AWARD-WINNING COMMUNITY ACTS OF LEADERSHIP: DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION & JUSTICE IN WEST OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

By Teron McGrew, Chapter Co-Chair, Bay Area Climate Reality Chapter

As a Climate Reality leader and native of Oakland, California, I am committed to serving my community and advancing climate change and climate justice by recognizing that vulnerable communities, Black, Indigenous, People of Color, marginalized communities, and low-wealth residents bear a larger burden of the environmental hazards and effects of climate change. As part of that commitment, I serve on the A’s Howard Terminal Community Building Agreement (CBA) environmental cohort.  As a participant of the environmental cohort, I work with the West Oakland Benefits for Equity group to examine and explore the “equity learning process” of the CBA.  

In this equity-centered working group, I have the pleasure of working under the leadership of the West Oakland Environmental Indicator Project, which initiated the call to action in creating a CBA in response to the development of the Oakland A’s Howard Terminal.  Proudly, this collaboration with Pathway to Equity Fellows project, are the recipients of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA),  National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Design Corps co-sponsored Social Environmental and Economic Design (SEED) Award. This distinguished award recognizes architectural design, community design, and economic development that embody justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Check out the 2020 NOMA NAACP SEED Award Winners in this documentary.

The Bay Area Climate Reality Chapter will be hosting the NOMA/NOMA SEED awardees in a Climate Justice Salon Series.  Please check back for a future date in 2021!