4 Black-Owned Environmental Organizations

One of the greatest gifts to give the next generation is a world that is clean and conducive for sustaining healthier communities and landscapes regardless of a person or place’s demographics. Historically, climate change has been seen as an undertaking initiated by the elite. But that’s a fallacy because grassroots organizations and foundations have always played a major role in fighting for sustaining healthy communities and protecting land, and even the Earth. Social justice, environmental justice, and researching the impact of climate change is not just a political matter, but rather a circumstance that impacts all of humanity. And this Earth Week, we wanted to highlight four Black-Led Environmental organizations that are actively empowering the next generation to make a mark in environmental activism by providing resources to combat environmental issues, creating opportunities for community-based environmental activism, or empowering the next generation of environmental activists and scholars in the area of climate change.

Frank Ski Kids

For the past two decades, the Frank Ski Kids Foundation has empowered the next generation by providing scholars in the DMV and Atlanta areas the opportunity to travel the world to experience first-hand science exploration and the impacts of climate change on the region that they travel to. Founded by radio host Frank Ski, the program aims to “use the [travel] experiences as a vehicle for a student’s character development, influence their academic path and to gain a broader perspective of our global community and their impact on the world”. This year, after holding competitions in both Washington, DC and Atlanta, Frank Ski and the Frank Ski Kids Foundation as a part of their “2024 Planet Green Science Expedition” will be taking 10 scholars, ages 13-15, to Australia to study the impact of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef, as an all-expense paid trip to doing immersive research. This year’s scholars include Jayla Nicholas (New York City), Austin Gill (Washington, DC), Amiel Atwater-Grey (Washington, DC), Zayda Sanda (Washington, DC), Ava McCune (Newark, NJ), Jason Adeyemi (Atlanta, GA), Laila Coleman (Atlanta, GA), Neil Sethi (Atlanta), Valeria Gomez (Atlanta, GA) and Namir Gaskin (Atlanta, Georgia). Foundations like the Frank Ski Kids Foundation are truly doing the work by placing kids in the real world globally to impact change.

Visit Frankskikids to learn more, and DONATE HERE.

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Harlem Grown

Harlem Grown epitomizes all of the good that can come with providing inner-city kids and families the opportunity to participate in urban farming and cultivating sustainable communities. Founded by Tony Hillery in response to address health and academic challenges faced by elementary school students in Harlem. In its first year HIllery partnered with 400 students to plant 400 seedlings, and now Harlem Grown has expanded to include a partnership with several local Harlem schools and “has grown more than 6,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables that have been distributed to families in need.” Not only does the original Harlem Grown garden have a library that gifts large amounts of the latest age-appropriate books to kids and teens; it also has summer camps, a mobile kitchen, hosts events throughout the Harlem community and so much more. Kids even get the opportunity to tend to chickens in a chicken coop. HarlemGrown is the type of foundation that is truly hands-on within the community that it impacts.

Visit Harlem Grown to learn more, and DONATE HERE.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/C58vCliC8Qw/

Uprose

Uprose is an intergenerational organization that champions climate justice in historically marginalized, underserved Black and Latino communities. While Uprose has many initiatives and programs in place, the organization’s mission is also to empower the next generation to use their voice in communities that need it most. Uprose promotes youth leadership and has several programs like a Climate Justice Summer Fellows program and a Climate Justice Youth Summit that facilitate in empowering the next generation of environmental and social justice advocates. Additionally, Uprose has trained more than 250 youth leaders in the past 5 years, held 8 NYC Youth Climate Justice summits, and planted more than 300 trees.

Visit Uprose to learn more, and DONATE HERE.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/C4rTra4STbt/?hl=en&img_index=1

Youth vs Apocalypse

Youth Vs Apocalypse is a youth-focused collective that actively centers kids and teens in the fight for social justice and climate justice. Their mission is to build a world in which “marginalized communities are not seen as disposable”. Youth vs Apocalypse partners with educators in an attempt to make climate change education more accessible. Additionally, programs like “Hip Hop and Climate Justice” , “CA Youth Vs. Big Oil”, and “The Sunflower Project” allow the youth to gain first-hand experience in activism while helping to hone their character development skills.

Visit Youth Vs Apocalypse to learn more, and DONATE HERE.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/C6B-TpsRAHV/