The Greenlining Institute

The first Earth Day was in 1970, and since then we’ve seen so much change when it comes to the climate and our fight for environmental justice. While many formerly redlined neighborhoods continue to bear the burdens of transportation pollution due to decades of racist policies, more and more community-based organizations are stepping forward to build climate-resilient infrastructure to reduce pollution and connect local residents to economic opportunities. Since launching Greenlining the Block in 2023, we’ve had the privilege of working with 24 groups across the country and a very interesting trend emerged – many of these frontline organizations started focusing their efforts on transportation and cleaner mobility options for their communities. They’re making incredible progress and collectively have secured more than $77M in future investments. But who better to explain the importance of community-led mobility equity programs than our community partners themselves? So, we put together this short video to share why Greenlining the Block cohort members are making clean mobility solutions a priority in their communities. Learn more about #GreenliningTheBlock by visiting https://lnkd.in/gnNwgAYb Special thank you to our Greenlining the Block partners over at Little Manila Rising, CASA FAMILIAR INC, and Equiticity.

State Departments of Transportation control the majority of federal infrastructure funding and continue to invest in highways—leading to more pollution, increased car dependency, and worse traffic congestion. The worst consequences of this fall on communities of color who are left with over polluted neighborhoods and less transit options. "Because the states continue to operate under the status quo of devoting most of this federal funding to roads and highways, [the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law] wasn't really the transformative moment that it could have been," said Hana Creger, Associate Director of Climate Equity for Greenlining Institute, which is helping to lead the Network. "[We needed to] figure out how we could make reforms in these states, in a way that is shifting funds from highways to walking, biking, public transit, and electrification, while centering equity and the communities that are most underserved." Thank you Kea Wilson from Streetsblog USA for this important coverage. Read the full article to learn more about the the Clean RIDES Network: https://lnkd.in/gEt-NdMg

Today, we honor the life and legacy of César E. Chávez—civil rights icon, labor leader, and co-founder of the United Farm Workers. Alongside Dolores Huerta, Larry Itliong and many thousands more, their tireless fight for dignity, equity, and justice for farm workers is not just history. It’s a present-day call to action. As we navigate this political era marked by threats to our communities, to economic and climate justice, and to our hard-fought civil rights, Chávez’s legacy is instructive and essential. He showed us that grassroots power and collective action can confront systemic injustices—and win. For our Interim President and CEO, Olga Talamante, this legacy is personal. She was awarded the César E. Chávez Legacy Award in 2017—a tribute to her early life as a farmworker in Gilroy, her organizing roots with the UFW in Watsonville, and her activism in the historic grape and lettuce boycotts as a student at UC Santa Cruz. In this photo from July 1973, Olga introduces Chávez at a student-led rally in a powerful moment that captures the solidarity that shapes and upholds our movements. Years later, when Olga was unjustly imprisoned in Argentina for her activism, the UFW stood by her side, joining the campaign that helped bring her home on March 28, 1976. At Greenlining, Chávez’s legacy lives on in our work to continue centering race and equity in everything we do. The work of Chávez, and the fearless leaders that fought alongside him, teaches us that justice is not a moment, it is a movement. One built on compassion, courage, and collective action.

Federal bank regulatory agencies just announced their intent to rescind the Community Reinvestment Act rule finalized in 2023, an update to the nation’s anti-redlining law that was informed by years of input from community advocates, financial institutions, and civil rights leaders. https://lnkd.in/gJJr_NW3 Let’s be clear: this is a dangerous and deeply disappointing move. The 2023 CRA final rule was designed to modernize and strengthen a law that has helped combat redlining and ensure that banks meet the credit needs of low- and moderate-income communities. The update was grounded in the original intent of the CRA—to halt the practice of denying financial services to communities on the basis of race and drive investment where it’s needed most. Our financial system has changed dramatically since the CRA was last updated more than 30 years ago. Rescinding the updated rule will set the CRA back to the 1990s, not the present day economic reality. This would be a direct blow to the communities of color and underserved neighborhoods who depend on a strong CRA to access affordable housing, small business loans, and critical community investments—financial services that, for decades, financial institutions denied them. At Greenlining, we will not stay silent while federal agencies buckle under the Trump administration’s anti-equity pressure. We will continue to demand racially-conscious, equity-first policies that protect our communities and strengthen our economy. If the federal government won’t step up, states like California have the opportunity to lead the way. It’s time for a stronger California state CRA. #OCC #CRA #RacialEquity

