At Dream.Org, we bring people together across racial, social, and partisan lines. We will work with anyone willing to be a part of the solution, even if we disagree. Through our Justice, Tech, and Green For All programs, we are working towards an America with fewer people behind bars, less pollution, and greater opportunities for underserved communities.
While we dream of a world beyond pollution, we know that this dream cannot be a reality until we prioritize the communities most impacted by climate change. The Green for All team is working to ensure that, as the green economy grows, all communities will benefit from good jobs, better health, and increased opportunity. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HHrQl9erzQ&feature=youtu.be
The Green For All Mission
Now that Congress has approved billions of dollars for green infrastructure investments, Green For All is working with federal, state, and local leaders to ensure that this funding gets to the communities that need it most — America’s communities of color.
- Black and African American individuals have a 40% higher likelihood of residing in areas with the highest projected increases in mortality rates caused by climate-driven extreme temperature changes. Furthermore, Black and African American individuals are 34% more likely to live in areas with the highest projected increases in childhood asthma diagnoses resulting from climate-driven changes in particulate air pollution.
- Hispanic and Latino individuals have a 43% higher likelihood of residing in areas with the greatest projected labor hour losses in weather-exposed industries due to climate-driven increases in high-temperature days. Additionally, they are 50% more likely to live in coastal areas with the highest projected increases in traffic delays caused by climate-driven changes in high-tide flooding.
To begin making meaningful progress on eliminating these disparities, we must reimagine how climate investments are allocated.
By expanding the green economy to be more inclusive, we can make the solutions to climate change an opportunity to invest in the communities most impacted by it.
In the next decade, Green For All aims to secure up to $178B in federal climate investment for underserved communities and an additional $50B in contracts for minority-owned businesses.
What Green For All is working on
The Green For All team is working diligently to address the disproportionate effects of the climate crisis on America’s communities of color from many angles, including:
To have a just transition to the green economy, we must advocate for climate investments to not only improve the health and well-being of these communities but also create equitable access to the work and wealth opportunities that the green transition promises. Through our work with leaders at the federal and state levels, we are changing this by supporting policies and programs that will create cleaner, healthier communities.
- Green Jobs & Entrepreneurship. By bringing Black and Brown communities into the conversation, we seek to create a more inclusive green economy.
To achieve this, we've launched:
- Clean Energy Scholarship Program to help more individuals - particularly those in communities of color - take a first step towards a green future, whether getting an education or launching a business.
The Dream.Org Business Council uplifts Black and Brown entrepreneurs, fosters innovation in the green sector, and encourages cross-sector collaboration. (Pictured) Members of the Dream.Org Business Council convene at Black Future Weekend.
- Transforming Communities. No one knows what a community needs better than the community itself. That’s why Dream.Org launched the Transformative Communities initiative. With our community-based approach, we are engaging with ten priority communities to help them unlock federal climate dollars that meet their unique needs. This year we will be in Fresno, CA; Washington D.C.; Denver, CO; Miami-Dade, FL; Detroit, MI; Las Vegas, NV; Riverside + San Bernardino, CA; Lumbee River, NC; Savannah, GA; and Richmond, CA.
Dream.Org staff at the launch event of Live Green or Die Tryin' campaign. It’s time to make sure this historic $369 billion in IRA funding benefits communities while tackling climate change.
- Raising Awareness. According to recent studies, approximately only 1 in 3 people know about the Inflation Reduction Act, which provides a historic opportunity to tackle climate change and advance equity at the same time. Dream.Org is working to change that through our Live Green or Die Tryin' campaign, which is raising awareness about the $369 billion in climate investments that the IRA provides. But education is only the first step.
- Telling the story of climate change by centering communities. By employing empathy-based communication and storytelling, we amplify the voices of people in the climate movement to impact change.
Wondering how you can help? Here are two actions you can take right now
- Ignite Change: Share Your Climate Solutions Today! The climate crisis impacts low-income and minority communities hardest. But now, the Live Green Or Die Tryin' campaign empowers us to fight back and demand justice. With $369B in climate investments unlocked, it's our historic chance to uplift the affected communities. To make this happen, we need your voice. Share your climate solutions and shape the future of your community.
- Green Funds For All: Demand equitable climate financing now! Don't let underserved communities be overlooked again. Join us in urging the implementation of equity-focused energy policies and the allocation of climate investments to vulnerable communities. Act against the devastating consequences of inaction on climate justice. Sign the petition and promote climate justice in climate financing with your voice. Together, we can ensure a just and sustainable tomorrow.
Dream.Org in the We Don’t Have Time community
We are excited to be a part of the We Don’t Have Time community, where we can share more about our work and connect with companies and individuals around the world who are dedicated to creating a more sustainable future for all.
Please watch Jessie Buendia, VP of Sustainability and Green for All National Director, Dream.Org at The Climate Hub at SXSW. Hear Jessie speak about the landmark climate legislation, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the need to take action on climate change.
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Fighting for climate change calls for collaborative approach
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Thanks for sharing this, @Dream_Org. A question: Why, in your opinion, is it so hard to explain the Inflation Reduction Act? I read in your article that only 1 in 3 people know about it!
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@markus_lutteman_141 Hi Markus! Brooke here with Dream.Org. I think the reasoning for this is a bit subjective, but from my perspective there are a few contributing issues: 1) the complexity of the legislation itself and variety of programs, 2) barriers around political literacy and news burnout, and 3) the crowded digital environment that tailors news/content to align with tracked individual interests. I think we are seeing the community of people who are concerned about climate change expand as impacts are more widely felt. However, many of those folks are not "early adopters" like many of us on this platform. We've been working to break down those communications barriers so that education around climate solutions reaches everyone - especially those who may have been cut out of the conversation or hadn't tuned in yet. Those are my ideas, of course - interested to hear what others think! [The approximately 1 in 3 statistic was pulled from this analysis by the way https://www.climatechangecommunication.org/all/who-is-most-supportive-of-the-inflation-reducation-act/]
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We should unite for better climate
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What a fantastic mission! It's great to see organisations working to embed inclusivity in the green transition. 💚 So far, which of your initiatives have proven to be more popular and/or impactful?
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@sarah_chabane Our most impactful work thus far has definitely been investing in disadvantaged communities by providing pathways for people of color to begin or advance their careers in the clean energy sector through scholarships, fellowships, and training opportunities. We are currently laying the groundwork at the federal and local levels to achieve major wins for climate equity in the near future! As you can imagine, effective regulatory advocacy, community engagement, and program develop all take time - and we want to make sure we're doing it the right way. Stay tuned for more updates on how we're making sure no one is left behind in the green transition!
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We all need to work together towards achieving a solution to climate change
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What climate solutions do underserved communities need the most?
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@tom_simpson We think communities should be the ones to decide what's best for them. That's why we advocate for policies that have robust community engagement measures and are coming alongside communities to make sure they have a say in how green technologies are deployed.
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Indeed we should all fight for a better future
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Excited to have Dream.Org in the We Don't Have Time community!