As the new year begins, we find ourselves at a critical moment for anyone invested in community-led environmental action and in building a greener, more resilient future. With resources shrinking while demand grows, working together across communities and organizations is essential to our success.

At Groundwork, our work to create green, healthy, just, and resilient neighborhoods is grounded in the belief that collaborating—across generations, blocks, sectors, and systems—is the only way forward. Through our work, we build the partnerships needed to:

1. Create Thriving and Resilient Neighborhoods — transforming neglected land and waterways into community assets that reduce environmental harms, increase community wealth, and create new opportunities for joy and connection outdoors.
2. Strengthen Community-Rooted Leadership — building community power through leadership development, organizing, and collective action, engaging community leaders of all ages in local governance systems.
3. Expand Pathways to Opportunity — creating pathways to economic opportunities through education, training, and skill-building programs that prepare community members for good jobs while simultaneously strengthening the local economy.

This commitment to partnership transcends every level of our Network. Groundwork Affiliates—our place-based partners—drive transformation through deep-rooted local relationships, community power-building, and local action. Groundwork USA amplifies this impact by facilitating collaboration, shared learning, and national partnerships that remove barriers and expand what’s working. Together, we coordinate resources, scale proven strategies, and channel our strengths into national impact.

This work is powerful because it is rooted in many communities and carried forward as a Network. We are at our best when we work together and draw on the unique skills and lived experiences that make up our broader community to chart a path forward. This is how we transform our many roots into one, stronger movement.

****

Right now, exciting work is taking shape across the country—we’re advancing climate resilience, expanding our urban forestry efforts, providing more opportunities for young people, and supporting community-led brownfield transformation. We’re leaning into our collective strengths to deepen this work and grow healthier, greener, and more just neighborhoods together. Join us in growing this movement.