Our Climate mobilizes and empowers young people to educate the public and elected officials about science-based, equitable climate policy solutions that build a livable world.
While Our Climate is now a Black-led organization working on complex, multifaceted issues that disproportionately impacts front line communities, we do acknowledge our history as a White-led organization. Our evolution as an organization has been possible because we understand racism is part of the very institution that we are part of.
– Jasmine Sanders, Executive Director at Our Climate
Our Climate’s DEIJ Commitments
Our Climate’s Journey: Numbers
Race Demographics
Gender Demographics
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice
Our Climate is committed to doing the outer and inner work of DEIJ. We are ever-more-committed to addressing multifaceted, intersectional aspects of climate justice that disproportionately impacts frontline communities. Our commitment is not just to the issues themselves but to dismantle racism and build power within our organization.
While Our Climate is now a Black-led organization working on a complex, multifaceted issue that disproportionately impacts frontline communities, we do acknowledge our history as a White-led organization. Our evolution as an organization has been possible because we understand racism is a part of the very institutions we’re part of.
Furthermore, we must acknowledge bias and unintentional harm will be perpetuated if we do not make an explicit effort to incorporate DEIJ into our organization. We’re dedicated to climate justice and prioritizing equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice as key to achieving the vision we dream of.
- November 2018: Our Climate Staff and Board hold exploratory call about adopting a DEI Action Plan
- January 2019: Our Climate deploys its first DEI survey to variety of stakeholders in an effort to identify Our Climate’s growth areas.
- April 2019: Our Climate’s DEI Committee forms. The committee is made up of 6 students leaders, 2 staff members, and one board member.
- July 2019: Our Climate hires NOURISH Consulting to review its final DEI Action Plan and conduct an initial session with its staff and board.
- September 2019: Our Climate Board approves the DEI Action Plan.
- December 2019: Surveys deployed and internal policies are updated and created to meet phase 1 and 2 goals.
- February 2020: Internal curriculum audit begins.
- May 2020: Social media audit completed.
- July 2020: A second set of demographic surveying is completed and indicates growth in terms of racial representation through the leadership of the organization.
- September 2020: Redeployed DEIJ Survey.
- November 2020: Our Climate begins process of evaluating the impact of the DEI Action Plan and making plans to implement a new plan in 2021.
Where We’re Headed Next: In 2021, Our Climate will launch its updated DEIJ Action Plan. We expect this plan will focus deeply on staff and board training goals
We must acknowledge the bias and unintentional harm will be perpetuated if we do not make an explicit effort to incorporate diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice into our organization. We are dedicated to climate justice, and prioritizing DEIJ is key to achieving the vision we dream of.
– Cassidy Jones, Deputy Director at Our Climate
To learn more about Our Climate and their mission, visit ourclimate.us and follow on Twitter at @OurClimateUs and on Facebook at @OurClimateLeaders.