Climate Justice in Providence 2016-2021
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation.
Providence Green Justice Zones
2019-2021
1SW was hired by the Racial Environmental Justice Committee (REJC), to work with the Providence Office of Sustainability and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) to convene a cohort of BIPOC community members in Olneyville and South Providence. Together, they created the framework for a decision-making panel that is accountable to their neighborhood through deep democracy, and has the power to affect the outcomes of projects, developments and policies that impact the health and ability of residents to live well. It also resulted in the allocation by participatory budgeting of $1 million dollars from Providence's capital improvement plan budget towards an accessible waterfront, and a mutual aid resiliency hub.
Picture from the Providence Climate Justice Plan, Fall 2019.
Picture from the Providence Climate Justice Plan, Fall 2019.
The Future Stories Project
ART AS STRATEGY. In collaboration with the Racial and Environmental Justice Committee (REJC) of the City of Providence, our work resulted in the development of the Providence Climate Justice Plan, the first in the nation, and was awarded the Current Topic Award for Resilience Planning in 2019 from the American Planning Association. As part of this work, we led The Future Stories Project, a series of audio narratives by the members of REJC and residents of the City of Providence.
Aquí todo le mundo me conoce.
Residente inquilnx de Providence.
I've been in and around for 30 years.
Resident and renter of Providence.
“Our work in collaboration with the Racial and Environmental Justice Committee (REJC) in the City of Providence, resulted in the development of the Providence Climate Justice Plan (the first in the nation) and was awarded the 2019 Current Topic Award for Resilience Planning from the American Planning Association.”
One Square World Team
Providence Climate Justice Plan 2018-2019
1SW worked for two years with the City of Providence, the Racial Environmental Justice Committee, and Providence communities on the Carbon Neutral City with an equity lens project for the City of Providence. Our process resulted in the development of the City’s Climate Justice Plan, the first in the nation and now considered a north star for collaborative climate justice work.
Providence Equity in Sustainability Process
2016-2017
1SW worked with the City of Providence and communities of color in Providence to develop a process for co-creating an equitable sustainability agenda that can serve as a model for prioritizing equity throughout at all levels of local government.
Members of REJC present their recommendations to City of Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza and the Environmental Sustainability Task Force. Standing from left to right: Vatic Kuumba, Lucy Rios, Paul Taveras, Monica Huertas and Jesus Holguin. Providence, RI. 2017.
This process set up the structure for the Providence Racial and Environmental Justice Committee (REJC) and resulted in the adoption of the Framework for a Just Providence by the City of Providence.
Vatic’s work demonstrates our team’s ability to create meaning through connection and cultural expression, a method of engagement that leads to understanding systemic concepts.