fostering equitable, sustainable futures
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Three3 (pronounced ThreeCubed) is a 501(c)3 research nonprofit located in Knoxville, TN with a mission to foster equitable and sustainable futures. The principle researchers and co-founders of Three3 conduct innovative social science research and facilitate stakeholder workshops on complex social issues. Three3 is
connected to local, regional and national networks that aim to advance equity and resilience outcomes for lower-income households and populations. Three3 is also deeply embedded in community-driven initiatives that aim to advance transformative social outcomes for historically underserved individuals and populations. Specific skills:
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WE HAVE EXCITING NEWS!Fall 2024
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded Three3 a planning grant tilted DFARM: A Smart, Connected and Distributed Community Hydroponics System. The purposes of the grant are to design and develop an implementation plan for DFARM in Knoxville, Tennessee. It is envisioned that hydroponics and other indoor-compatible food growing systems would be located in the homes of food insecure households and in various other locations across the community. Further, it is envisioned that DFARM would have three major components, one to allocate food production targets to the food growing systems located across the community, a second to allocate harvests across the community, and a third to assist with the day-to-day management of DFARM. The expectation is that a full proposal to NSF will be written and submitted within one-year after the award of the planning grant. Project partners include the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, the United Way of Greater Knoxville, and several Knoxville Food Community organizations. |
recent ACTIVITIES
Summer 2024
Knoxville Community Food Systems Assessment
ThreeCubed recently finished supporting a Knoxville-wide food systems assessment managed by the United Way of Greater Knoxville. This participatory-driven assessment involved surveys supported by many trusted, community-based organizations and change leaders, as well as, alternative forms of information and people gathering to better understand people's experiences across the food system. Importantly, all the (de-identified) data and information collected will be made public for community use. The final products for this assessment include traditional reports and presentations of findings as well as a StoryMap (in current development). We also hope to communicate expressions and strategic visioning through visual language.
Knoxville Community Food Systems Assessment
ThreeCubed recently finished supporting a Knoxville-wide food systems assessment managed by the United Way of Greater Knoxville. This participatory-driven assessment involved surveys supported by many trusted, community-based organizations and change leaders, as well as, alternative forms of information and people gathering to better understand people's experiences across the food system. Importantly, all the (de-identified) data and information collected will be made public for community use. The final products for this assessment include traditional reports and presentations of findings as well as a StoryMap (in current development). We also hope to communicate expressions and strategic visioning through visual language.
NEW + CURRENT PRojects
Summer 2021 - Fall 2024
Non-Energy Impact Studies of TVA's Home Uplift Weatherization Program
The Tennessee Valley Authority is funding a number of non-energy impact (NEI) studies that aim to measure the multiple benefits of the low-income weatherization program, Home Uplift. The studies include a TennCare (Medicaid) Claims Study with Home Uplift participants to complement the recently completed NEI study of the Home Uplift pilot that operated within seven metro areas across the Tennessee Valley. The studies include approved human subjects research to collect Medicaid claims data that can be linked to surveys and weatherization data for participating Home Uplift households. Finally, a meta-analysis of all the data collected through these special studies will be completed over 2024 to better understand the impacts of Home Uplift weatherization on energy affordability and security, dwelling quality, health and quality of life, and a range of social determinants of health (SDoH). Click here for more information on each of these separate Home Uplift studies.
Non-Energy Impact Studies of TVA's Home Uplift Weatherization Program
The Tennessee Valley Authority is funding a number of non-energy impact (NEI) studies that aim to measure the multiple benefits of the low-income weatherization program, Home Uplift. The studies include a TennCare (Medicaid) Claims Study with Home Uplift participants to complement the recently completed NEI study of the Home Uplift pilot that operated within seven metro areas across the Tennessee Valley. The studies include approved human subjects research to collect Medicaid claims data that can be linked to surveys and weatherization data for participating Home Uplift households. Finally, a meta-analysis of all the data collected through these special studies will be completed over 2024 to better understand the impacts of Home Uplift weatherization on energy affordability and security, dwelling quality, health and quality of life, and a range of social determinants of health (SDoH). Click here for more information on each of these separate Home Uplift studies.
