As the world’s climate crisis accelerates, residents in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties need to adapt to a future that is endangering their communities. But many residents – particularly those with low income, people of color and Black and Indigenous communities – do not have the resources to adapt to factors such as sea-level rise and frequent wildfires. Meanwhile, the changing climate and other environmental conditions influence health outcomes and intersect with many other social issues.
SVCF’s Environment: Community Action Grants Program aims to fund organizations that demonstrate understanding of environmental policy processes and are defining pathways for communities of color and undocumented status to participate. In this focus area, SVCF will support BIPOC-led and allied organizations whose leaders are Black, Indigenous or people of color – or their allies – that are building the power of communities most impacted by environmental disparities. These organizations should be creating roles for community in the design and implementation of solutions to change environmental policy and build a resilient and just environment for all.