The Racial and Environmental Justice Committee of Providence (REJC) in partnership with the City of Providence, is seeking frontline community members (see definition below) ready to mobilize their communities to make Providence a healthier and more just city. The Community Leader Program is part of a citywide a strategy to help Providence achieve its goal to become a carbon neutral city by 2050.
We welcome all frontline community members currently living in Providence or indigenous people originally from the land known as Providence, who can commit to attending all events in person. Applicants with interpretation, accessibility, or childcare needs are encouraged to apply.
The application is due on May 6. You may apply online here or mail to Leah Bamberger at Office of Sustainability, 25 Dorrance St, Providence, RI 02903.
What is the Community Leader Program?
The goal of the program is to build direct decision-making power over the health and sustainability of frontline communities by supporting a cohort of ten community members to develop energy democracy expertise and to advise the City of Providence in its efforts to transition away from fossil fuels by 2050. It is an eight month program that will engage ten community members from frontline communities of color of Providence–three specifically from the Olneyville/Woonasquatucket Valley area, three from the Port area, and four from anywhere in Providence. Knowledge and experience about environmental issues is welcome, but NOT required.
What is included in the program?
- Training in “energy democracy” and environmental/climate justice.
- Training in racial equity.
- A stipend of $1,000 per member based on attendance and completion of roles.
- Childcare and interpretation, as needed.
- Training in community leadership (facilitation, base building, accountability, time management).
Each Community Leader will be expected to:
- Develop a base of ten or more community members of color from Providence.
- Co-host with other community leaders 2-3 base meetings to both gather share information about carbon neutrality and energy democracy within your community between August and November 2018 (dates TBD).
- Consult with your base members on carbon mitigation and energy democracy options and strategies for Providence.
- Collaborate with the REJC, City planning, and sustainability departments on identifying strategies for carbon mitigation and energy democracy.
- Attend the May 19 Sustain PVD Fair, Community Leader Retreat (August 17-18), September Base Meeting (date TBD), October/November Open Meeting to announce strategy (date TBD).
- Work with the REJC to communicate with community members and make sure community voices are centered in the plan for equitable carbon neutrality for Providence.
“Frontline” communities are communities of color most impacted by the crises of ecology, economy and democracy, including the Indigenous, African-American, Black, Latinx and Southeast Asian communities. There is particular emphasis on people of color who are refugees and immigrants, people with records, speakers of languages other than English, and people who identify as LGBTQ .