Florida Catholic Conference and Diocese of Orlando Awarded Environmental Justice Grant

The Florida Catholic Conference, in partnership with the Diocese of Orlando, was awarded a $50,000 grant by the Environmental Justice Program of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The Florida Catholic Conference and the Diocese of Orlando were among five recipients of regional grants awarded. The funding for these grants was provided by a gift of $300,000 for two years by the Nathan Cummings Foundation.

The grant will fund activities to increase awareness among Catholics in Florida about water quality issues and environmental stewardship. Its activities will focus on the way these issues affect the quality of life for all Floridians, particularly the poor. The grant will be directed by an Environmental Justice Committee, composed of representatives from each of the seven dioceses in Florida, a project director, and the Florida Catholic Conference’s Associate for Social Concerns. These representatives include:

Almira Malley, Project Director, Florida Catholic Conference	Shirley Poore Diocese of Pensacola/Tallahassee
Muriel Kroll Archdiocese of Miami	Sr. Carol Stovall Diocese of Palm Beach;
Delena Stephens Diocese of St. Augustine	Neil Michaud Diocese of Venice
Peter Burns Diocese of St. Petersburg	Patricia Chivers, Associate for Social Concerns, Florida Catholic Conference
Deborah Stafford-Shearer Diocese of Orlando

The first activity related to the grant will be a contest to determine a name and logo for the project. The contest will be open to all students from grades 6-12, the name and logo must be scripturally based. The Environmental Justice Committee will choose a winner on November 30, 2001. Other activities planned include programs within each diocese, such as listening sessions, workshops, and field trips. These events will culminate in a statewide conference in the second year of the grant. Long-term goals of the grant include developing a statewide network to build a Catholic constituency for environmental justice, and influencing public policy regarding water quality in the state.

The regional grants award program is one of several initiatives of the Environmental Justice Program of the USCCB Department of Social Development and World Peace. The Environmental Justice Program seeks to educate and motivate Catholics to a deeper respect for creation, and to engage parishes in activities aimed at dealing with environmental programs, particularly as they affect the poor. The regional grants program supports projects that deepen the moral commitment of Catholics to needed lifestyle changes and garner the support necessary for influencing national debate and public policy.

Other activities of the program include education, work with Catholic universities and public policy initiatives. The program is part of a larger, ecumenical effort known as the National Religious Partnership for the Environment. The cooperating partners are the National Council of Churches, the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, and the Evangelical Environmental Network.