Date

5-2025

Document Type

Capstone Project (Open Access)

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Department

Health, Human Services and Public Policy

Major

Collaborative Health and Human Services

Abstract

Vulnerable communities in Monterey County face disproportionate environmental and health impacts due to climate change, yet many residents remain unaware of the tools and resources available to support local action. This capstone project was implemented in partnership with Ecology Action (EA) and the Resilient Central Coast (RCC) campaign to increase awareness and engagement with the RCC platform. Serving diverse communities across Monterey County, the project included bilingual outreach efforts, community tabling, educational presentations, and a climate action survey. Over 650 residents were engaged directly, resulting in 99 new household sign-ups on the RCC website, a major milestone for the agency. The survey, which received 74 responses, provided key insights into residents' climate priorities and offered strategies to improve awareness and engagement with RCC. Survey findings identified water conservation, waste reduction, and climate education as top concerns, and highlighted strong interest in workshops, personalized advising, and interactive, community-based programming. The project successfully met its goals by increasing visibility, building trust with local residents, and gathering actionable data to inform future outreach. To build on this momentum, recommended next steps include continuing in-person outreach, improving RCC’s user experience, offering locally-tailored education programs, and expanding partnerships with trusted community-based organizations. These efforts are essential for creating inclusive, locally-informed climate action across Monterey County.

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