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The EPA Region 4 Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC)

Resource for Assistance andCommunity Training in

Region 4 on

Environmental Justice

(REACT4EJ)

Damian Job Kahamba

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What is REACT4EJ?

REACT4EJ is the EPA Region 4 Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC).

We help communities find funding and support for environmental issues.

We are a network of partners that offers connections, training, and resources. 

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Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers�(TCTACs)

EPA’s Goals

  • Remove barriers and improve accessibility for communities with environmental justice concerns

  • Provide training and other assistance to build capacity for:
    • Navigating federal grant application systems
    • Developing strong grant proposals
    • Effectively managing grant funding

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Regional TCTACs

3 National TCTACs:

  • National Indian Health Board (NIHB)
  • Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC)
  • International City/County Management Association (ICMA)
  • Region 1: University of Connecticut
  • Region 2: WE ACT for EJ, and Inter-American University of Puerto Rico-Metro Campus
  • Region 3: National Wildlife Federation
  • Region 4: REACT4EJ (RTI International)
  • Region 5: Blacks in Green and University of Minnesota
  • Region 6: New Mexico State University
  • Region 7: Wichita State University
  • Region 9: University of Arizona, and San Diego State University
  • Region 10: Willamette Partnership and University of Washington
  • Region 4 & 6: CIRC (Deep South Center for Environmental Justice)

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Employee orientation

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What Is RTI International

RTI is an independent, nonprofit institute that provides research, development, and technical services to government and commercial clients worldwide.

Our mission is to improve the human condition by turning knowledge into practice.

https://www.rti.org/

Focus Areas

Multidisciplinary expertise and research insights our clients need to inform policy, practice, and programs

Health

Equity

Climate, Energy, and Environmental Science

International Development

Education and Workforce Development

Justice Research and Policy

Economics and Innovation

Military Support

Food Security and Agriculture

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Who do we serve?

EPA Region 4’s eight states

(Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee)

and six federally recognized tribal nations

(Catawba Indian Nation, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Miccosukee Tribe of Florida Indians, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Seminole Tribe of Florida).

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Janelle Armstrong-Brown

Co-Director

Senior Manager

James M. Harrington

Co-Director

Fellow

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ConSandra MacNiell

Mississippi

Team Lead

Professor of Criminal Justice and Sociology

Chunrong Jia

Tennessee

Team Lead

Professor of Environmental Health

Christina Fuller

Georgia

Team Lead

Professor of Environmental Health

Undi Hoffler

North Carolina

Team Lead

Director, Research Compliance and Technology Transfer

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Odemari Mbuya

Florida

Team Lead

Professor of Agricultural Sciences

Elica Moss

Alabama

Team Lead

Professor of Environmental Health and Toxicology

Alison Davis

Kentucky

Team Lead

Professor of Agricultural Economics

Matt Kisner

South Carolina Team Lead

Professor of

Philosophy

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REACT4EJ Florida Team

Odemari Mbuya

Florida A&M University

Team Lead

Professor of Agricultural Sciences

Ming Ye

Florida State University

Professor of

Hydrology

Youneng Tang

Florida State University

Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering

Yewande Addie

Outreach and Partner Coordination – Florida (State Rep)

Kiana Sweger

Florida State University

Graduate Student

Damian Job Kahamba

Florida A&M University

Graduate Student

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Does your community want to address an environmental justice issue? �

We can help.

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How can REACT4EJ help?

Connections with...

Training 

Resources 

  • Funders and funding opportunities 
  • Subject-specific experts
  • Government and government agencies (e.g., EPA)
  • Academic institutions 
  • Multilingual and culturally appropriate materials
  • Subject-specific trainings  
  • General and state-specific trainings 
  • Webinars and web-based workshops 
  • In-person training sessions 
  • Peer-to-peer learning 
  • Mentoring 
  • Subject-specific resources 
  • Plain language materials  
  • Guidance documents  
  • General and state-specific resources 
  • Multilingual and culturally appropriate materials 

Through our network of partners, we provide connections, training, and resources. 

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Examples of Technical Assistance (TA) we provide include:

  • Identifying and applying for funding
  • Navigating online government systems and tools
  • Connecting with subject experts
  • Supporting partnerships with other organizations
  • Engaging with local and state governments

  • Providing connections, training, and resources that are:
    • In-person and web-based
    • Subject-specific
    • General and state-specific
    • Multilingual
    • Culturally appropriate

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About the EJ TCGM Subgrants Program

Support capacity-building through assessment, planning and project development

Increase efficiency and reduce barriers to accessing federal grant funding

Encourage meaningful involvement of community members in decision-making that may affect their communities

The Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program (EJ TCGM) Region 4 is a cooperative agreement between EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR) and RTI International. The program was created through the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest investment in climate action in history, and is part of EPA’s strategic goal to address climate change and advance environmental justice.

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Eligibility for EJ TCGM Subgrants

  • Nonprofit organizations, community-based and

grassroots nonprofit organizations

  • Philanthropic and civic organizations with nonprofit

status

  • Tribal governments (both federally recognized and

state-recognized) and intertribal consortia (i.e., a

partnership between two or more tribes that work

together to achieve a common objective.)

  • Local governments
  • Native American Organizations (includes Indian

groups, cooperatives, nonprofit corporations,

partnerships, and associations that have the

authority to enter into legally binding agreements)

Ineligible subrecipients include individuals, for-profit businesses, state governments

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Types of EJ TCGM Subgrant Opportunities

  • Research
  • Sampling
  • Testing
  • Monitoring
  • Investigations
  • Surveys/studies
  • Public education
  • Partnership building
  • Public outreach and education
  • Stakeholder coordination
  • Training activities
  • Community clean-ups
  • Small land purchases and acquisitions
  • Construction plans, schematics, and technical development
  • Permitting activities
  • Small land purchases and acquisitions
  • Implementation of project plans
  • Public outreach and education

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Projects can address a variety of issues

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What will an EJ TCGM project life-cycle look like?

Planning for next steps and project sustainability

Identifying future opportunities

Project Period

Submit application

Award Start Date

Award End Date

Application Review

Ǫuarterly Reporting Period

(Every 3 months)

Ǫuarterly Progress Report Due

Within 30 days

Final Report Due

Starting up and jumping in

Building the Ǫuality Assurance Project Plan

Addressing any Human Subjects Research

Become financially ready

Prepare to apply

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What environmental issues does REACT4EJ focus on?

We help address environmental issues including:

  • Poor air, water, and soil quality
  • Exposure to environmental hazards
  • Climate change resilience 
  • Clean energy transitions
  • Transforming former mine land

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REACT4EJ Website Homepage: react4ej.org

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Employee orientation

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Technical Assistance (TA) process

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The EPA Region 4 Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC)

What We Track

  • Where Requests are Coming From?
  • What are the Priorities?
  • Are we helping underserved communities?
  • Who is reaching out to us?
  • How many requests are coming in?
  • What are the main areas of focus?

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How can CBOs join us on this journey?

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Community members and organizations

Receive Training and Technical Assistance Support

Champion REACT4EJ �(i.e., working with other communities and community-based organizations to encourage the use of REACT4EJ TTA)

Serve on a Community Advisory Board

Serve on a Working Group

Participate in Formal Interviews, Focus Groups, or Listening Sessions

Participate in Informal Conversations

Participate in Feedback Surveys

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Get in touch!

region4.thrivingenvironments.org info@thrivingenvironments.org

Daniela Pineda

Program Director

Christine Bevc

Deputy Program Director

Toni Jones

Deputy Program Director

Website: https://www.REACT4EJ.org

Email

damian1.Kahamba@famu.edu

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Thank you!