Building awareness and driving action around Justice, Equity, Inclusion, Diversity and Anti-Racism, both internally and externally, are a significant part of Upstream’s guiding principles. These issues are still deeply rooted in our society, and they are largely connected to the environmental work we do every day. 

That’s why, this Giving Tuesday, we want to show gratitude to organizations doing vital work to solve environmental and social justice issues in marginalized communities around the nation. As you’re considering who you’d like to support today and beyond – whether by donating, joining or following their networks, or spreading the word to others – we hope you will consider giving to a frontline group working tirelessly to create a more a just, equitable and healthy quality of life for underserved communities. 

Below is a select list of groups across the country you can contribute to – but this is by no means comprehensive. We encourage you to research, donate to and/or follow more organizations you feel strongly connected to and help build a more equitable future. Thank you for your support.

Just Transition Alliance

San Diego, CA

The Just Transition Alliance (JTA) serves people of color, Indigenous Peoples and low-income communities living under the threat of polluting industries; and workers in the service, energy, farmworker, and chemical sectors. They focus on community education, awareness and action to ameliorate the lack of knowledge and choice that communities and workers face when dealing with unwarranted toxic trespass. One of JTA's main objectives is shifting toward a sustainable, localized economy that does not compromise people and our environment.

Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition

Detroit, MI

The Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition (MEJC) works to achieve a clean, healthy, and safe environment for Michigan’s most impacted residents. Our organization of 40 members operates within an understanding that the root causes of climate change are racism, capitalism, and the hetero-patriarchy with the impact of these oppressive systems falling on BIPOC and low-income communities. MEJC is taking on threats to EJ communities through our False Solutions and Energy Democracy work. We aim to educate, base build, power build, advocate, and mobilize to limit the impacts of False Solutions and energy monopolies on EJ communities and build a Michigan in which all people can thrive. We are ready to continue our fight against the intersecting systems which pollute our air, oppress our voice, and threaten our future.

Open Buffalo

Buffalo, NY

Open Buffalo is a civic initiative to make major, long-term improvements in justice and equity in the City of Buffalo via collaboration among a diverse group of partners and allies. Their mission is to advance racial, economic, and ecological justice. through skill building, network connecting, and activating leadership opportunities.

Sicangu CDC Community Development Corporation

Rosebud Indian Reservation, SD

As the economic engine of the Siċaŋġu Lak̇ota nation, Siċaŋġu Co’s purpose is to improve the financial and social well-being of their tribal relatives. With a deep understanding of the profound challenges faced by the Siċaŋġu Oyate, Siċaŋġu Co is working towards Wicozani, or “the good way of life” for their community – holistic health, economic self-sufficiency, cultural revitalization, sustainable housing, food sovereignty, climate resilience, and shared, lasting prosperity.

The Center for Earth, Energy, & Democracy (CEED)

Minneapolis, MN

CEED works to ensure that communities and policy makers have the tools and information they need to create just, sustainable energy and environmental policy. Working in collaboration with grassroots communities, policy makers and researchers, CEED conducts research and provides community education on important energy, environment, and development issues – so that all members of society may effectively participate in public decision-making.

Toxic Free NC

Durham, NC

Toxic Free NC advances environmental health and justice by advocating for safe alternatives to harmful pesticides and chemicals. Through skill-building, organizing, and policy advocacy, we focus on reducing toxic exposure in our food system, homes, communities and environment — while working to change the systems that hold us back from a toxic-free future. Toxic Free NC works alongside the NC communities most impacted by toxic exposures and environmental injustice, including women (especially Black and Brown women with inequitable health outcomes), children, low-income communities, communities of color, and migrant farmworkers, who, due to labor conditions, systemic racism, poverty, historic marginalization, and intersectional injustices, are most at-risk to the cumulative health impacts of agrochemical pollution. As a statewide organization, our constituency also includes the general population of eaters, families, and communities who care about participating in the transition to a more just and toxic-free future.

Urban Tilth

Richmond, CA

Urban Tilth inspires, hires, and trains local residents to cultivate agriculture, feed people, and restore relationships to land to build a more sustainable food system, within a just and healthier community. They work as a catalyst to draw together a variety of discrete initiatives into a web of integrated, food- and community-focused efforts. They help their community grow their own food; train and employ young people as “home grown experts”; teach local residents about the relationships among food, health, poverty, and justice; and forge partnerships with local small farmers to increase demand for their produce.

Wisconsin Green Muslims

Milwaukee, WI

Wisconsin Green Muslims, formed in 2005, is a grassroots environmental justice group intended to educate the Muslim community and the general public about the Islamic environmental justice teachings, to apply these teachings in daily life and to form coalitions with others working toward a just, healthy, peaceful and sustainable future.

What other organizations do you believe are doing great work in this space?

Tell us in the comments who you want to elevate and support this Giving Tuesday and every day.