Overview

Greenlining The Block

Greenlining the Block is an initiative developed by The Greenlining Institute to support the leadership and expertise of communities of color to prepare for and maximize federal, state and local infrastructure investments to drive effective climate action that meets community needs. Greenlining the Block works to strengthen community-based organizations to advance climate justice neighborhood projects in  communities across  California (Stockton, Oakland, Eastern Los Angeles County, San Diego), Colorado, Illinois, Virginia, North Carolina, Michigan. 

Background

Tackling Systemic Barriers

We have a historic opportunity to ensure that the large-scale investments available through Justice40, the Biden-Harris Administration’s signature climate program, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Inflation Reduction Act and private sector climate investments are intentionally invested in communities of color, and address long standing inequities in infrastructure investments. To do so, Greenlining the Block is bridging a gap between community capacity and new infrastructure funding opportunities to ensure that climate investments are being directed and absorbed by communities of color for the types of projects that are needed most.

Too often infrastructure investments fail to adequately address the needs of communities of color and at worst exacerbate inequities and accelerate gentrification and displacement. When a community tries to drive change in their own neighborhoods, they are often met with insurmountable challenges caused by historic disinvestment, systemic barriers, and a lack of trust across sectors. Furthermore, new public and private funding opportunities for climate action are often siloed, further weakening the ability of the field to align on solutions.

To address many of these systemic barriers, Greenlining is building on its decades of experience targeting climate investments in communities of color and advancing our model established through California’s Transformative Climate Communities program. This program established through AB2722 has catalyzed over $350 million in investments in communities across the state. The program has informed our understanding of the necessary ingredients for nurturing successful community-driven climate projects at the local level and effectively catalyzing multi-sector partnerships. It is based on this experience including working directly with community partners and local government that is the basis for our approach through Greenlining the Block.

For more information, please contact Greenlining the Block Program Manager, Ariadne Villegas: ariadne.villegas@greenlining.org


Purpose

Transforming Community Development

Greenlining the Block works to strengthen community-based organizations to advance climate justice neighborhood projects. To reverse decades of disinvestment and racist policies, we are doubling-down on community ownership of solutions. We will be working with partners to:

  • Develop neighborhood and capital project ideas grounded in community needs and priorities
  • Advance community-led project visions to become both equity- and project-ready
  • Cultivate multi-stakeholder partnerships for greater collective impact
  • Build the capacity needed to lead their own transformations and engage on climate issues with longevity

Our Approach

The Cycle of Community Transformation

To support a cycle of community transformation we will be strategically investing in four major components to drive change :

  • Community Visioning, Planning, and Partnerships
  • Project Development and Pre-Development
  • Grant Application Processes
  • Programs for Community Transformation. Our approach is rooted in our unique approach to fostering community-led solutions to climate change that meet the needs of frontline neighborhoods through a model we developed called Transformative Climate Communities

Through Greenlining the Block, we will be investing in the capacity of community based organizations to advance their priority climate justice neighborhood project as follows: 

  • Pass-through over $4.5 million in grant resources to support baseline dedicated capacity within partner organizations to engage on climate issues with longevity 
  • Support partners to evolve community identified priorities to “shovel-worthy” ideas and ultimately to “shovel-ready” proposals with dedicated funding and technical assistance resources 
  • Establish a $1 million Climate Action and Racial Equity Fund to provide seed investment and leverage for their projects

Project partners will participate in a program that includes four core components: 


Partners

Community Partners Leading the Way

Active San Gabriel Valley

ActiveSGV’s mission is to support a more sustainable, equitable, and livable San Gabriel Valley by fostering civic engagement in communities across the San Gabriel Valley to effect policy, program and environmental change. Active San Gabriel Valley seeks to prioritize, identify and secure funding to advance a portfolio of multi-benefit infrastructure projects, including pedestrian and bike improvements, urban greening, and the development of community spaces. Their project will focus on completing participatory planning and feasibility assessments to develop open space and active transportation projects.

