“It’s too hot to stand at that bus stop in the summer.”
“That sidewalk is unusable when it rains.”
“It doesn’t show up on flood maps, but this road floods in heavy rain.”
There is no replacement for lived experience when it comes to understanding how things like heat, flooding, and poor air quality impact people’s lives. These insights and experiences are essential for identifying lasting and meaningful projects that provide multiple community benefits. But, the land use process isn’t easy to navigate – even for the pros – and figuring out how to engage meaningfully – beyond providing some input – can be a challenge. Through the Climate Safe Neighborhoods (CSN) partnership, our Network is working to not only engage residents in the prioritization of solutions but also create leadership opportunities for residents to participate substantively in every phase of the climate adaptation and land use process.
Groundwork Somerville Paves the Way for Local Climate Champions
This year, Groundwork Somerville launched the Climate Leadership and Resident Action (CLARA) Group to bring together a multi-lingual, multi-generational coalition of East Somerville residents to work collaboratively to address urgent environmental challenges. This 10-month, bilingual (English/Spanish) creates an opportunity for community members to do a deep dive into pressing environmental challenges – like heat, stormwater flooding, and poor air quality – learn about potential solutions, and create a plan for taking action. Recognizing that one size does not fit all, CLARA creates opportunities for members to design personalized action plans that draw on the collective vision and ideas of the group to address the challenges most directly impacting their lives.
Groundwork Denver’s Civic Learning Lab Drives Local Advocacy
Traditional advocacy methods can feel intimidating or out of reach for many, leaving people unsure how to make their voices heard or spark real change. Groundwork Denver’s Civic Learning Lab is designed to equip residents with the tools, support, and platform they need to advocate for issues affecting them, their families, and their neighbors.
Over the course of 10 weeks, this paid, intergenerational program bridges the gap between everyday community challenges—like food insecurity, extreme heat, and flooding—and the broader planning processes that shape neighborhoods. Through this experience, participants gain hands-on training in community organizing, shaping public policy, and even “artivism”—activism through art—to creatively express their concerns and push for meaningful solutions.
Groundwork San Diego’s Resident Leaders Fellowship Amplifies Community Voices
Residents often lack a seat at the table when decisions are made about the challenges they face daily, which can lead to solutions that ignore their real needs and concerns. When decision-makers are disconnected from the lived experiences of local residents, policies may overlook critical issues like flooding, heat, or inadequate infrastructure.
Groundwork San Diego created the Resident Leaders Fellowship Program to provide residents with the tools and support they need to step into these decision-making spaces. The program strengthens neighborhood councils and planning boards, empowering local leaders to advocate for nature-based solutions in city capital improvement plans. By involving residents directly in shaping policies, Groundwork San Diego ensures that the voices of those most impacted by climate challenges are heard and their experiences are reflected in decisions that will ultimately shape the future of their communities.
Incorporating the lived experiences of residents into planning processes is key to creating meaningful, sustainable solutions. The Climate Safe Neighborhoods program has been a game-changer in this effort, giving residents the tools, support, and platforms they need to take an active role in shaping their neighborhoods and their futures.
