{"id":4310,"date":"2015-12-09T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-12-09T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/weact.org\/updates\/we-act-receives-660000-grant-from-the-kresge-foundation-for-climate-work\/"},"modified":"2026-02-16T19:44:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T00:44:19","slug":"we-act-receives-660000-grant-from-the-kresge-foundation-for-climate-work","status":"publish","type":"update","link":"https:\/\/weact.org\/es\/updates\/we-act-receives-660000-grant-from-the-kresge-foundation-for-climate-work\/","title":{"rendered":"WE ACT receives $660,000 grant from The Kresge Foundation for Climate Work"},"template":"","class_list":["post-4310","update","type-update","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","update_type-press-release","person_tax-peggy-shepard"],"acf":{"details":{"":null,"featured_image":5221,"update_type":[366],"focus_area":false,"authors":[232],"abstract":""},"page_layout":[{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_wysiwyg":{"content":"

For Immediate Release<\/strong>
\r\nDecember 9, 2015
\r\nWE ACT for Environmental Justice, 212-961-1000 ext. 320 communications@weact.org<\/p>\r\n

HARLEM, NY– WE ACT for Environmental Justice has been awarded a grant of $660,000, over three years, to implement the Northern Manhattan Climate Action Plan, a plan developed over a seven-month period in 2015 with participation from more than 200 public- and private-sector stakeholders, including academic partners, government and elected officials, independent researchers, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and northern Manhattan residents.<\/p>\r\n

The plan, the development of which was also funded by The Kresge Foundation, seeks to make the neighborhoods of East, Central, and West Harlem and Washington Heights and Inwood more resilient to the negative effects of climate change. To achieve this, the plan will create four community-driven working groups that correspond with the priorities identified by residents who participated in the planning phase. These are–in order of community priority–energy security, emergency preparedness, community place-making, and civic participation.<\/p>\r\n

In receiving this grant, WE ACT joins with 11 other nonprofit organizations nationwide working to influence how local and regional policy addresses the effects of climate change on vulnerable communities and advance solutions that better reflect the needs of underrepresented people in U.S. cities. Examples of expected outcomes include stronger energy efficiency policies, disaster-preparedness plans and carbon-reduction strategies as well as more robust social cohesion that can bond communities together during crises.<\/p>\r\n

\u201cWe are thrilled to receive this grant from The Kresge Foundation to fund implementation of the community\u2019s climate plan of action,\u201d said Peggy Shepard, co-founder and executive director of WE ACT. \u201cThis support is indispensable to leading a robust process that helps community residents achieve their identified goals. The planning support we received from The Kresge Foundation alone has already helped us to influence City policy around community resilience and elevate a strong model of community engagement.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\r\n

To promote energy security for low-income households, the plan\u2019s highest priority, WE ACT seeks to reform City policy in order to achieve a resilient and sustainable energy infrastructure by removing financial, administrative, and legal barriers to entry for microgrid development and participation. Briefly, these policy objectives are:<\/p>\r\n