The following are comments included in our partners’ reports, based on their GRP conversation or engagement.
Green Resilience Project Phase 2: 2024-present
Black Men’s Therapy Fund: “Through impactful engagements like Black Men Healing in Nature, generously supported by The Green Resilience Project, we’ve deepened our connection with the community. We’ve created spaces for Black men and boys to dream, relax, connect with nature and each other, and engage in meaningful conversations that often elude them in their daily lives.”
Good To Be Good: “Climate change is intertwined with other forms of oppression, abuse, and inequality. This is why those who experience these injustices are often more attuned to their suffering. From the passionate discussions, we found that firsthand experience can inspire individuals to engage in timely climate action, or at the very least, initiate conversations about it.”
Women’s National Housing & Homelessness Network: “Applying a climate change, affordability, and community resilience lens to our work holds profound implications, especially when viewed through a gender lens. Integrating these focuses highlights critical needs and unique challenges faced by women, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse individuals, particularly those who are racialized, Indigenous, or multiply marginalized.”
Black Environmental Initiatives: “We extend our gratitude to all community members who participated in our town halls, sharing invaluable insights and fostering open dialogue about how systemic issues impact the physical and mental environments of Black Torontonians. Your contributions helped create brave and safe spaces for these crucial conversations.”
Community Action for Environmental Sustainability: “The Green Resilience Project (GRP) proved to be an effective initiative for CAFES to extend our reach to the rural communities. We are very grateful indeed for having received this prompt. By encouraging open dialogues, the GRP successfully brought together diverse voices with a focus on rural communities around shared concerns about climate change and resilience. We would like to thank the Green Resilience Project and all volunteers who helped make each of these 5 valuable community dialogues successful.”
National Right to Housing Network: “As governments at all levels continue to develop climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, it is critical that these efforts prioritize housing justice and ensure that the most marginalized communities are not left further behind. The Green Resilience Project conversation allowed us to engage our network in this dialogue, reinforcing the urgency of integrating climate considerations into housing rights policy and advancing solutions that are both sustainable and equitable.”
Transportation Shift: 2024
Social Planning Council of Winnipeg: “The feedback we had of the event was enormously positive. Community members were thankful to have an opportunity to voice their concerns about transportation and affordability. Many expressed interest in follow up discussions or events and looked forward to the release of the final report of the project.”
HomeBase Yellowknife: “Overall, the conversation facilitated meaningful dialogue on pressing issues, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts to address challenges effectively and the need for inclusive policies reflecting diverse community needs.”
Folk On The Rocks: “The conversation was a success! Having it on Zoom offered the opportunity for FOTR to provide participants with links to information on ZEV’s, the Green Resilience Project, and Energy Mix Productions, which participants noted was appreciated.”
Apathy Is Boring: “Towards the wrap up of the event, many of the youth commented that they appreciated the opportunity to come and discuss ZEVs and transportation in general, that they learned a lot from their peers who come from different experiences and regions of the country, and that they felt inspired to take on initiatives in their communities to support equitable and sustainable transportation.”
Green Resilience Project Phase 1: 2021-2022
Y4Y Quebec: “New relationships between community partners and conversation participants were absolutely created and fostered. I heard perspectives I had not previously considered, and many attendees, especially the younger ones, expressed gratitude for having been given the chance to participate.”
West Kootenay EcoSociety: “During the interviews several folks shared that being heard and listened to felt new, that these interviews felt like a step in the right direction, and that they would love to support each other and their community in the best way they can.”
Tantramar Region, NB (Aster Group Environmental Services Co-operative): “It was heartening to see people find the connections making sense, though, and acknowledging the value of livable incomes for everyone. They brought together two seemingly separate issues… so they could hear each other and problem-solve together.”
Saskatoon Poverty Reduction Partnership: “When the opportunity to host this dialogue was presented, the SPRP partners were eager to add climate change and environmental policy/practice to the conversation about eliminating poverty in Saskatoon and how the policies/practices to address climate change intersect with the current 12 Bold Ideas to eliminate poverty.”
PEI Working Group for a Livable Income and Cooper Institute: “The Green Resilience Project provided a welcome opportunity for the PEI Working Group for a Livable Income and Cooper Institute to convene a timely and important community conversation, one aimed at better understanding how the uncertainties brought on by climate change, income insecurity, inequality and discrimination overlap in the lives of people residing in Prince Edward Island.”
National Farmers Union: “Fundamentally, it does include farming and growing food in harmony with ecological systems. But it also includes the importance of building resilient communities of justice for women and youth and non binary folks, at the top of the discussed decision making. It involves cross border solidarity and inter movement solidarity.”
Montreal Climate Coalition: “The event was a success. Skilfully led, the presentation was highly interesting, as were the discussions. Various points of view were expressed by the participants, reflecting the group’s diversity. We were able to bring together young people, a few elderly people, workers, retirees, students, and people from different socioeconomic backgrounds, going beyond the usual circle of citizen environmental activists.”
Lockeport: “Based upon the enthusiasm and engagement that we observed, we think that an important door was opened with the participating students and teachers to a discussion about the role that young people might play in developing Lockeport’s resilience and sustainability.”
Iron & Earth: “The event helped people feel more hopeful and confident that they could take action in their communities.”
Ecology North: “This project allowed us to connect different people from different communities to discuss and explore some of the most pressing issues the NWT faces.”
St. James Town Community Coop: “There is a deep aspiration among the community members to be perceived, heard, and recognized at the same proportion as other more secure and resilient communities.”
Crane Institute for Sustainability: “Participants found allies with similar experiences, building empathy across socio-economic ranges. Several expressions to continue this conversation were made, all involved supported participating in future conversations and, encouragingly, action.”
Community Futures North Central Development: “The appetite for the conversation amongst those present was significant, and many were outspoken about their own experiences and those of their communities.”
Conservation Council of New Brunswick: “There is a clear desire for more structured ways to engage the community in municipal policymaking—authentic engagement could unlock significant local action. The ideas generated through the Green Resilience Conversation will help us think more strategically about how to affect change in our community.”
Beardy’s and Okemasis Cree Nation: “Many participants indicated they felt inspired by our conversations and wanted them to continue. They are looking forward to future conversations with more community members to brainstorm solutions to the climate impacts the community faces.”
Aboriginal Life In Vancouver Enhancement Society & the North West Indigenous Council: “There is a huge push to continue the on-going dialogue that has been created because of the Green Resilience Project’s Initiative and partnership with ALIVE Society and NWIC. Residents of our respective Neighborhoods have expressed their commitment to a better social context and are prepared to engage in more discussions on these topics…these open conversations have strengthened and enhanced our ability to work together in a meaningful way in the future.”
Ahtahkakoop Health Center: “The guest speakers gave the community members a chance to think about climate change at a deeper level that was relatable.”
Dan Meades – Newfoundland & Labrador: “I framed the conversation by saying that people did not need to be experts in any field to fully participate, and that their feelings were a valid part of the conversation.”
BYTE – Empowering Youth Society: “The diversity in experience and backgrounds reflected at this conversation meant each youth participant brought a unique lens to the discussion. This breadth of expertise and knowledge meant that participants could learn from one another and recognize new links between issues affecting their communities.”