Democracy Green

?? This #BlackHistoryMonth, we are immensely grateful to be recognized by the Clara Lionel Foundation! ?? As the nation’s first Afro-Indigenous woman-led Environmental & Climate Justice (ECJ) organization with a comprehensive Disaster Response, Relief, Recovery, and Mutual Aid program, we are dedicated to serving our communities holistically—advocating for transformative change from the ground up. From responding to Hurricanes Florence, Michael, Dorian, Isaias, and Helene, Democracy Green has consistently stood by communities facing climate disasters in the Southeastern US, evolving from an all-volunteer effort to a robust movement. This progress is made possible through partnerships with organizations like the @ClaraLionelFdn, which amplifies the voices of Afro-Indigenous peoples, women, and under-resourced rural communities. Thank you for planting seeds of change with us. Together, we are cultivating a future grounded in justice, resilience, and hope. ?? A special thank you to the leadership of Clara Lionel Foundation and their Founder, Robyn Rihanna Fenty, for their investment in our mission. #DisasterRelief #RuralSouth #TransformativeChange #Gratitude #CommunityPower

“Cutting this funding could have life-or-death consequences." – Sanja Whittington, Executive Director of Democracy Green, quoted in @washingtonpost. As many know, Democracy Green has been awarded $20 million to replace lead-contaminated pipes in rural, unincorporated areas hit hard by hurricane season; 98% of these funds will go directly into the community, ensuring cleaner water and healthier lives. ?? This funding will also help us restore an abandoned wetland, creating cleaner habitats for fish, reducing flooding, and providing cleaner water for the community. ???? Our programs are already funded and we are actively replacing pipes, but this historic award will serve to expand our impact. Now, we’re calling on the federal administration to stop delaying progress for rural communities who bear the brunt of climate disasters. From Hurricane Florence to Helene, it’s time to act. ?? #CleanWaterForAll #DemocracyGreen #CommunityImpact

?? Exciting News at Democracy Green! ?? We are thrilled to announce the newest member of our team: Tranisha Maracalin-Burks, who will be joining us as my Executive Assistant! Tranisha brings over 10 years of experience in providing administrative support, managing projects, and leading teams. Her extensive skill set and proficiency in various technological tools will enhance our operations and help us better serve our community. Please join me in giving Tranisha a warm welcome! You can expect to hear from her soon as she reaches out to each of you. For all meeting requests and communication needs for the Executive Director, please contact Tranisha at [email protected], and cc [email protected]. A special thank you to @vavavirtual for their invaluable support in helping us find such a fantastic addition to our team! #Welcome #TeamDemocracyGreen #NewHire #CommunitySupport

Exciting News at Democracy Green! ?? We’re thrilled to welcome our newest team member, Kristen, and to congratulate our original co-founder, Rob, on his new role within the Democracy Green family! ?? Together, we’re expanding our team to deepen our commitment to serving communities and protecting the environment. Join us in celebrating this new chapter! ???? #WelcomeToTheTeam #DemocracyGreen #CommunityService #EnvironmentalProtection #TeamExpansion

Breaking News Announcement! Yesterday marked a monumental milestone for Democracy Green and our dedicated partners at The Working Lands Trust! We are thrilled to announce that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has selected our community initiative, “Clean Water is Safe Water,” as an award recipient, granting us approximately $20 million! ?? A heartfelt thank you to the USEPA, USEPA Region 4 and to Admin. Michael S. Regan for recognizing the urgent need for clean water and environmental justice in our communities! Thank you to the bipartisan support of county, state and federal officials. And thank you to the residents of Brunswick County for your unwavering resilience and for allowing us the opportunity to make transformative change. In a significant event held today in Supply, NC, Ramon Torres, Director of the Environmental Justice, Community Health, and Environmental Review Division at the USEPA Southeast Regional Office, officially announced this historic grant. This nearly $20 million investment will empower the unincorporated communities of Brunswick County, North Carolina. With this funding, we will work diligently to improve water quality, restore ecosystems, and eliminate contaminants from our local watersheds. Key components of the project include: - Removal of lead pipes from homes and communities - Implementation of nature-based solutions to restore wetlands - Enhancement of natural water filtration systems - Reduction of flooding impacts - Support for biodiversity, creating a more resilient watershed and environment Together, with the support of the USEPA and The Working Lands Trust, we are taking significant steps toward a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable future for our communities! Stay tuned for more updates as we embark on this transformative journey! ???? #CleanWaterIsSafeWater #EnvironmentalJustice #DemocracyGreen #USEPA #CommunityChange #BrunswickCounty #WaterQuality #SustainableFuture

