Accomplishments

Much has happened after SGC’s announcement of Stockton Rising’s TCC award in June 2020. From then through the close of the 2022-2023 fiscal year (June 30, 2023), project partners have progressed considerably in carrying out an ambitious climate action initiative. Key accomplishments of Stockton Rising project partners are described in this section according to the phase in which they occurred. Specifically, accomplishments are divided between: (a) post-award consultation, a period of planning and preparation between the award announcement and grant execution; and (b) grant implementation, which formally began in December 2020, when the City of Stockton executed its grant agreement with SGC. Given the timing of grant execution, this second-annual report overlaps with 18 months of program implementation. During that time, nearly all of Stockton Rising’s projects and plans have been well underway and providing tangible benefits for project area residents.

Post-award Consultation (June 2020 – December 2020)

During the post-award consultation phase, Stockton Rising partners participated in a comprehensive review of all projects and transformative plans to ensure that they complied with TCC guidelines, and that requisite partnerships were in place for implementation. Key deliverables that came out of this process included: an executed grant agreement with clearly defined work plans and roles for each project partner; an evaluation plan to measure the e ects of TCC investment in collaboration with LCI; and the establishment of a resident-inclusive collaborative stakeholder structure for coordinating grant governance (see Appendix 4, page 68, for an overview of the various committees that make up the structure and the membership of each committee).

Grant Execution Implementation (December 2020 – June 2023)

Community capacity is broadly defined as the ability of local communities to develop, implement, and sustain their own solutions to societal challenges, including but not limited to climate change. Through investment in both physical and social capital, TCC has strengthened community capacity in South Stockton, as evidenced by several case studies featured later in this report. For example, the TCC-funded Community Liaisons program has created paid opportunities for seasoned activists and young adults to strengthen their leadership skills, particularly in the climate action space (see page 34 for the perspectives of two residents deployed as Community Liaisons). Similarly, Stockton Rising’s youth leadership development program has trained two cohorts of young adults on how to advocate for environmental justice in their community and beyond (see page 40 for a case study on how the program has shaped the careers of two graduates, as well as the program’s lead coordinator). Moreover, TCC investment in a CSA food delivery program has helped an anchor institution, the Edible Schoolyard Project, expand its network of partners and deepen its ties with residents (see page 36 for the perspective of a project partner at the forefront of that work).

All TCC-funded construction along Miner Avenue was completed during reporting period, resulting in dramatic improvements along the commercial corridor. These improvements include: new permeable surfaces that will infiltrate stormwater (including 20,000 square feet of vegetation); more accessible sidewalks for individuals with impaired mobility; greater dedicated road space for bicycles; and a number of other amenities that make travel safer, more convenient, and more enjoyable for travelers of all travel modes (see page 55 for a full inventory of improvements).

During the reporting period, project partners installed 56 solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Of these, 55 were at single-family properties, benefiting low-income homeowners, and thereby providing financial relief amid rising energy costs (see page 38 for a case study on two residents with lower electricity bills after going solar). The other PV system was installed at Casa de Oasis, a multi-family a ordable housing development in the TCC project area. For 21 of the installations, project partners were able to use a mix of TCC and leveraged funds to repair residents’ roofs (at no cost to them) so that the solar PV systems could be securely attached. And for nine homes, project partners upgraded residents’ electrical panel to accommodate the new PV system.

Project partners also ramped up energy and water e ciency installations during the reporting period. Specifically, project partners provided 426 households in the TCC project area with water e ciency upgrades and 403 households with an energy e ciency upgrades (see page 55 and page 56 for a full inventory by count and building type). As with solar the panels, the cost of new energy and water e cient appliances and fixtures is a major barrier to adoption for many low-income households, so TCC funds allow Stockton Rising partners to o er these items at nocost to households (see page 30 for a case study on two residents who leveraged the program to address home improvement projects that were previously out of reach).

During the reporting period, project partners planted 415 trees in the TCC project area (along with 3,278 square feet of new vegetation). Of those 415 trees, 117 were planted as part of the Miner Avenue Complete Streets Improvement project, and 298 planted as part of Stockton Rising’s broader urban forestry project, which engages the community in tree planting activities.

