Conserving Natural Resources
$200,000 award from The Conservation Fund, Parks with a Purpose funding for park at 81st & Troost
$50,000 National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Five Star Restoration Grant to restore 10 acres at Municipal Farm
$55,000 Missouri Department of Conservation contract with Bridging the Gap to implement Upper Blue River Conservation Opportunity Area Action Plan
Lead Urban Monarch Conservation Framework for Kansas City, tool under development by The Field Museum and US FWS to help guide urban Monarch conservation plans in cities across the Midwest
“Save our Woods” campaign, advocated to save 44 acres of woods in Independence, MO
Advocate best management practices for Paragon Star soccer development in Lee’s Summit, MO
Support Indian Heights Homes Association to restore and protect 5 acres for habitat and open space
Identify and prioritize 100+ vacant lots in Middle Blue watershed for future preservation and restoration Provide support and assistance to Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council to restore community rain garden
Connecting People to Nature
$3,500 subaward EPA Urban Waters grant to educate youth, Partner with Blue River Watershed Assoc.
$1,000 Boulevardia for education and outreach materials, Participated in 2-day event, 50,000 attended
Renew National Parks Service Technical Assistance grant for creating community outreach tools
Presented Middle Blue River Vacant Lots study to 35 via River Network national webinar, Partner with UMKC
Hosted 2015 MLK Nature Walk for 100+ participants, Partners KCMO Parks+Rec, Blue River Watershed Assoc.
Workday for 25 Rockhurst Univ. students on Finucane Day of Service, Partner KCMO Public Schools. VISTA provided 7 education and outreach presentations at churches, schools, businesses; engaged 70. Launched Green Guard, urban stewardship program, East High School pilot site
Support creation of Blue River educational signage for KC Zoo, Partner with Black & Veatch
Facebook Page, 300 followers (up from 200 in 2014)
Convening Our Community
New Partnership Coordinator, Welcome Brianna Leiker!
35 Partners formerly join Alliance
Convene partners for 30+ meetings
Co-lead Middle Blue River Urban Waters Federal Partnership
Co-lead Unified Messaging campaign, Renew the Blue
$165,000 EPA Urban Waters grant to MARC and HCA to serve as Ambassador for Federal Partnership. Municipal Farm awarded Sustainable Cities Design Academy grant, Partners: Boys Grow, Vireo, KCMO. Serving on Core Group for KC Native Plant Initiative
Serving on Core Group for Fish & Wildlife Service Ecological Places in Cities (EPIC), regional landscape scale conservation for urban areas
Serving as Co-Chair on Urban Neighborhood Initiative, Vibrant to Vacant Action Group
Attended 30 + community meetings (Troost Alliance, Heartland Community Connection, neighborhood associations, Blue River Quarterly, Water Quality Education Committee, and more)
Supported and participated in 10+ partner events (MO River Watershed Festival, Troost Festival, Project Blue River Rescue, and others)