Hands Up

WORKING GROUPS

The core function of the SCEN working groups (Environmental Justice, FRESH Energy and Southeast Faith Leaders Network) is to provide a forum for sharing ideas and information among SCEN advocates and allies in the Southeast. Serving as a launching pad for strategic collaboration, our purpose is to provide a groundswell of support around issues and initiatives within states and to maximize their impact through leveraged efforts and targeted resources.

Team leads will structure working group discussion, content and resources around the central goal of providing tangible value to SCEN network allies. Building on the success and lessons learned in the SCEN regional network to date, the working group will produce the following outcomes:​

​

Access

  • Provide access to trusted information about climate action strategies, policies, intelligence;

  • Provide access to national tables and campaigns, including strategic conversations

Alignment

  • Create and foster alignment across organizations;

  • Implementation of shared strategies across organizations

Amplification

  • Build the movement of climate action organizations;

  • Develop and promote new ideas and strategies from advocates that work in the southeast political context.

FRESH ENERGY COMMITTEE

Co-Chairs: Michael Hansen, Executive Director, GASP

Jennifer Crosslin, Regional Organizer, Gulf Coast Center for Law and Policy

Main topics:

  1. Energy efficiency and renewables at local, state and regional levels in the Southeast;

  2. Pushing a state-level education/advocacy campaign broadly in support of renewable energy/energy efficiency as a domestic economic engine;

  3. Developing fossil-fuel free plans at the state level;

  4. Electric vehicles.

Image by Jason Blackeye

SOUTHEAST FAITH LEADERS NETWORK (SFLN)

Co-Chairs: Dallas Conyers, Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Manager, SCEN

Jory Fleming Climate Solutions Specialist, Carolinas Integrated Sciences and Assessments (CISA), University of South Carolina

Main topics:

  1. Engaging faith in climate and grassroots climate action; 

  2. Cross-cultural outreach to conservatives; 

  3. Climate change evangelism;

  4. Pressure/partner with major corporations in the region to drive the decarbonization conversation.

Co-Chairs: Kaleia Martin, Environmental Justice Program Coordinator, Youth Empowered Solutions (Charlotte, NC)

Rev. Michael Malcom, Executive Director, People’s Justice Council (Birmingham, AL)

Main topics:

  1. Environmental justice

  2. Climate change impacts on the region

  3. Climate Justice issues;

  4. Low-income energy efficiency;

  5. Energy democracy.

Projects covered:

  1. Asset Mapping tool

  2. Podcast "Climate Justice Y'all". 

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE WORKING GROUP