During the reporting period, project partners at the Edible Schoolyard Project (ESYP) put 8,120 boxes of free, seasonal organic produce in the hands of residents. At 15 to 20 pounds of produce per box, this translates to over 61 tons of food delivered. The food boxes serve two key functions in the community: connecting residents with healthier food options and with one another (see page 36 for a case study on how these two functions are operating simultaneously). In addition to disseminating tons of free food, project partners at ESYP have also taught 25 online cooking classes and eight gardening classes to students in grades K through 8. Moreover, project partners at ESYP have hosted 24 field trips with a cooking and/or gardening demonstration to students in grades K-12.

Guided by Stockton Rising’s Workforce Development and Economic Opportunities Plan, project partners are o ering a wide range of job training opportunities in fields that are needed for climate change mitigation and resilience. Those fields include, but are not limited to: construction, electric vehicle maintenance, urban forestry, gardening, landscaping, and community organizing. Thus far, 92 individuals have received training in one or more of these fields. Of these individuals, 78 were paid for their time in training and 62 worked directly on the implementation of TCC-funded projects (25 helped implement energy and water e ciency installations; 22 helped planted trees; and 15 helped install solar panels). Lastly, of those who helped with e ciency upgrades, 16 went on to complete a TCC-funded externship with a local organization doing public interest work in the community (see page 32 for a case study on how the externship program has shaped the professional development of three participants).

Stockton Rising’s Community Engagement Plan o ers residents multiple channels to participate in local climate action planning, governance, advocacy, and communications. With respect to planning and governance, the resident-inclusive committees that make up Stockton Rising’s collaborative stakeholder structure met 70 times, during which they discussed project developments and pending implementation decisions. With respect to advocacy, 14 residents have been trained and employed as Community Liaisons and 29 have graduated from Stockton Rising’s youth leadership development program (see page 34 and page 40, respectively, for case studies on these two programs). And with respect to communications, there have been seven PhotoVoice walking tours in which residents have photographically and orally documented the assets and challenges of living in South Stockton. All of this resident participation has been made possible by project partners’ extensive outreach in the community, including door knocking, phone calls, in-person events, and networking on social media.

Stockton Rising’s Displacement Avoidance Plan is unique from the other transformative plans in that it was developed during grant implementation rather than in advance. Significant capacity needed to be built in Stockton around this topic before an e ective plan could be proposed. Thus, SGC awarded the City of Stockton a $100,000 Technical Assistance Grant to support the creation of a Revised Displacement Avoidance. With these funds, the City of Stockton hired a consultant, Enterprise Community Partners, to survey businesses and residents about their displacement vulnerabilities, as well as their policy priorities for preventing displacement. Additionally, Enterprise Community Partners conducted interviews with key stakeholders, such as housing developers, community advocates, and public service providers, to gather their expertise on the issue. By the end of the reporting period, Enterprise Community Partners had synthesized survey and interview data into a revised Displacement Avoidance Plan, and disseminated that plan to the City of Stockton for approval.

In between applying and receiving an implementation grant, Stockton Rising project partners had to rethink how to approach their proposed work in the aftermath of COVID-19. Despite the many challenges presented by the pandemic, all Stockton Rising projects and plans were able to continue. The ways in which project partners pivoted in response to the pandemic are highlighted throughout this report. Notable pivots include: delivering online community engagement opportunities; conducting virtual home assessments to identify water and energy e ciency opportunities, and then sending out kits by mail for residents to implement e ciency upgrades themselves; and supplementing free CSA deliveries with virtual programming on how to prepare the produce into healthy at-home meals.

Key Accomplishments Through June 2023

Active Transportation Infrastructure

  • 3,960 linear feet (0.75 street miles) of pedestrian pathways added
  • 2,850 linear feet (0.5 street miles) of Class II bike lanes installed
  • 39 wheelchair ramps added
  • 33 street lights added
  • 7 traffic signals upgraded to include video detection of travelers of all modes

Renewable Energy Access

  • 426 households provided water energy e ciency upgrades at no-cost (faucet aerators, low-flow shower heads, new toilets, and dishwashers)
  • 403 households provided energy e ciency upgrades at no-cost (LEDs, smart power strips, new refrigerators, and water heater blankets)

Urban Greenery

  • 23,278 square feet of vegetation planted
  • 23,278 square feet of vegetation planted
  • 415 trees planted

Healthy Food Access

  • 8,120 boxes of seasonal organic produced delivered (15 to 20 pounds each)
  • 33 online classes for K-8 students on topics such as healthy cooking and organic gardening
  • 24 field trips provided to students in grades K-12