The Nature Conservancy

August 29, 2019January 15, 2020 / duscholarshop / Leave a comment

The Nature Conservancy‘s mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.

The Nature Conservancy is looking to connect with DU faculty and students on the following projects:

Research Design/ Data Collection/ Data Analysis: Collect, analyze, and/or model new or existing data related to tree canopy, the built environment, and environmental factors such as heat and air quality to better understand existing conditions in vulnerable neighborhoods (Globeville, Elyria-Swansea to start), potential future scenarios depending on varied levels of investment in new tree canopy, and associated public health outcomes.
The Nature Conservancy is working in the Globeville, Elyria-Swansea neighborhoods of Denver to develop an implementation plan to move the community from 5% tree canopy to 20% tree canopy over an urgent but realistic time-frame (e.g., by 2050). We are hoping to develop a program with the City and other partners to invest in nearly 10,000 trees in the neighborhood to be planted over the next decade.
- Data Collection/ Data Analysis: As part of that plan, we want to better understand what current social, cultural, economic, and psychological beliefs and barriers might exist regarding trees and planting trees; what strategies or resources might help the community overcome some of those challenges and influence them to plant and care for new and existing trees; and how might we be able to broadly brand and market a large tree planting initiative to encourage participation and build community interest.
- Literature Review/ Policy Review: We want to understand what policies and administrative frameworks (e.g., city rules, regulations, subsidies, accounting standards, etc.) other communities and cities have put in place to increase tree canopy and to build resilience in the face of a hotter future. This could include a high-level assessment of other cities resiliency plans, but the greatest help would be a deeper analysis of specific policies, regulations, and programs that might have the greatest applicability to Denver, and ideally would support a more robust and resilient tree canopy.
- Research Design/ Data Collection/ Data Analysis: We want to figure out how to encourage a community-led stewardship model that would support community members in the stewardship of the new trees; how to help community members develop new skills; and what would encourage greater community-wide interest and participation in the program.

The Episcopal Church in Colorado

January 7, 2019October 11, 2019 / duscholarshop / Leave a comment

The Episcopal Church in Colorado is a diverse community of 104 worshiping communities (30,000 members) with a common faith. However you got here, wherever you are in your faith journey, we hope you find ways to connect and deepen your faith.

The Episcopal Church in Colorado is looking to connect with DU faculty and students on the following projects:

Literature Review/Research Design/ Data Collection (MATCHED): Conduct a Needs/Assets Assessment of all social ministries who are members of The Episcopal Church in Colorado (Especially as it is related to collective impact through the Anchor Institution model).
Literature Review: How do you create a social network of cooperatives that has community impact and exchanges services with one another?
Information Dissemination: Develop communication piece(s) to explain anchor institutions and address perceived barriers to achieving this mission for internal congregation leaders and members and for community members who are not direct members of the Church.
Literature Review: Research precedent anchor institutions that we can learn from and adapt to our Colorado community (e.g. faith-based anchor institutions?).
Literature Review (MATCHED): Research how churches can shift from a service model to an asset based community development model that impacts structural issues and inequities.
Policy Analysis: Analysis on institutional change to better understand what steps institutions can take to acknowledge past harms (e.g. racism), promote healing, and become more inclusive moving into the future.
Research Design/ Data Collection: Study on Church-based land developments to address community needs (e.g. creation of affordable housing on church-owned land).
Literature Review/ Data Collection: How can congregations apply a Collective Impact approach to better understand community needs and strategies to address them?

PC’s for People

December 3, 2018December 19, 2018 / duscholarshop / Leave a comment

Through electronic reuse PCs for People provides the opportunity for all low-income individuals and nonprofits to benefit from the life changing impact of computers and mobile internet.

PC’s for People is looking to connect with DU faculty and students on the following projects:

Program Evaluation: Implement a pre- and post-assessment to measure the impact of providing computers in students homes who did not have the money to purchase one and did not have one previously
Data Collection: What information and/or experience helps a person feel confident in purchasing internet and technology?
Literature Review/ Research Design: What level of education/competence is needed to make computer use most beneficial? Are there certain best practices that allow a person to use that technology better (e.g. resources, classes)?
Policy Review: What government policies for internet inclusion would grow the market for low cost internet on refurbished computers? (e.g. San Antonio has a goal for 95% of families to have internet in their home by 2020.)
Policy Review: What are some effective policies that would influence CO to recycle e-waste? CO currently has a 12% e-waste recycling rate vs 30% average in the nation.
Literature Review/Data Collection: How do you get more corporate entities to donate technology waste? Do they need green goals? Do they need to better learn the value of their technology? How do we rethink corporate giving? (e.g. Case studies for current corporate tech donators)
Research Design: Environmental scan to see what types of refurbishing and e-waste recycling is happening across the country. Create a set of criteria to identify current efforts, established recycling orgs, and identify what needs they have (e.g. software needs, full recycling effort)
Literature Review: What makes a trailblazer city within the digital inclusion/digital equity movement (according to the National Digital Inclusion Alliance)?
Research Design/ Data Collection: How do you set up connection points for technology and internet access in Denver Metro? Are there small technology hubs that people are accessing and that PCs for People can help resource (e.g family resource centers, recreation centers)?

