

After the workshop, one youth participant reported that she will take what she learned back to her school’s green club, and that the C-FERST mapping tool could be a possible project for them. Should these students decide to use the mapping tool and gather their own data, they will be in a better position to participate in higher-level conversations around brownfield redevelopment. They will have an understanding of brownfields in their community and can therefore participate in making decisions that will benefit their community.

Overall, our time in Portland was well spent. Nothing beats seeing the “ah-ha” moment when audience members realize how they will apply the material you have just presented!