Environmental Protection Network: Supporting community environmental leaders protecting our health, climate and environment
The Environmental Protection Network (EPN) provides valuable resources and services to communities, organizations, and government agencies that are addressing the most critical health and environmental issues of our time--namely climate change and environmental injustice. Over 650 EPA alumni serve as volunteers who provide capacity-building technical assistance and training to communities of color and low-income communities; the non-profit organizations that represent them; and under-resourced state, local, and tribal government agencies that serve them.
EPN has developed several guides to help potential federal grant applicants, including a 6-step Application Guide to the Community Change Grants (CCG), They also offer numerous other types of grant support such as custom webinars on grant opportunities and office hours to help groups complete their Sam.gov registration, which is the government’s grant submission portal.
A recent example of EPN’s one-to-one work is with the Air Monitoring Grantee Support Network, a network of environmental organizations and the Cleveland Department of Public Health. EPN volunteers are helping these organizations build a community of practice, leverage each other’s knowledge, experience, and connections and access additional pro bono support for air monitoring projects and grants management.
Given the breadth and depth of their impact, it's hard to believe that EPN was founded in only 2017 with the mission to harness the expertise of former EPA career staff and political appointees to protect human health and the environment. With national reach, EPN is a key partner for the Great Lakes TCTAC in EPA Region 5, and to TCTACs in other regions as well. EPN and its volunteer network are answering the call for change at this critical moment in history. We are grateful for their service and leadership.
Goals and Services
The overarching goal of EPN’s pro bono capacity-building technical assistance program is to ensure that disadvantaged communities in Region 5 and nationwide have free access to the information, expertise, and connections that only the wealthy and private sector have historically benefited from. EPN plays a critical role in this work by connecting its staff and 650+ EPA alumni volunteers to provide individualized, community-driven, pro bono assistance to environmental justice communities; the non-profit organizations who partner with them; and the under-resourced state, local, and tribal government agencies tasked with creating and implementing equitable laws.
EPN’s work to funnel funding, information, access, and power to disadvantaged communities consists of:
- Updates and Guides: They regularly distribute federal funding and opportunities guidance email to thousands of contacts with information about current funding and technical assistance opportunities. They also create federal funding application guides with templates, samples, FAQs, checklists, partner surveys, etc.
- Webinars and Convenings: They participate in and host events for specific groups and create opportunities for potential applicants to ask questions, brainstorm ideas, and find potential partners.
- Office Hours: They provide additional hands-on support to small groups, including our SAM.gov office hours every 2 weeks on Wednesdays from 2pm-3pm eastern and the monthly meetings of the Community Air Monitoring Network.
- 1:1 Support: Our Community Outreach Team and volunteers provide one-on-one support to communities on their self-identified needs, including accessing funding and achieving environmental justice.
In addition to their overarching capacity building mission, EPN also works to:
- Ensure advances in EPA policies, budgets, and institutional changes to address climate and environmental injustices, as well as other pressing public health needs.
- Train and mentor EPA staff and managers and recruit and retain underrepresented populations to work at EPA.
- Educate Congress and serving as a critical resource for facts, objective analysis, and scientific rigor for reporters and other strategic partners.