I give thanks for my mother, for the people, for the planet, and for the powers that be that allow me to experience and be here with you in word and in spirit.
February 28-March 1, 2025, I had the opportunity and honor to participate in the One Florida: Part 2 Environmental Summit in Orlando, Florida on behalf of Black Sustainability, Inc. as a former intern and current member.
Held in Parramore - a historically and presently segregated neighborhood in Orlando of residents of African descent - discussions and workshops focused on promoting environmental issues in Florida were conducted from intergenerational, intercultural, and interdisciplinary perspectives. Around 40 community activists, academics, professionals, and concerned residents shared insights on some of the most pressing issues in their communities including structural racism, polluted waterbodies, displacement of black communities due to rising sea levels and flooding or ‘climate gentrification,’ and disproportionate amounts of municipal incinerators in black/brown communities.
The first iteration of the summit in 2024 was postponed twice due to extreme weather events, with many believing it would get cancelled all together – but no. Similarly, this iteration of the summit became threatened by federal administration/funding changes, but likewise - the organizers did what they had to do to keep it happening, despite having to change the name of the summit. What the Florida Environmental (Justice) Summit went through is very symbolic of what people and communities of African descent, especially in the United States, continuously go through, being disproportionately exposed to and impacted by environmental catastrophes, and being deliberately and violently threatened and attacked by racist and classist social groups. How the summit responded, to both disruptions, demonstrates a path our ancestors have taken and the path we must continue to take – to resist but to still persist.
Our resilience has to be our own requirement.
Black Sustainability Inc. - with its global network, educational institute, training programs, and outreach events - offers a much needed service and solution for our people to not only connect and collaborate to confront the environmental and social destructions that plague our communities, but to also celebrate in the power and beauty of community and culture, despite the injustices we may face. When convenings and conferences end, BSI presents a sustained platform for continued conversation, cooperative work, and collective action within core focus areas of sustainability that will allow our people to persevere and persist.
They can take the funding out of the movement, but they can’t take the movement out of the people. They can take away programs, policies, and positions, but they can never take away the will, the heart, and the resilience of the people.
And so, the work continues.
Though what the work is called may change…Black & Green we were, Black & Green we are, and Black & Green we remain.
A full recap of the event and resources can also be found below:
Friday - FEB 28 Community Resilience Planning:
10 Year Strategic Plan Overview - Dr. Jacquelynn Hairston, Founder Project S.W.A.N.
One Florida Environmental Summit Part I Summary - Sierra Taliaferro (ppt attached)
Florida Group Discussion: five water management districts Discussion - Dr. Richard D. Schulterbrandt, Environmental Science & Policy Professor -Florida A & M University School of the Environment (Tallahassee, FL)
WE RiSE: Teaching Home Energy Renovation - Stephen Guesman
Brownfields Ambassador Program- University of South Florida Center for Brownfields Research & Redevelopment - Dr. Christian Wells & students (ppt attached)
Saturday - Day Two Session: BUILDING A MOVEMENT & FILLING THE GAPS
REACT4 - Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center - Damian Kahamba (Tallahassee, FL)
University of Miami: Environmental Justice Law Clinic - Abigail Flemming, Esq. and Precious Gift Makuyana > PPT: The EJ Movement During Trump - Navigating Executive Orders and Call to Action resources
Top Issues identified
RESILIENCE: Climate disasters, Flooding (reservoirs in underserved communities), sea level rise, Extreme heat/heat, stormwater runoff, Infrastructure (addressing weaknesses to withstand future challenges), Community gardens (children, youth, elderly), Agritourism, Access to green spaces, Tree canopy/ green spaces, Education and outreach (especially in underserved communities).
RESTORATION: Soil contamination, contaminated sites, tree canopy/ green spaces, remediation in the community/communities, Water pollution, Mistreated aquifers, Biodiversity in shorelines, Coastal erosion, Air quality/carbon emissions, Lake health, Natural pest management.
SUSTAINABILITY: Clean energy, Solar farms for clean energy, Sustainable agriculture/ green spaces for food, Sustainable housing/infrastructure, Green spaces for food, Nature-based solutions, clean energy/ solar panels (managing waste), waste systems, invasive species, sustainable housing/infrastructure.
EQUITY: Access to food/food security, food access, affordable housing, affordable housing/gentrification. culturally relevant resources, Access to healthcare. Education/outreach in underserved communities, access to green spaces, industrial in residential spaces, prison conditions, Gentrification/climate gentrification, overdevelopment
Community gardens (children, youth, elderly).
EMPOWERMENT: Informal education, community gardens (children, youth, elderly), empowering local residents to manage green spaces and community gardens, Resilience hub initiatives (training and involvement of local community stakeholders and citizen science)
RESOURCES & FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIPS AND RESOURCES
University of South Florida - Center for Brownfields Research & Development
Community Resource List 2025 (attached PDF): A comprehensive list of available resources and data rescue sets, safeguarding funding and grant searching tools
FL Brownfields Association: Environmental Justice & Public Health Committee - Belinda Williams-Collins > (PPT attached): FBA One Florida Summit 2): Overview of the Florida Brownfields Association and outreach efforts to reach all 67 FL counties.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY:
Thriving Communities Grantmakers Program - upcoming deadline April 30th, 2025 (see Notice of Funding Opportunity for details)
One-Pager: TCGM Region 4 Grantmakers Follow Grantmakers on Social Media: LinkedIn - Facebook - Instagram
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