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API Forward Movement

API Forward Movement cultivates healthy, long-lasting, and vibrant Asian and Pacific Islander communities through community-centered engagement, education, and advocacy. They envision a world where Asian and Pacific Islander communities – and all communities of color – have full power to access good health and a healthy environment. APIFM will implement the Water is Life (水是生命) project to develop a multi-benefit stormwater capture project with traffic calming elements at Fremont Elementary in Alhambra. The stormwater capture project will conserve local water resources.

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Casa Familiar

Casa Familiar is a 50-year old community development agency focused on improving the built environment in San Ysidro, a predominant Latinx and low-income community. Casa Familiar enhances the quality of life for low income individuals and families through Advocacy, Social Services, Education, Affordable Housing, Arts and Culture, and Community and Economic Development. Casa Familiar is advancing a climate resiliency development, La Semilla, the Seed, a multi-purpose neighborhood development that will include a community plaza and learning center, greenhouse, EV charging and e-mobility options.

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Equiticity

Equiticity is a racial equity movement, operationalizing racial equity by harnessing our collective power through research, advocacy, programs, Community Mobility Rituals, and social enterprises, to improve the lives of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people in our society. Equiticity’s The Go Hub will develop a community mobility center to provide increased use of healthy and sustainable transportation options, employment and educational opportunities, mental health services, and provide a physical space for neighborhood gatherings and functions, as well as host a regular series of Community Mobility Rituals.

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Bronzeville Community Development Partnership

Bronzeville Community Development Partnership is a 30-year -old preservation organization focused on the Black Metropolis area of Chicago. BCDP uplifts community thought leadership to develop sustainable economic development solutions at the neighborhood level that creates new enterprises and generates jobs. BCDP will be developing the Smart Mart, an electric mobility hub that connects many forms of e-transportation goods and services in the Historic Motor Row District. Their project would include the adaptive reuse of the building that will incorporate community spaces, an EV showroom, EV manufacturing and prototyping, EV fleet parking, micro-mobility options, cafe and workforce development opportunities.

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Environmental Health Coalition

Environmental Health Coalition is a 42 year old environmental justice organization dedicated to achieving environmental and social justice in the San Diego-Tijuana border region. EHC organizes and advocates to protect public health and the environment threatened by toxic pollution. EHC will be pursuing a Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Implementation Grant to improve the environmental, economic and housing conditions of Barrio Logan and Logan Heights residents. They will be building off their TCC Planning Grant, where they worked closely with the community to identify priorities to establish and integrate a community land trust, design a new park space, develop a resilience and environmental justice hub, and increase tree canopy throughout the neighborhood.

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Little Manila Rising

Little Manila Rising serves the South Stockton community, developing equitable solutions to the effects of historical marginalization, institutionalized racism, and harmful public policy. LMR offers a wide spectrum of programs that address education, environment, redevelopment, and public health. LMR values all people’s unique and diverse experiences and wishes to see the residents of South Stockton enjoy healthy, prosperous lives. LMR is purchasing their building and land, retrofitting their building to meet the standards for a climate resilience hub including energy storage and emergency services. Additionally it will have year-round programming and be a service and cultural hub for LMR’s various programming in mental health, healing, health equity, environmental justice, and community development.

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Eastside Community Network

For over 37 years the Eastside Community Network has worked tirelessly to develop programs and resources that center the needs of east side residents and amplify their voices with respect to the development of their communities. ECN envisions the east side of Detroit as a community of choice where residents can live, work, play and thrive. ECN will engage a community work group to build a policy advocacy strategy, develop accessible transportation networks to connect resilience hubs, and develop and implement accessible transportation upgrades such as biking infrastructure, micro-mobility, EV charging and EV shuttle retrofits.

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Stay tuned! Additional Greenlining the Block members will be announced throughout 2023!