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!
This October, Jha'Niyah Holland represented Three3 at RECESS25, where Black, Indigenous, and people of color convened to discuss equity and resiliency in clean energy efforts. She also attended Cities United workshops, which focus on holistic approaches to public health in efforts to reduce gun violence while involving communities in decision-making. As a long-time member, alumni, and mentor, Jha'Niyah received the Young Leader Alumni Founder Award while there.
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Summer 2025
Open data initiative currently in process! RWJF & Urban Institute's Local Data Grant Three3 is excited to serve as the social science and data analysis experts on a rapid-fire initiative to collect local data on equity in food systems. Kimberly Pettigrew and the United Way of Greater Knoxville have spearheaded a project to work with five leaders from local food pantries and community-based organizations that work to increase work security. Together, we are working to |
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collect local data that can drive policy change and advocacy efforts for a more equitable food system. With the recent pause in SNAP benefits and likely cuts to SNAP looming, this work is preparing emergency food services to meet the new and increasing needs of our community. By combining our technical research experience with the expertise of those who are deeply embedded in providing free and accessible food every day, we are able to develop data collection methods that are rigorous and effective but - most importantly - respects participants' dignity and that reach people in authentic and approachable ways.
Partners in this work include John Camp of Knox Pride; Jasmine Bryant and Shanae Southall of Women With Vision; Juanita Miller of Wesley House; Jaleria Rivera of SpaceCraft; Dr. Marsha Spence of the Department of Nutrition, University of Tennessee - Knoxville; and Kimberly Pettigrew and CJ Butcher of United Way of Greater Knoxville. This project is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in collaboration with the Urban Institute.
Click here for more information on our initial collaborative work with UWGK assessing Knoxville's food system. More information on an open data initiative incorporating this food system data, health equity portraits, and other major community data markers into an accessible resource for the Knoxville community will be provided in the near future!
Partners in this work include John Camp of Knox Pride; Jasmine Bryant and Shanae Southall of Women With Vision; Juanita Miller of Wesley House; Jaleria Rivera of SpaceCraft; Dr. Marsha Spence of the Department of Nutrition, University of Tennessee - Knoxville; and Kimberly Pettigrew and CJ Butcher of United Way of Greater Knoxville. This project is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in collaboration with the Urban Institute.
Click here for more information on our initial collaborative work with UWGK assessing Knoxville's food system. More information on an open data initiative incorporating this food system data, health equity portraits, and other major community data markers into an accessible resource for the Knoxville community will be provided in the near future!
Winter 2024 – Summer 2025
Knoxville Area Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Planning
The City of Knoxville, the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization, and other jurisdictions within the Knoxville Metropolitan Statistical Area have entered into a collaboration to develop a (recently published) Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP) and (to be drafted) Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP) required by their EPA awarded Carbon Pollution Reduction Grant (CRRG). ICF, an international known consulting firm, will assist this team by inventorying greenhouse gas emissions in the Knoxville region. ICF has subcontracted with Three3 to provide local consultation services and possible data collection and support with particular focus on low-income, disadvantaged communities (LIDAC) engagement and analysis.
Knoxville Area Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Planning
The City of Knoxville, the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization, and other jurisdictions within the Knoxville Metropolitan Statistical Area have entered into a collaboration to develop a (recently published) Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP) and (to be drafted) Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP) required by their EPA awarded Carbon Pollution Reduction Grant (CRRG). ICF, an international known consulting firm, will assist this team by inventorying greenhouse gas emissions in the Knoxville region. ICF has subcontracted with Three3 to provide local consultation services and possible data collection and support with particular focus on low-income, disadvantaged communities (LIDAC) engagement and analysis.
Fall 2024
DFARM Hydroponics Planning Grant
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded Three3 a planning grant titled DFARM: A Smart, Connected and Distributed Community Hydroponics System. The purpose of DFARM is to 1) assist the food community allocate food production targets to participating community gardens, other local food producers, and hydroponic systems located in the homes of food insecure households, schools, churches, community-based organizations, and elsewhere around Knoxville and then 2) assist the food community distribute harvests to food hubs. Three3 has engaged experts from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in hydroponics, nutrition, search algorithms, and user interface design and a broad spectrum of Knoxville’s food community through workshops and focus groups. Representing the food community are the United Way of Greater Knoxville, Knox Pride, Centro Hispano, Battlefield Farms, Beardsley Farms and Real Good Kitchen, and over a half dozen hydroponic systems have been installed around the community to build community capacity. The team submitted a full proposal to NSF in the fall of 2025.
We appreciate UWGK for hosting all of our workshops, Knox Pride for hosting two of our focus groups, and Real Good Kitchen for providing food for all of our group sessions.
DFARM Hydroponics Planning Grant
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded Three3 a planning grant titled DFARM: A Smart, Connected and Distributed Community Hydroponics System. The purpose of DFARM is to 1) assist the food community allocate food production targets to participating community gardens, other local food producers, and hydroponic systems located in the homes of food insecure households, schools, churches, community-based organizations, and elsewhere around Knoxville and then 2) assist the food community distribute harvests to food hubs. Three3 has engaged experts from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in hydroponics, nutrition, search algorithms, and user interface design and a broad spectrum of Knoxville’s food community through workshops and focus groups. Representing the food community are the United Way of Greater Knoxville, Knox Pride, Centro Hispano, Battlefield Farms, Beardsley Farms and Real Good Kitchen, and over a half dozen hydroponic systems have been installed around the community to build community capacity. The team submitted a full proposal to NSF in the fall of 2025.
We appreciate UWGK for hosting all of our workshops, Knox Pride for hosting two of our focus groups, and Real Good Kitchen for providing food for all of our group sessions.
Spring 2024 - Now
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. Three3 is currently partnering with local nonprofit, Women With Vision, to engage residents in Knoxville and Chattanooga, Tennessee through focus groups, stakeholder interviews, and surveys on a range of topics, including electrification, solar power and microgrids. Three3 is also conducting synthesizing analyses of previously collected indoor environmental quality sensor data to assess the IAQ benefits of electrification of low-income homes. We will then estimate the costs and benefits to weatherization programs 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. Three3 is currently partnering with local nonprofit, Women With Vision, to engage residents in Knoxville and Chattanooga, Tennessee through focus groups, stakeholder interviews, and surveys on a range of topics, including electrification, solar power and microgrids. Three3 is also conducting synthesizing analyses of previously collected indoor environmental quality sensor data to assess the IAQ benefits of electrification of low-income homes. We will then estimate the costs and benefits to weatherization programs 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.
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.
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 policy-making 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 policy-making 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.
