Hands Up

WORKING GROUPS

The core function of the SCEN working groups (Environmental Justice, FRESH Energy and Faith) 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

Co-Chairs: Jairo Garcia, CEO Urban Climate Nexus; Researcher/Professor Climate Policies and Sustainable Cities

​

Ayo Wilson, NC Climate Justice Collective Fundraising and Finance

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
Image by nega

FAITH 

Co-Chairs: Mel Caraway, Climate Co-Coordinator, Texas Impact/TXIPL Interfaith

​

Nakisa Glover, Founder and Executive Director of Sol Nation

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.

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE 

Co-Chairs: Michael Brown, Executive Director of Sustaining Way

​

Bevelyn Ukah, Youth Food Systems Coordinator at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems

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".