Working on Wellness Environments
Working on Wellness Environments (WOW-E) is a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension multidisciplinary community development program

PeopleForBikes Grant Opportunity

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The PeopleForBikes Community Grant Program supports bicycle infrastructure projects and targeted advocacy initiatives that make it easier and safer for people of all ages and abilities to ride.

PeopleForBikes accepts grant applications from non-profit organizations with a focus on bicycling, active transportation or community development; from city or county agencies or departments and from state or federal agencies working locally. PeopleForBikes only funds projects in the United States. Requests must support a specific project or program – we do not grant funds for general operating costs.

PeopleForBikes focuses on most grant funds on bicycle infrastracture projects, such as:

  • Bike paths, lanes, trails and bridges
  • Mountain bike facilities
  • Bike parks and pump tracks
  • BMX facilities
  • End-of-trip facilities such as bike racks, bike parking, bike repair stations and bike storage

In addition, PeopleForBikes also fund some advocacy projects such as

  • Programs that transform city streets, such as Ciclovias or Open Streets Days
  • Campaigns to increase investment in bicycle infrastracture

PeopleForBikes will fund engineering and design work, construction costs including materials, labor and equipment rental and reasonable volunteer support costs. For advocacy projects, we will fund staffing that is directly related to accomplishing the goals of the initiative.

Application is due July 23, 2021. Find the grant opportunity here!

Explore the Grants Finder to see successful grants from past cycles.

TxDOT TA Funding Program

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Are you looking to improve your community’s pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure? We have an opportunity for funding that you may be interested in!

The Texas Department of Transportation announced a call for projects for the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TA) funding program with both currently available and future anticipated funds. The call is requesting projects surrounding pedestrian and/or bicycle safety and infrastructure.

Communities of any size are encouraged to apply for the funding program, though priority is given to communities with 5,000 people or less. *Note: The first application deadline is March 1st – We know that this is last minute, but we are here to help if anyone is interested. The Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Working on Wellness Environments team is able to provide pre-application assistance to community leaders if needed, in the following ways:

– Walking through program criteria and guidelines

– Identifying possible projects in the community

– Assisting with basic planning steps and providing a broad cost estimate

*If chosen to move on to step 2 of the application process, we can help you identify relevant resources and contacts fo technical assistance.

Please contact Anna Stehling – Working on Wellness Environments Program Coordinator, via email at astehling5511@tamu.edu if you have any questions. If you want additional information and wish to schedule a zoom call to discuss the program’s opportunities, you can visit the calendly link below to select a meeting time.

https://calendly.com/c/GDFZGXHJWSGVBY5F

End of Year Message

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The WOW-E team would like to wish you all a happy and safe Holiday Season.

We will be out of the office from December 23, 2020 – January 4, 2021.

For COVID-19 resources please visit Texas A&M Agrilife Extension and CDC .

We look forward to working with you all in 2021.

-The WOW-E Team

Battery Check

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For the past 8 months, COVID-19 has impacted the lives of Texans. In the midst of uncertainty and adjusting to new normalcy, we often forget to check-in with our mental health, our energy level and those of our community team members . Texas A&M Agrilife Extension’s Dr. Lakshmi Mahadevan introduced the Working on Wellness Environments team to the importance of using the battery check to assist with self check-ins.

The Battery Check was posted at blessingmanifesting.com by this social media blogger to check-in for self-care purposes and know when and how to recharge. Dr. Mahadevan has adapted the graphic into a tool for use in early child-care conferences and in the local community. Dr. Mahadevan suggests the battery check is useful because it is very visual. Finding the words that explain how we feel can be difficult, but having a visual can help us find those words. The battery check should be used as needed and could be helpful to gauge communities and audiences. For personal use, the battery check can bring awareness; knowing when you need time to regroup for your mental health.

The battery check can help you check-in with your communities or audiences, the battery check can be used as an ice breaker or even a teaching tool if you are using as a way to check-in with people. Dr. Mahadevan says silence after introducing the battery check is not uncommon and, it is okay if someone isn’t participating. When working in large groups, the battery check can be used as a self-check breakout activity.

Finally, the COVID-19 pandemic has made it especially important for self and community check-ins. When talking to groups and they are open to discussing how they are feeling, Dr. Mahadevan suggests reassuring and reaffirming that this is a safe space and everything mentioned will remain confidential. It is important to be empathetic and give everyone time to respond if they do not feel comfortable sharing at the moment. For additional information about mental health and mental health during the holidays, are available here.

Welcome to the Funny Farm!

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In Roma, TX, the Funny Farm is the pride of R.T. Barrera Elementary. Spearheaded by physical education teacher Mr. Rolando Munoz, the Funny Farm has expanded from a small garden to a 105 by 150 sq ft “farm”. The Eagle’s Orchard is the newest addition to R.T. Barrera’s Funny Farm.

The orchard was established in January 2020 as part of a Starr County Farm to School initiative with the Working on Wellness Environments program and the Farm to School program. Partners such as Roma ISD, the students and staff at R.T. Barrera Elementary, Texas A&M Agrilife Extension, and the local community have helped sustain and move the orchard forward. The orchard includes 43 trees with 8 varieties of grapes, peaches, pineapple oranges, mandarins, limes, figs, grapefruits, and guava trees. Everyone at the school has a role, from food service staff to principals, and down to the students.

The Funny Farm began 9 years ago as a small school garden with just a few plants. The same practice of involving staff, parents, and students has been held to this day. The school attributes this, and constant support from administration as a way the garden has been sustained throughout the years.

Students are especially involved in the farm. They make sure the animals are well taken care of, feed them using measuring cups to make sure they get the right amount of food, harvest produce like lettuce and cucumbers, and make sure that produce goes back to the cafeteria. Additionally, students are allowed to take some of the produce home, where they can prepare a meal and bring it back for show and tell.

Through the farm, students learn agricultural and nutritional practices and introduces them to new fruits and vegetables. Trees in the orchard are watered through a drip irrigation system, and the amount of water depends on the season. The school allows visitors to visit the Funny Farm, where they can learn sustainability practices.

Volunteer involvement has been immense from planting trees to digging holes to pulling weeds. Surplus fruit will be sold at festivals, farmer’s markets, and ag clubs in order to ensure longevity. The farm is looking to adapt an adopt-a-tree program to help sustain the the orchard for many years to come.

With COVID-19- the “farm” has seen its challenges. With students not physically in school, garden maintenance has been done through school administrators themselves. The next phase for the farm is to add pollinator garden beds, and a high tunnel which have all been approved. The farm has also recently been awarded an NRCS grant to help cover costs. The main goal of this project is for Roma ISD to expand to other schools in the district. For more information, check out the video below!