?? DAY ONE RECAP ????? After a weekend of hard work by the Democracy Green and Skook Roadtrip Relief volunteers from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Pennsylvania, we arrived in Asheville around 4:55 AM yesterday, catching some much-needed rest in the church pews before kicking off our day at 8 AM. We hit the ground running, unloading multiple tractor trailers filled with supplies and preparing the kitchen! Throughout the day, we proudly served over 2,300 meals and distributed more than 30 pallets of donations to those in need, including hand-delivering essential items to individuals facing homelessness. The dedication and spirit of the Democracy Green volunteers and Skook Roadtrip Relief truly shone through as we came together to support our community. Democracy Green is proud to sponsor and organize this week feeding and aid distribution week. Thank you to our hosting church for this community outreach event, Nazareth First Baptist Church of Asheville, NC. Stay tuned for more updates—we have a lot more work ahead of us! ??? #DemocracyGreen #TheSkook #CommunitySupport #TogetherWeRise #DisasterRelief #HurricaneHelene #WNCStrong Photo credit to Skook Roadtrip Relief.

?? DAY ONE UPDATE ????? After a weekend of Democracy Green - Green Alert Volunteers and Skook Prep Unit preparing for this week’s feeding event, Democracy Green and partners Skook Road Trip Relief arrived in Asheville around 4:55 AM yesterday and got some rest in the church pews before kicking off our day at 8 AM. We hit the ground running, unloading multiple tractor trailers filled with supplies and preparing the kitchen! Yesterday, we’ve proudly served over 2300+ meals and distributed 30+ pallets of donations to those in need. Today we plan to serve 5,000 people. This community is rallying together in impressive ways, but everyone understands that the impact of this storm will resonate for a long time to come. Stay tuned for more updates—we have a lot more work ahead of us! ??? #DemocracyGreen #TheSkook #CommunitySupport #TogetherWeRise #DisasterRelief #HurricaneHelene #WNCStrong Photos credit of Skook Roadtrip Relief.

This past Sunday, we were introduced to Ms. Pearl Forbes, the founder of the Mama Afrika Festival Network. Pearl was in the midst of fundraising for vital aid to support our communities in Western North Carolina when we learned she needed even more assistance to get critical water supplies to the YMI Cultural Center in Asheville, which serves the surrounding housing developments and broader community. When we offered to load her up with aid from our distribution center, what happened next was nothing short of incredible. In less than 24hr, together, we rallied as a community, and we were able to deliver a truckload+ of essential supplies from our Asheboro Hub and the NC Diaper Bank to the YMI Cultural Center! ?????? This experience is a true testament to the power of collaboration and the strength of our community. Thank you, Pearl, for your dedication and to our Democracy Green volunteers, partners and the incredible people who have donated. This is because of y’all! ?????? #WNCStrong #DemocracyGreen

??? A Heartfelt Shoutout to Our Incredible Asheboro Hub! ??? We want to take a moment to shine a bright light on the amazing work being done at Democracy Green’s Asheboro Hub in partnership with The SwatchWorks Inc. A huge THANK YOU to our phenomenal Hub Coordinator, Jessica Maness! Your impeccable leadership and unwavering dedication have made an extraordinary impact in our community. ???? We also want to celebrate our tireless volunteers who have shown up every single day to make a difference. Your commitment to delivering essential products to Spruce Pine, Burnsville, Bakersville, Spindale, Chimney Rock, Marion, Morganton, and beyond is nothing short of inspiring! ???? Thanks to this incredible team and all of our Democracy Green Green Alert Hub coordinators, volunteers, and partners across the state, we’ve successfully moved over 2 million products through ground and air drops in just one week! That’s the power of community in action! ???? If you’re inspired to join this incredible effort, please consider volunteering or dropping off aid. You can contact us at 910-813-3757 or complete our intake form here: https://lnkd.in/eqj3biie (https://lnkd.in/eqj3biie). Together, we are making a difference! Thank you for your support! ??? #DemocracyGreen #AsheboroHub #CommunityStrong #ThankYouVolunteers #WNCStrong #appalachian #hurricanehelene

This weekend's rain in New York is nothing compared to the devastation of Hurricane Helene in many communities, including many friends in and connected to Western North Carolina. I've attached a list, compiled by Blue Ridge Public Radio (BPR), of boots-on-the-ground organizations that are actively serving the community, as you read this, and need the help of those in the position to help. I am also including links to several organizations with LinkedIn pages: Homeward Bound of WNC Samaritan's Purse MANNA FoodBank - Asheville NC Mountain Projects, Inc WNC Regional Livestock Center Operation Airdrop Inc Democracy Green https://lnkd.in/eDFHNtke Thanks and stay safe! Andrew #NCStrong #NCFlooding #HurricaneHelene #DisasterRelief #NorthCarolina