Greetings Community!

I hope this finds you enjoying all the beautiful summer has to offer. Maybe it’s the beach, half-day Fridays, amusement parks, or even just working outside (or minus the work because we are self care supporters, yes!).  In whatever ways you choose to enjoy the summer months, I hope it has provided a positive balance of appreciation, rest and restoration that enable each of us to continue our collective work. Since you last heard from us, a lot has been moving along positively and I am so excited to share these updates with you. On June 16, People's Climate Innovation Center turned one! While our overall work spans about nine years, this marks the first year of our own brand identity evolved and grown from program to organization. We are in awe of all we’ve accomplished in this time and know it would not have been possible without the guidance, support, advice and ongoing commitment from our abundant community. Our work would not be possible without all of our amazing funders, who’ve rocked with us and supported our vision from the start–big thanks to The Kresge Foundation, the Energy Foundation, the Waverly Street Foundation, the Barr Foundation, Tilia Fund, The California Endowment, the JPB Foundation, and NRDC! We thank you all for staying the course with us and look forward to all that future years will bring. For now, here are a few highlights from the last quarter below! 

1. Sounding the Call: Community Climate Shift II convening: In May, we touched down in Philadelphia for the second Sounding the Call: Community Climate Shift convening. The purpose of the convening was to increase alignment, coordination, role clarity, and shared practice as we move from the design phase to the implementation phase of Community Climate Shift. With the recent announcement of $5 million in RECI funding to support CCS efforts to move more philanthropic dollars to community-led work, the convening was timely and provided much-needed space to ideate and continue strengthening our approach. Keep reading below for a more in depth recap of our time. 

2. The first YBCL Dream Lab: As many of you know, Young Black Climate Leaders (YBCL) is Climate Innovation’s flagship program. YBCL launched in 2020 at the height of the pandemic and out of the clear need following racial justice uprisings and a need to support and resource our beautiful beloved Black Diaspora, especially young Black people working at the many intersections of climate justice in their communities. Three years later, and we finally made the first in-person YBCL event happen! Truly a celebratory moment for such an essential program that dreamed BIG with determination to make it past year one despite the odds of the moment. Our newest cohort of leaders, intergenerational advisors and alum gathered in Chicago for connection and community building, workshops to support their ongoing projects, and site visits to show the richness and legacy of Chicago’s Hyde Park/Woodlawn community. See the convening recap below for all the exciting details and our group photo! 

3. YCLC 2024 cohort application open: I’m also excited to share what you may already know: the application for our 2024 Young Climate Leaders of Color cohort is now live! YCLC is YBCL’s sibling program (si, porque familia es todo) and was launched to honor the vital vastness of cross cultural power and solidarity in leading together toward our liberation to continue supporting the next generation of climate leaders through radical transformation by building a national network of young leaders of color who are learning, growing, and advancing climate justice work in their own communities. The application is open until September 22 at 11:59 pm pacific time. Learn more, share and apply here. 

4. Grateful to be Growing and Glowing  - Climate Innovation team expansion: I shared upcoming arrivals in our newsletter, but am now happy to share that Victoria Martinez joined us as Director of Operations on May 22 and Amber Washington joined the team June 1 as Events & Operations Manager! Learn more about Vic and Amber below! 

Continue reading below for a deeper dive into what is mentioned above as well as some additional exciting updates and announcements. Until the next newsletter! 

In solidarity,
Corrine and the Climate Innovation Team 

Attended multiple VPS sessions in 2022-2023? You are also eligible to apply to become a NACRP certified facilitator of community-driven planning! 

Application launch date: Tuesday, August 22nd, visit nacrp.org to access the application on this date 

The NACRP Facilitator Certification Program is for you if you:

1. Attended 3+ workshops in the 2022-2023  VISION | POWER | SOLUTIONS online series.
2. Are accountable to a frontline community. [In this context, accountability means having a direct and trusting relationship, deep commitment, follow-through, and deference to a given community-based organization, or resident population in a frontline community. Frontline communities are directly impacted by a range of economic, environmental, and social issues resulting from racialized oppression and/or economic exploitation.]
3. Are interested in deepening your practice as a community-based facilitator and practitioner of community-driven planning.
4. Have the opportunity to carry out some form of community-driven planning (at any scale) in 2024.

Those who complete the 9-month program will become a NACRP certified facilitator and be invited to opt-into our national referral network of community-based facilitators experienced in community-driven planning. The purpose of the referral network is to ensure that localities are able to connect with and contract "certified" facilitators accountable to frontline communities in their region.

For any questions or for more information, please contact Chantal Madray, NACRP Program Manager at Chantal@climateinnovation.net.

We are excited to share a Save the Date for a Summit on Climate and Environmental Justice, Racism, and the Law on November 16-17 in Durham, North Carolina.

Hosted by Taproot Earth's Just Transition Lawyering Network, this will be a space for frontline advocates, lawyers, and scholars–particularly those working on climate, environmental, energy, water, and land justice–to come together, share information, engage in political and legal education, build consensus around law and organizing strategies, and advance just solutions rooted in Civil Rights and Black Liberation.
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Registration and applications for travel stipends will open on August 29. Registration is required as space is limited. COVID-19 vaccination and masking will be required for in-person participation. More details available here.