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Chamomile, a healing plant

with historic meaning

for the family.

 

merckff tweets

SUSTAINING OUR ENVIRONMENT

TRANSFORMING OUR COMMUNITIES

Youth Transforming Urban Communities (Under Review)

Low-income communities of color are rarely represented at the policy or legislative tables yet are often disproportionately and negatively impacted by those very systems.  It is our belief that, with the right support, young people are well positioned to become the leaders of systemic change today and into the future.  The goals have been to support a cadre of young social justice leaders across the country; to link local campaigns with national movements; and to document the impact of their work on communities and themselves.

 

Currently, MFF is conducting an evaluation of this program, to be completed in the summer of 2012.  Please check this website for updates in November 2012.

Urban Farming and Youth Leadership

Growing food in community is a collective and personal entry point to many systemic issues including: health and nutrition, job training, environmental sustainability, and the creation of social capital. The local cultivation and distribution of fresh, healthy, and affordable food raises the awareness about quality and access something sorely lacking in low-income communities. This new program at the Merck Family Fund will support programs in low-income urban areas in the Northeast that are harnessing the power of young people to create urban farms and local markets.

 

Specifically, the Fund welcomes proposals that:

 

• Provide high quality leadership development and employment for youth.

 

• Support highly productive urban farming projects and increase local access to fresh food.

 

• Engage residents in food access and food security issues in the community.

 

Priority will be given to projects that combine all aspects above and that reside in the six New England states, New York, New Jersey and the Delaware Valley region including Philadelphia, PA and Wilmington, DE.

Conserving Ecologically Valuable Land

Urban sprawl, resource extraction, and poorly enforced environmental regulations place enormous pressures on natural resources. Natural areas need a combination of land protections and sustainable use policies to ensure clean air, clean water, and sustainability. The geographic focus of this area will be the southeastern United States, with priority given to the Southern Appalachians and the states of Tennessee, North Carolina, Kentucky, South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia.

 

Specifically, the Fund welcomes proposals that:

 

• Advocate for and secure public financial resources and commitments to land protection.

 

• Demonstrate community engagement and certified sustainable management of land particularly concerning forestry and farming.

 

• Provide leadership to existing and emerging coalitions that build a multi-stakeholder voice.

Promoting Energy Efficiency

The cheapest and fastest way to reduce demand for electric power is through energy efficiency. In order to maximize the carbon and financial savings, a combination of motivational factors are needed for implementation including low cost, simplicity, accessibility, and regulatory oversight. The goal is to support state and regional policies in the Northeast and Southeast that provide incentives and subsidies for energy efficiency implementation.

 

Specifically, the Fund welcomes proposals that:

 

• Advocate for residential and commercial standards that result in measurable efficiencies.

 

• Demonstrate financing models that create affordable capital for retrofits.

 

• Promote utility-based efficiency programs.

 

• Lead state networks that create and implement climate action plans.

Making Paper Production Sustainable

Paper production is a highly toxic, carbon-emitting, water-intensive, and forest-reliant industry. There are a number of ways to improve the environmental impact of the sector. The goal is to increase the rates of recycled paper in large paper sectors, reduce sourcing from endangered forests, and maximize clean production.

 

Specifically, the Fund welcomes proposals that:

 

• Assist major paper users and suppliers to adopt environmentally preferable paper practices.

 

• Support networks that align paper production strategies and goals.

 

• Provide information to consumers to opt-out of large-scale distributions such as direct mail and catalogs.