Metro Denver Nature Alliance

December 3, 2018December 3, 2019 / duscholarshop / Leave a comment

Metro Denver Nature Alliance (Metro DNA) is a growing coalition of non-profit, government, research, and private sector partners seeking to align nature-based efforts toward more equitable access to nature and to promote healthy people, communities, and natural places.

Metro DNA is looking to connect with DU faculty and students on the following projects:

Equity in Action = In March 2019, Metro DNA adopted a set of Equity Principles + Commitments to guide our collaborative conservation and environmental education network. The Equity in Action project will activate our plans for resource sharing, ongoing learning and training, and leadership development in equity + conservation.

Literature Review / Policy Review – We are looking for a “deep dive” into Metro DNA’s Equity Principles + Commitments that explores the theories and experiences behind each statement and informs how we operationalize them as an organization (e.g., decision making processes, structure, representation in leadership) and craft training opportunities for partners.
- Key partners – Butterfly Pavilion, EcoInclusive, cityWILD, National Parks Conservation Association, Denver Zoo

Nature Narratives = Nature Narratives is Metro DNA’s collective storytelling project, providing opportunities for partner organizations to elevate our work and the ways we are promoting healthier people, communities, and natural places in metro Denver. The project is also helping us define a shared story of our ongoing efforts to make the metro Denver region a thriving place for people and for nature.

Information Dissemination – Using the existing interview data (recordings and coded transcripts), produce a series of partner highlights and thematic stories to be used in blog posts, newsletters, and social media. Explore producing additional Nature Narratives podcast episodes, short videos, and other content.
- Key partners – The Alliance Center, Continental Divide Trail Coalition, Next 100 Coalition, Colorado Parks & Wildlife
Data Collection/Data Analysis – Continue in-person interviews with Metro DNA partners, using the framework created in 2019, as part of new partner onboarding and orientation, to expand our database of partner stories for content creation, and to further refine our shared vision.
- Key partners – Visible Network Labs, Climate Courage

Regional Vision for People + Nature = Metro DNA began facilitating conversations toward a Regional Vision in 2016-17 with the Trust for Public Land. We are now working on a Regional Conservation Assessment, which will use existing information and planning documents to identify high quality, connected, and climate-resilient habitat across the metro area. This work supports the development of a more comprehensive and conservation-forward approach to land use planning that strengthens connectivity and equitable access to nature, protects important wildlife habitat, and maximizes the use of nature-based solutions like green infrastructure.

Literature Review / Policy Review – We want to understand what conservation and management (land, habitat, species, natural areas, etc.) plans, priorities, and strategies are currently in effect across the seven metro Denver counties and larger municipalities. How can Metro DNA best connect and leverage existing work?
- Key partners – The Nature Conservancy, Biohabitats, Denver Regional Council of Governments, Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute
Data Analysis (Geospatial Analysis) – Using the existing Metro DNA Mapping Portal, produce maps and infographics that communicate the urgency of regional planning, significant opportunities and challenges with respect to equitable access to nature and habitat conservation, and the cultural and ecological diversity that define the region.
- Key partners – Trust for Public Land

STEW-MAP = The Denver Stewardship Mapping and Assessment Project (STEW-MAP) will answer the question: What are the social and spatial (geographic) interactions among groups that conserve, manage, monitor, advocate for, and educate the public about their local environments? This project adds a social layer of information to biophysical information on green infrastructure in the metro area. It will also uncover gaps in action, knowledge, and resources, which will inform continued collaboration, research, and project implementation.

Literature Review – We are implementing STEW-MAP in Denver not only as a research project, but in order to develop and launch an effective partner discovery and engagement tool. We want to understand how STEW-MAP has been implemented, received, and used in other cities in order to maximize its utility in Denver and advance the science.
- Key partners – US Forest Service (Rocky Mountain Research Station), CU Denver (College of Architecture & Planning, School of Public Affairs), Denver Parks & Recreation (Forestry)

SSKO-GO Day = Safe Summer Kick Off on Get Outdoors Day (SSKO-GO Day) is a free, family-friendly event hosted annually by the SouthWest Denver Coalition, Metro DNA, and Denver Parks & Recreation to promote access to healthy and safe outdoor spaces, support under-resourced communities, and celebrate nature exploration. Entering our second year of partnership, we are interested in deepening relationships in the community around Garfield Lake Park (Westwood), exploring opportunities to add value and connect with communities throughout Southwest Denver and the metro area, and inform state-wide investments in outdoor recreation and community well-being.

Literature Review / Policy Review – We want to understand what mission-related events and programs are active across the seven metro Denver counties and larger municipalities, across Colorado, and in other metro areas (e.g., Salt Lake City, Portland, Houston, Chicago, Los Angeles). What opportunities are there to grow SSKO-GO Day and empower our local partners to share their knowledge and experience for the benefit of the region and the state?
- Key partners – SouthWest Denver Coalition, Denver Parks & Recreation, CO Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry, Colorado Public Health and Parks & Recreation Collaborative, Colorado Department of Health & Environment, Colorado Parks & Wildlife, National Park Service (Intermountain Region), US Forest Service (Rocky Mountain Region)

*Additional information on Metro DNA projects provided upon request*

DU Scholar Shop

Facilitating community-university partnerships

Policy Review

The Nature Conservancy

The Episcopal Church in Colorado

PC’s for People

Metro Denver Nature Alliance