The City of Seattle is stepping up its support for projects designed to further the cause of environmental justice, pouring a total of $1.2 million into the efforts of local community-oriented organizations. Announced by the City's Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE), the grants represent the latest initiative to combat the disproportionate impact of climate-related issues on marginalized communities.
In a move to not only acknowledge but actively address the climate crisis' heightened attack on Seattle's frontline communities, Mayor Bruce Harrell highlighted the critical importance of empowering community-driven solutions. "Seattle’s frontline communities are disproportionately experiencing the impacts of the climate crisis like worsening floods, air pollution, and dangerous heat waves," Mayor Harrell said. This fund, which has now been in operation for seven years, aims to build community resilience and enhance climate justice for the city's Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), and low-income residents.
With a diverse range of projects from digital storytelling initiatives on environmental challenges faced by BIPOC elders to programs designed to connect youth with nature and clean energy efforts, the Environmental Justice Fund demonstrates Seattle's prioritization of tailored, local responses to global environmental concerns. Mdigo Kisimbo, Executive Director of Outreach & Transform Lives, stressed the importance of this community-tailored support, stating, "By receiving funds though the EJ Fund, we can utilize digital storytelling to foster a deeper understanding of the environmental challenges that our BIPOC seniors and African immigrant populations face while supporting advocacy for climate resilience and justice."
Speaking to the importance of community-embedded organizations, Ximena Fonseca Morales, the Fund's Program Manager, remarked, "Local organizations embedded in communities deeply understand the needs of their neighbors." These groups are to now be equipped further through OSE's rolling investment, enhancing their capacity to maintain and expand initiatives that have already demonstrated significant impact. Indeed, as OSE announced, past grantees like The Common Acre and Naa káani Native Program will receive continued support for their growing programs, ensuring long-term progress and sustainability.
Among other endeavors, The Backpack Academy's project that educates young adults about sustainable transportation and Beavers Northwest's partnership with ECOSS to raise awareness about local wildlife's role in mitigating climate impact highlight the fund's expansive reach. Emphasizing collaboration and cultural connection, projects under the Environmental Justice Fund are laying the foundations for more inclusive and empowered communities, capable of both confronting climate-related challenges and seizing opportunities for a more just and equitable future. To learn more about the work of these and other EJ Fund grantees, visit the OSE's website and their blog series.
