Direct Benefits to Disadvantaged Communities (DACs)

For this project, we will be installing pollinator gardens at multiple sites throughout Monterey County: The Marina Library sits just outside census tract 143.02, which is a Low-income Community (LIC), and serves community members of the City of Marina, the majority of whom live in Disadvantaged Community (DAC) or LIC tracts. The Johnson-Canyon landfill education center is located in census tract 148, which is a LIC. Students from low income, primarily Hispanic communities in Gonzales will be brought there for educational activities. Santa Rita Creek Park is located in census tract 156.06, a LIC, and surrounded by low-income communities. The Monterey Adult School is in census tract 139, a LIC, and serves adult students from surrounding DACs and LICs. In addition to the pollinator gardens in public spaces listed above, through this project we are also working with Historically Underserved farmers to maintain and expand hedgerows on their small farms.

Indirect Benefits to Disadvantaged Communities (DACs)

We partner with the Monterey County Cadre workforce development program to bring young adults from low income backgrounds with limited job experience (typically BIPOC) to assist with habitat restoration tasks at multiple project sites, including both on-farm hedgerows and pollinator gardens. Cadre members gain practical knowledge and experience at these sites that will help them in their careers.