California’s community leaders have a vision to confront the climate crisis with reciprocity, interconnectedness, and inclusivity. Climate Science Alliance Director of Community Resilience, Althea Walker, joined four fellow leaders in sharing this vision with The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Find the article and hear from the leaders themselves in a video, on today’s blog.
California’s community leaders have a vision to confront the climate crisis with reciprocity, interconnectedness, and inclusivity. The Climate Science Alliance’s Director of Community Resilience, Althea Walker, joined fellow leaders from Alianza Coachella Valley, Asian Pacific Environmental Network, Hoopa Valley Public Utilities District, and Humboldt Area Foundation’s Redwood CORE Hub in sharing our vision as part of an article published by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, with support from The California Endowment.
Althea Walker, director of community resilience for Climate Science Alliance, supports Indigenous-led climate action and knowledge-sharing among Tribal leaders, scientists, and community members. She emphasizes what inclusion looks like in practice.
“ It means…allowing other knowledge systems to come to the table, to talk about co-stewardship and [land] management practices. We need relationship-building opportunities to build that trust and regain that trust, especially when you think about the mistrust and the history of our communities with the U.S. government. Trust-building is needed before we can even talk about co-stewardship and working together closely. ”
Walker also describes how people power drives progress: community collaborations deepen, and grassroots leaders gain greater autonomy to pursue their priorities. She shares,
“We've been able to expand our network of partners and bring people together. We have more flexibility to pivot without being directed by specific funding that says we have to do this or that based on an agency’s work plan. It's truly about the communities and what they want to do.”
As philanthropy continues to fund environmental health and justice, funding must be consistent, long term and flexible. Our communities are already advancing the change we all need — it’s philanthropy’s job to follow and support community leadership.
Read more about what that looks like when it comes to climate justice in “Community Power is the Key to Climate Resiliency in California”, from The Chronicle of Philanthropy.
Check out this video to learn how our grassroots leaders are driving climate action, building resiliency in our communities, and transforming harmful systems by working together.
Thank you to The California Endowment for their generous support of our visions and advancing this important narrative.