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 elevate 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 and/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 underprivileged 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.

National Environmental Justice Groups

Climate Justice Alliance (CJA)

 A collaborative of over 35 community-based organizations working with frontline communities to forge scalable and socioeconomically-just solutions to address the root causes of climate change. 

See how you can get involved with CJA at climatejusticealliance.org. You can also show your support by following them Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Vimeo.

Building Equity & Alignment for Environmental Justice (The BEA Initiative)

The BEA Initiative focuses on expanding the resources available to the environment and overlapping progressive issues so they more equitably service the grassroots organizing sector. They work to break down historic barriers among big green, grassroots and funding sectors, building authentic relationships toward greater alignment and solidarity.

Support The BEA Initiative at bea4impact.org and follow them on Facebook and Twitter. 

National Social Justice Groups

Movement For Black Lives Policy Platform (M4BL)

M4BL is a collective of individuals and organizations building a shared vision and policy agenda to win rights, recognition, and resources for Black people. Show your support at m4bl.org and follow M4BL on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram. 

Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee (IWOC)

A prisoner-led section of the Industrial Workers of the World working to end prison slavery along with allies and supporters on the outside. With hundreds of members in over 15 prisons and growing, IWOC resists prison slavery by resisting to business as usual, leading work stoppages, hunger strikes and more. 

Learn more about IWOC’s mission and how you can get involved at incarceratedworkers.org. You can also support them by following their Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages.

Grassroots Global Justice Alliance (GGJ)

The GGJ includes more than 60 US-based grassroots organizing groups comprised of working and low-income people and communities of color. GGJ works with these groups to foster a long-term process of relationship building, political alignment and transformational leadership development. 

Join GGJ at ggjalliance.org and follow their work on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Local Environmental Justice Groups

WE ACT for Environmental Justice - New York, NY

WE ACT's mission is to build healthy communities by ensuring that people of color and/or low-income residents of New York participate meaningfully in the creation of sound and fair environmental health and protection policies and practices. Their key focus areas include building healthy/toxic-free communities; advocating for climate justice and clean air; supporting good jobs and healthy homes; and guiding sustainable and equitable land use. 

Support WE ACT at weact.org and on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Medium and YouTube. 

Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO) - Chicago, IL

LVEJO works to organize for a healthier community in Little Village and beyond. They are committed to organizing with those most impacted by industrialization and climate change, including immigrant, low-income, and working-class families.

Learn more about LVEJO’s work at lvejo.org and keep up with them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. 

California Environmental Justice Alliance - California

A statewide, community-led alliance representing more than 35,000 Asian Pacific American, Latino, and African American residents in Northern and Southern California. They combine organizing, movement-building, and strategic policy advocacy to achieve environmental justice by advancing policy solutions that will alleviate poverty and pollution.

Show your support at caleja.org and on Facebook and Twitter. 

UPROSE - Brooklyn, NY

An intergenerational, multi-racial, nationally-recognized, women of color led grassroots organization that promotes sustainability and resiliency through community organizing, education, indigenous and youth leadership development, and cultural/artistic expression in Brooklyn, NY. 

To support UPROSE, visit uprose.org and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Local Social Justice Groups

People for Community Recovery (PCR) - Chicago, IL

A non-profit environmental organization founded by Hazel Johnson, the “Mother of the Environmental Justice Movement.” PCR has worked under demanding conditions to advance social and environmental justice and enhance the quality of life for residents living in communities affected by pollution. 

Support their work at peopleforcommunityrecovery.org. 

Black Leaders Organizing for Communities (BLOC) - Milwaukee, WI

BLOC works to ensure a high quality of life and access to opportunities for members of the Black community in Milwaukee and throughout Wisconsin. They focus on building transformational, not transactional, relationships through community-based organizing and face-to-face conversations that lead to change. 

Support BLOC at blocbybloc.org and on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

Environmentalists of Color - Chicago, IL

A Facebook-based interdisciplinary network of leaders of color who are passionate about critical environmental issues ranging from habitat conservation to environmental justice. The network cultivates opportunities for community, support, and professional development so that environmentalists of color can thrive in the environmental field. 

Join the Environmentalists of Color Facebook group to share information, job posts, interesting articles and support members. (Note: To be admitted to the group, requests must be approved by a member or admin of the group.)

Leaders Igniting Transformation (LIT) - Milwaukee, WI

A Black and Brown-led independent nonprofit organizing young people to build independent political power for social, racial, and economic justice. They engage in values-based issues and electoral organizing, direct action, public policy advocacy, and leadership development.

Join LIT’s movement at litwi.org and keep up with their work on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

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.