Photo credit: Rhianna Truex
Climate Justice & Resilience in Action
WHY WE CAME TOGETHER
Because our perspectives are critical in the climate crisis. The mainstream environmental, and resilience movements sometimes speak about equity and the importance of including Frontline voices and perspectives but their programming, funding, and approaches have not equitably reflected our communities’ priorities, needs, and wants. FLOWS uplifts Frontline voices and shifts the narrative for Climate Justice, Environmental Justice, and Resilience in Boulder County and beyond.
our approach
We’re part of the Climate Justice, Environmental Justice, and Just Transition movements.
Center social justice in all our work.
Learning together and reclaiming our environmental and ecosystem knowledge and practices.
Bringing permaculture design in a way that is culturally rooted to reclaim our communities’ wisdom.
Supporting communities in naming their own issues and finding their own solutions.
Hand-in-hand with community as leaders and partners from the same communities.
Our work
Transforming the Region with Climate Solutions
- For 2026 our work centers on building Climate Justice & Resilience with affordable housing residents. How? Here’s a sample:
- Trainings rooted in social justice movements, popular education, permaculture, green infrastructure, cultural practices and emergency preparedness to build resilience leadership
- Resilience Hubs- We are piloting resilient community hubs with materials for food, food preparation, water, safety, communications, energy, etc
- Grassroots Resilience Plans- Supporting residents to create their own plans for resilience
- Solar Energy and Backup Energy- We’re sponsoring an in-depth study for energy resilient hubs at 2 affordable housing sites
- Improving Drinking Water in a Mobile Home Community- We’re continuing to work with the San Lazaro Water Action Council with natural solutions for their communities water and safety
- Edible Forest Gardening- With plants, irrigation, training and support, resident forest garden stewards build and maintain an edible forest for affordable housing
- Partnering– With residents, Boulder Housing Partners (BHP), GRID Alternatives, PLAY Foundation Boulder, Once and Future Green, and hopefully more. Partnering is success.
- Transforming the Field- By building climate and resilience solutions centering Frontline community members & addressing systemic harms
To interact with the map below, use the navigation tools in the top right and click & drag the map to move it around. Click on an item to learn more, and use the menu in the top center to view our past, present, & future projects.
Testimonials
“The food justice event helped me to better understand issues with community-oriented farming in Boulder. In particular, the challenges that smaller, not-as-privileged members have in obtaining land to farm...
Increasing access to farmland to all community members, especially indigenous members, seems essential to any climate justice. It was amazing to see the resilience and success coming from Jacobs Farm due to community strength and understanding of regenerative farming practices. It’s always an amazing feeling going to FLOWS event because you are also surrounded by people similarly curious about these issues.”
Community Member
“My favorite event this past year was our field trip to Jacob Springs Farm. There, we learned from André Houssney about his regenerative farm and his experiences with racism…
and the legacy of colonialism within the agriculture industry in Colorado. As someone who is drawn toward sustainable agriculture and deeply understands the importance of healthy food, spending the day at André’s farm was eye-opening as we learned about systemic injustices that exclude our communities from being farmers. We also had the opportunity to connect with the earth, learn about native and heirloom foods, and enjoy a delicious, healthy meal together. FLOWS events are generally laid out in that way; we learn and hold a supportive space together when diving into heavy topics, we learn from each other about the amazing things we can do for the earth and inspire hope, and then we enjoy meals as we collectively digest everything we have just learned. It’s a beautiful format and I usually leave refreshed, reignited, and ready to make change. I feel like FLOWS is giving me the tools I need to become powerful within the environmental movement and the knowledge I have gained shapes the way I do my work and live my life. I am still finding my voice and my place in the world, but I know that FLOWS will help me figure that out.”
FLOWS Member
“FLOWS has been an integral part of my climate justice work… The ability to connect with the larger Boulder community grounds my studies in leadership and environmental engineering...
Learning with different voices and through intergenerations creates a unique space very much needed in Boulder…The food justice event helped me to better understand issues with community oriented farming in Boulder… Increasing access to farmland to all community members, especially indigenous members, seems essential to any climate justice. It’s always an amazing feeling going to FLOWS event(s) because you are also surrounded by people similarly curious about these issues.”
CU Boulder Student
“It was amazing to see everyone in the community and talk about what they know/learned/ or experienced regarding climate justice, environmental racism, and justice as a whole...
It was really impactful to me to see and hear various stories from communities that share similarities to ones I grew up in. Michelle and Ramon Gabrieloff-Parish were amazing presenters with raw/real passion for education and justice. Their presence was empowering.”
Community Member
Explore Resources
Climate Justice & Resilience learning series
