Request for Proposals, fall 2011

Tufts Community Research Center

The Tufts Community Research Center is a collaborative of Tufts researchers and Boston-area community representatives. This RFP solicits requests for funding of community-collaborative research projects.

Grant Specifications:

1) Amount available: One award of $6,500

2) Application is due at 5pm on November 4, 2011

3) Funding must be used between November 5, 2011 and June 30, 2012

4) A final report on the project must be submitted by July 31, 2012

Application Requirements:

1) The team that is applying must include at least one Tufts-based researcher and at least one community-based organization. You might want to consult: http://www.ccph.info/.

2) Proposals may be from any discipline.

3) The proposed research could be community-based participatory research, but could also involve other approaches to research collaboration.

4) Applicants must specify what kind of research will be conducted.

5) The community, and the ways that it is involved, must be clearly defined. We are particularly interested in proposals from Tufts host communities (Somerville, Boston Chinatown, Medford), but will consider proposals from other communities.

6) The proposal must be for a research project that is asking a question of interest to the community partner.

7) Funding is prioritized for start-up projects rather than as an add-on to existing research.

8) The applicant must clearly indicate how the TCRC funds will be used by providing a brief line item budget and justification (stipends, hiring a research assistant, etc.).

Submission process:

Applications should consist of no more than 3 pages (Times New Roman 12 point type, 1 inch margins) of narrative, plus the budget and justification. The structure of the narrative is at the discretion of the applicant.

Signed letters, on letterhead, from all partners indicating that they have agreed to participate in the proposal development must be included.

One-on-one meetings to discuss this RFP can be scheduled with the director of TCRC in advance of submission.

Final applications should be submitted as an email attachment (preferably in PDF format) to dbrugge@aol.com. For more information contact Doug Brugge, Director of TCRC, via email at dbrugge@aol.com or phone at (617) 636-0326.

NOTE: The funded application will be eligible for technical assistance from the director and steering committee of the Tufts Community Research Center during the implementation of the research.

Medford to Boston Contingent of Moving Planet New England

Just four days to the Moving Planet Rally!

This Saturday, September 24th, hundreds of thousands of people across the globe will come together to move beyond fossil fuels and create a watershed moment in planetary history.

Together, we will send a loud, clear and inspiring message: we are creating a healthy, just, and sustainable world for all, and expect our elected officials and corporate executives to do the same. Let's keep them accountable for moving us beyond fossil fuels!

Planet Movers will fill roads, trains, and waterways by foot, bike, canoe, kayak, and ferry, T and commuter rail on their way to the Moving Planet: New England Rally. See the scores of participating groups here.

Join Green Medford for this historic and world-changing event!

We will meet at the West Medford Commuter Rail station. We're gathering starting about 1:00 pm (with free donuts from the remarkable Donuts with a Difference in Medford Square), and we will depart about 1:30 pm.

We will be biking to Union Square to meet up with the group from Somerville Climate Action, so we can ride in to Boston together in one really big contingent!

Please RSVP to Bruce Kulik if you want to join us for the ride or take the Commuter Rail (1:32 pm departure for North Station) and meet back up at North Station.

Here's our route to Union Square:

West Medford Station
Cross High Street to Harvard Avenue
Left on Boston Avenue
Cross Mystic Valley Parkway
Right on North Street
Cross Powderhouse Boulevard
Left on Broadway
Bear Right onto Holland St at Teele Square
Through Davis Square road name becomes Elm Street
Left onto Somerville Avenue, into Union Square

We will meet the Somerville group at the triangle behind the fire station. From there they have a route through Sullivan Square, Charlestown, through the Navy Yard, across the locks, and through the North End to Columbus Park. You can see that here.

Groups of 15-25 will parade from North Station to Christopher Columbus Park every few minutes.

The Boston Rally

When: 3:50 pm (to mark the max safe limit of 350 parts per million of carbon in our atmosphere)

Where: Christopher Columbus Park (Aquarium T stop)

The rally will feature Sustainable Hip Hop artist Tem Blessed, Pedal-Powered Soul and Roll band Melodeego, Living on Earth's Steve Curwood, inspiring students from Boston Latin School's Youth Climate Action Network, updates on national and local Tar Sands Actions, and opportunities to connect with others!

Upcoming Environment & Community Events

Please take advantage of the short fall season to get to all of these, and tell others you know too.

Malden River Festival, Sat Sept 17, 10 am - 4 pm, River's Edge:

Moving Planet Ride to Boston and Rally for Climate Action: Sat, Sept 24, 1-5 pm, starting at the West Medford Commuter Rail Station, directly following the Great Women of Medford Bike Tour.

Harvest Your Energy Festival & First Patriots Revolutionary War Re-enactment, Sat October 1, 1-4 pm, behind the McGlynn Elementary & Middle School

Mystic River Celebration, October 22, 11-4 pm, Condon Shell Park. Part of the Medford on the Mystic Arts Festival.

Medford Farmers Market, every Thursday, 3-7 pm through mid-October, Whole Foods on Route 16.