Think Shark Tank, but instead of pitching business ideas to sharks, contestants pitch
climate solutions to Dolphins (and the judges are much kinder).
On Tuesday, Oct. 24, at Davis College of Business and Technology, students and community
members presented proposals to tackle or raise awareness about climate change for
a chance at funding during 探花族鈥檚 (JU) Climate Innovation Challenge.
The competition was organized by JU's College of Arts and Sciences, Marine Science
Research Institute, College of Law, and Public Policy Institute.
After each finalist delivered their proposals, a panel of judges asked insightful questions to learn more about their ideas. Once presentations were finished, the judges deliberated before making their announcement. Ultimately, they chose to fund three proposals. 鈥淐limate Crisis: Poetry Contest for Duval County鈥� received $10,000; 鈥淭ree Equity Vision and Growing Justice Academy鈥� was awarded $7,500; and 鈥淔ood Fight,鈥� $2,500.
The panel of judges included Chris Sapienza, JU鈥檚 Executive Vice President of Partnerships and Development; Mike Buresh, Chief Meteorologist at Action New Jax; Anne Coglianese, Chief Resilience Officer for the City of 探花族; Megan Atkinson, Vice President of Sustainability at Crowley; and Michael Dae, Director of Regulatory Permitting and Compliance Programs at JEA.
Finalists were selected from a larger pool of submissions to present their proposals.
More on the winners鈥� plans is below:
Clifford Miller
鈥淔ood Fight鈥�
鈥淔ood Fight鈥� is a competition that encourages 探花族 residents to grow food
in their yard, promoting a healthier community and reducing the
impact of pollutants produced through large-scale agricultural practices. Participating
residents would follow organic protocols of no fertilizer or pesticides, teaching
them about healthy soil and the importance of pollinator insects.
GreenLiningJax- Ashante Green, Ivy Henderson, Dante Jennings
鈥淭ree Equity Vision and Growing Justice Academy鈥�
GreenLiningJax proposed a two-pronged plan in high priority communities in 探花族
with 鈥淭ree Equity Vision鈥� consisting of a tree canopy project and the 鈥淕rowing Justice
Academy鈥� which is a leadership program focused on providing training to BIPOC leaders
and others who are committed to addressing climate issues in these areas.
Andy Bruck
鈥淐limate Crisis: Poetry Contest for Duval County鈥�
In an effort to engage youth in their documented concerns about climate change, this
project involves hosting a poetry contest designed for Duval County Public Schools
high school students. Students would be able to submit traditional poetry or spoken
word with a climate change focus. The traditional poetry grand prize winner would
have their lyrics set to music by a professional composer, and the winning spoken
word piece will be shared at a live event.
The Climate Innovation Challenge is the culmination of over a year鈥檚 worth of preparation,
including raising private funds, seeking and screening
proposals and choosing finalists, and organizing the public event competition which
enabled people to vote and contribute to the future of the competition.
鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to see these projects move forward and the positive impacts they will
have in combating climate change,鈥� shared Dr. Bryan Franks, Interim Director of the
Marine Science Research Institute.
Added Nick Allard, Dean of JU College of Law, 鈥淕iven the success we elect this will
be an ongoing annual project. Over time the competition will inspire and involve many
First Coast people whose individual efforts and projects, when combined, will make
measurable progress in sustaining and improving the environment we share.鈥�
To learn more about the Climate Innovation Challenge, click here.