Communities of color bear the worst consequences of transportation decisions that prioritize highways and gas-powered vehicles over clean, equitable mobility options—facing higher pollution rates and fewer transit options.  That’s why we’re proud to join 100+ organizations in launching the Clean RIDES Network, a coalition pushing for state-level solutions that: 🚆 Expand affordable and accessible public transit in communities of color 🔋 Make clean vehicles affordable & easy to charge 🌱 Cut carbon pollution at a multi-gigaton scale While the federal government tries to stall clean transportation progress, states can lead the way in shaping a healthier, more sustainable transportation future. Together, we're making sure policymakers prioritize transportation solutions that are equitable, sustainable, and meet community needs. This work is urgent. And it’s happening now. Learn more: www.cleanridesnetwork.org #CleanRIDES #CleanTransportation #TransportationForAll https://bit.ly/41YCPLG

Rise Economy’s Lobby Day is an imperative opportunity to bring critical issues such as affordable housing, equitable financial systems and disaster resilience to the forefront. Greenlining is proud to have participated yesterday, where Rami Ibrahim, our Sr. Program Coordinator for Economic Equity was able to speak to elected officials about game-changing bills: AB 801 (California’s first Community Reinvestment Act), AB 1365 (CalAccount—no-fee, no-penalty banking for all) and state public banks. #RELobbyDay25 #ResistReinvestRebuild #CRA4CA #AB801 #CalAccount #AB1365 #caleg

The Bronzeville Community Development Partnership (BCDP) in Chicago is proving that local leadership is essential for building lasting climate resilience. Through their innovative efforts to expand electric vehicle access in the historically redlined Bronzeville neighborhood, BCDP is demonstrating what community-led climate investments can achieve. However, recent attempts by the Trump Administration to claw back billions in clean energy funding put essential community-driven initiatives at risk. Yet, BCDP’s work and the #GreenliningtheBlock model shows resilience in action. By mobilizing local knowledge, cultivating diverse funding sources, and championing community-driven models, our partners continue to lead the way. Huge thank you to Audrey Henderson at Canary Media Inc. for amplifying this important issue. Read more about BDCP's work and the challenges they’re overcoming here: https://bit.ly/41BqPQ0

Now is the time to use our voices to ensure use our voices to ensure communities of color are centered in all of California’s policies! ✊🏽 Greenlining is a proud member of the CA Racial Equity Coalition (CREC). Register now to join the first meeting of 2025 this Thursday, 3/20: https://lnkd.in/gRr7CXT4 Together, we’re building a framework that drives long-term racial equity and empowers #BIPOC communities. Join us! NextGen Policy Public Health Advocates Catalyst California

When climate disasters strike, who gets left behind? Too often, it’s low-income communities and communities of color—those who have faced decades of disinvestment and now lack climate-resilient infrastructure and reliable evacuation routes. AB 1132 (Assemblymember Schiavo), The Roads to Resilience Act, co-sponsored by Greenlining and NextGen Policy ensures California’s transportation system protects those most at risk when disaster strikes. By requiring the state to integrate community resilience into transportation planning, this bill assesses the needs of transit-dependent populations, seniors, and people with disabilities—so no one is left behind. Learn more: bit.ly/3DJpvTi

The Trump administration has declared war on #climateequity, our communities, and the environment. Their goal during these first hundred days is to create chaos in effort to destabilize our movement to build a just economy while protecting the earth. Despite their illegal targeting of these climate grants, we will not be dismayed. Our communities know what we need to thrive and we're determine to create our own climate solutions. Be sure to follow Monica Palmeira for GGRF case updates. https://lnkd.in/gkjWGHhz