Launched in Spring 2024!
A Community Co-Designed Weatherization and Microgrid Plan for
Equitable Energy Security and Environmental Health
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Harvard University, and Three3 partnered to win a grant from the Wellcome Trust. The project aims to provide climate mitigation solutions, i.e., community microgrids and weatherization with electrification for reducing energy burdens and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), and improve physical and mental health for underserved communities, such as low-to-moderate income (LMI) households. For this project, Three3 will partner with local nonprofit, Women With Vision, to engage residents in Knoxville and Chattanooga, Tennessee through focus groups and surveys on a range of topics, including electrification, solar power and microgrids. Three3 will conduct synthesizing analyses of previously collected indoor environmental quality sensor data to assess the IAQ benefits of electrification of low-income homes. We will also estimate the costs and benefits to weatherization programs if electrification and to changes in utility costs to low-income households of electrification and rooftop solar. Three3 will also estimate deaths preventable from the installation of weatherization and climate resilience measures in combination with home electrification.
A Community Co-Designed Weatherization and Microgrid Plan for
Equitable Energy Security and Environmental Health
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Harvard University, and Three3 partnered to win a grant from the Wellcome Trust. The project aims to provide climate mitigation solutions, i.e., community microgrids and weatherization with electrification for reducing energy burdens and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), and improve physical and mental health for underserved communities, such as low-to-moderate income (LMI) households. For this project, Three3 will partner with local nonprofit, Women With Vision, to engage residents in Knoxville and Chattanooga, Tennessee through focus groups and surveys on a range of topics, including electrification, solar power and microgrids. Three3 will conduct synthesizing analyses of previously collected indoor environmental quality sensor data to assess the IAQ benefits of electrification of low-income homes. We will also estimate the costs and benefits to weatherization programs if electrification and to changes in utility costs to low-income households of electrification and rooftop solar. Three3 will also estimate deaths preventable from the installation of weatherization and climate resilience measures in combination with home electrification.
Our Integrity Statement
The mission of Three3 remains rooted in the imperative to achieve equitable, sustainable futures. Our organization works to meaningfully establish racial equity and justice into the cross-sector research we conduct, in our facilitation of policymaking and program evaluation, and by applying a human rights-based framework to our work. In solidarity with Black Lives Matter, we strive to do better. We remain committed to donating our social science capabilities to under-funded local community initiatives for racial justice and parity, and for black dignity and freedoms. We remain ever vigilant in the monitoring and evaluation of both the benefits and burdens produced by current and historical policies, programs, and budgets enacted locally and across this country. As always, we remain truly grateful to black and brown community members across the South that have allowed us inside their homes for us to gather stories and struggles with energy affordability and housing quality. Your stories are gifts and we will continue to elevate and amplify your voices so that we might move toward a new social contract; one where Black Lives Matter.
The mission of Three3 remains rooted in the imperative to achieve equitable, sustainable futures. Our organization works to meaningfully establish racial equity and justice into the cross-sector research we conduct, in our facilitation of policymaking and program evaluation, and by applying a human rights-based framework to our work. In solidarity with Black Lives Matter, we strive to do better. We remain committed to donating our social science capabilities to under-funded local community initiatives for racial justice and parity, and for black dignity and freedoms. We remain ever vigilant in the monitoring and evaluation of both the benefits and burdens produced by current and historical policies, programs, and budgets enacted locally and across this country. As always, we remain truly grateful to black and brown community members across the South that have allowed us inside their homes for us to gather stories and struggles with energy affordability and housing quality. Your stories are gifts and we will continue to elevate and amplify your voices so that we might move toward a new social contract; one where Black Lives Matter.