The EPA PREPARED program’s scope is to promote readiness and enhance proficiency to advance reporting and data for EPA and State Revolving Funds (SRF) for clean and drinking water programs applicants and grantees. The program is oriented towards building community capacity on evidence-based approaches to advance data dissemination, reporting, and integration of lived community experiences.
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Program services include developing capacity-building resources to increase community preparedness to apply for, manage, collect and analyze data, and report results to the funding agency. Technical assistance, program outreach, and community engagement support is currently offered through EPA’s PREPARED program to communities in New England. A robust program evaluation will serve as model for program beneficiaries to conduct performance measurement and evaluation plans for continuous improvement of their environmental programs.
Our program provides an innovative approach to integrate qualitative data and lived experiences of communities through participatory storytelling together with partner organization, The Dream Network, based in Lawrence, MA.
Program outcomes are anticipated to be the increased capacity of participants to apply for and manage EPA grants and SRF programs, and improved data collection and reporting for EPA grantees. Longer-term outcomes include sustainable environmental planning and engagement for communities and reduced disproportionate environmental burdens in undeserved and small communities.
TEAM

Dr. Nefeli Bompoti is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Dr. Bompoti’s expertise is fate and transport of pollutants and environmental policy including sustainable land reuse and environmental justice.
Emily Cayer – Co-founder, Executive Director, and Director of Operations, Tiny Seed
Tiny Seed is a non profit resource hub with best practices and shared services. As the backbone of strong community projects, we specialize in providing administrative services and nonprofit status, empowering community leaders to concentrate on their core mission,
Stacy Seward (she/her)
Stacy Seward, is a Doctoral candidate in Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and an adjunct professor in Psychology and the social sciences. Her expertise centers race, justice, inequity, community, and decolonial storytelling. Stacy holds a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Psychology and Counseling and a certificate of advanced graduate study in school counseling from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Stacy is the founder and Executive Director of The Dream Network in Lawrence, Massachusetts which focuses on social, economic, education, and environmental injustice. Stacy is the co-author of an article published in the third edition of The Local Power & Politics Review titled: The State Takeover of Public Schools as State Preemption: Evidence from Lawrence, Massachusetts. Stacy continues to participate in community-based activities and research to promote racial equity for those living in the Merrimack Valley.
STUDENT TEAM
Alberto Polanco, Senior Undergraduate Student in Civil and Environmental Engineering
Interested in Environmental engineering. In understanding and pinpointing potential environmental and socioeconomic hazards within a community. As well as, getting involved and communicating with the community to further understand their motives, culture, and narrative to implement change. is and implementation of results to better manage grants.
Ms. Philomina Twumasi (she/her)
Graduate Student in Civil and Environmental Engineering |
![]() With a zeal to learn and broaden knowledge horizon, she comes on ready to learn whilst assisting grantees with data collection, analysis and implementation of results to better manage grants. |