Equitable Adaptation: Building climate change adaptation capacity for Make the Road NY and Central Queens

Make the Road NY (MRNY) and Regional Plan Association (RPA)
Posted on: 6/17/2019 - Updated on: 8/01/2019

Posted by

CAKE Team

Published

Abstract

Make the Road New York (MRNY) serves immigrants and community members throughout the five boroughs of New York at their three centers in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. They provide services and guidance to new and resident immigrants in the form of legal services, education, community organizing, and enacting policy change.

At the start of the Fourth Plan planning process, RPA kicked off a comprehensive community engagement process which enabled community organizations like the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey, New York Communities for Change, Community Voices Heard, Right to the City, Partnership for Strong Communities, and Make the Road New York and Connecticut to provide feedback and criticisms to RPAs recommendations. It was recognized that through conversations with staff and organizers that low-income households and communities of color will be most affected by the outcomes of RPA's recommendations regarding governance, transportation, the environment, economic development, and housing.

RPA's partnership with MRNY continues through the Equitable Adaptation project. RPA recognized that communities of East Elmhurst and Corona as well as other low-income communities of color experience climate change differently than other communities like the coastal towns of Mastic Beach on Long Island or Sea Bright, NJ. Rising sea levels affect residents of coastal towns in that their homes experience storm-related flooding. For communities that are more inland, the same weather occurrence can create a domino effect that affects a resident’s ability to get to their job or school, their physical and mental health, and their safety.  

This project aims to increase the capacity of members and organizers to fight the variety of causes and the detrimental effects of climate change.