Front and Centered

With new uncertainty at the national level, you may be feeling anxiety, fear, and concern for your communities. You may also feel conflicted or powerless because the institutions that harm our communities by perpetuating white supremacy, patriarchy, and colonialism were already in place before #ElectionDay and wouldn’t have suddenly vanished the day after, regardless of the result. We expect a hostile federal administration, and we will need to work to protect Washingtonians. As we plan for changes ahead, it’s clear our work here in #WashingtonState must provide a hopeful model of what a #JustTransition looks like, and that we must link arms with frontline communities across the nation and the world, to stand together in resilience as we face the ecological crisis and extractive economy that are upon us. At the state level, Front and Centered advocated in partnership with other organizations and leaders against all four state ballot initiatives, and three of the four went down on election night. We should celebrate this as a victory that proves that our climate, our health, and putting people over profit are all top priorities for the people of Washington State. We can look forward to continued state climate investments, and we won’t stop directing attention to the legislative commitment that 40% of environmental investments must go to frontline communities. At the same time, the passage of I-2066 means we’ll have to work that much harder to ensure that justice is a key part of our transition away from natural gas, and that everyone has access to affordable, clean energy. As Washington State moves forward within this new national context, we must remember that if we are to truly advance and safeguard #ClimateJustice and #EnvironmentalJustice, just making fossil fuels more expensive will not be enough. To make our collective vision possible we must lead by example, stop polluting projects before they start, and create the world we want to see from the ground up. Even as we celebrate our victories and feel sorrow over our setbacks, our work to advance a Just Transition continues. We’re honored to stand with you and to have your support. Let’s keep working together for the world we want. In solidarity, The Front and Centered team #Elections2024 Photos by Pixel and Film Photography and Video

Happy #TranspoTuesday! ???????????????? We wanted to remind everyone that applications to the #TransportationJustice Leadership Grant Program are still open. Go to FrontAndCentered.Org for more info, or go directly to our grant program "microsite" to learn more: https://lnkd.in/g8UdnUZi Transportation is a major contributor to #GreenhouseGas emissions, disproportionately affecting #EnvironmentalJustice communities. Projects funded by this grant will focus on innovative, community-centered solutions that reduce emissions, enhance accessibility, and create long-term, equitable transportation infrastructure. We are excited to serve as a community grant maker and coordinator for this unique opportunity, which will not only provide funding to community projects in alignment with carbon-reduction strategies statewide, but also provide recommendations for the Washington State Department of Transportation to consider when building upon the outcomes of this program. Together, we can pave the way for community-centered leadership and transportation solutions! Apply for our grants as soon as you can, or share this information with someone you know who might be interested in being a part of this work! ??

The priority deadline to apply for these two positions is TOMORROW (Friday, November 8)! Applications will be reviewed and considered on a rolling basis, with interviews anticipated to start mid-November. #WereHiring #WashingtonState

Calling all educators, students, and community members! Front and Centered, ClimeTime, and a dynamic group of community partners are hosting Community Education in Action, a workshop series that brings climate and environmental justice to life through co-learning and creativity. These sessions—both virtual and in-person—will explore a Just Transition, community resilience, and how we can drive positive change together. K-12 educators in WA will earn clock hours, and intergenerational attendees can participate with materials, prizes, and bilingual support. ??? Virtual: Nov 14, Dec 3, Jan 16 ??? In-Person: Tacoma (Mar 1), Pasco (Mar 22) Register here and join the movement for a just and resilient future: https://lnkd.in/grU4r7i6 #EnvironmentalJustice #ClimateEducation #CommunityEmpowerment

We excited to tell you about our latest?#EnvironmentalJustice Funding Opportunities?that will be going live tomorrow! These capacity grant opportunities are administered by the?Frontline Funding Collaborative,?a partnership between Front and Centered and four other #WashingtonState organizations that are catalyzing investments in climate and environmental justice: Asia Pacific Cultural Center Latino Community Fund Of Washington State NA'AH ILLAHEE FUND WASHINGTON STATE COALITION OF AFRICAN COMMUNITY LEADERS ? These grants are intended to support community organizations whose capacity building efforts are aligned with and will advance the goals of the?Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act. Nonprofit, 501(c)(3) community-based organizations throughout Washington State?who work with overburdened and vulnerable communities?are encouraged to apply for these unique capacity grants. Learn more about this grant opportunity TOMORROW (Tuesday October 29), 12.30–1.30 PM. You can join us via Zoom: https://lnkd.in/gC8_YWkv (We realize this info session is happening on short notice, so stay tuned on social media for more advanced notice about future info sessions if you can't make this one ??)

How can we ensure that #WashingtonState policies are shaped by frontline communities most impacted by pollution and income inequality? Alongside our fellow partner organizations, Front and Centered is convening #CommunityAssemblies across the state to center community expertise and make our government’s approach to making laws and investing public money more effective. Disparities in health care, housing, and safe environments are due, in part, to a disconnect between government policy making and community members with lived experiences of these challenges. Community Assemblies are a tool for building capacity for greater collaboration between people and government. "People who struggle to make ends meet on a minimum wage job or live in neighborhoods with air pollution have important ideas on how to address challenges that affect their lives everyday," said Deric Gruen, Front and Centered Co-Executive Director. “Community Assemblies can make government programs and investments more effective and create a healthier democracy.” “Community Assemblies are a bold investment in low-income and Black, Indigenous, and communities of color to elevate community expertise and solutions to budget and policy makers on sustainable investments to raise the economic and environmental floors in Washington,” said Lindsay Morgan Tracy, Innovator-in-Chief, Washington Economic Justice Alliance, at the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. Read the full joint press release at our blog: https://lnkd.in/gy-Nkhu7 Statewide Poverty Action Network People's Economy Lab #JustTransition #ClimateJustice #EnvironmentalJustice

???? We're hiring! We're looking for a Grants Administration Compliance Manager as well as a Controller! Both of these positions will work as part of a collaborative cross-sector team and our statewide membership to advance our #JustTransition agenda for #ClimateJustice and #EnvironmentalJustice. ???? Full-time positions at Front and Centered are 35 hours/week and based in Washington State, with a hybrid remote/in-person work arrangement. We offer four weeks of paid vacation and 17 paid holidays alongside the salary and additional benefits. Learn more about Front and Centered and this new position at our jobs page: https://lnkd.in/gTrGSkyR #HiringNow #WereHiring #WashingtonState Washington Economic Justice Alliance Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice Climate Justice Alliance Eastern Washington University Statewide Poverty Action Network Green Jobs Board Spark Northwest Faith Action Network Washington State Office of Equity Communities of Opportunity

I-2066 is an attack on the work that frontline communities have put in over the years to ensure that #WashingtonState transitions to 100% clean energy. That's why Front and Centered is urging you to vote NO on Initiative 2066. Here's a short video featuring Mariel, our Clean Energy Policy Lead, talking a bit more about the clean energy transition and why I-2066 is represents a step backward that we cannot afford to take. Mariel: “I-2066 is an attempt to derail slow, but critical progress our state government is making on a #JustTransition to clean, healthy, and sustainable power sources to keep our homes safe, warm, and energized for our daily lives." Remember to vote NO on all four initiatives on your ballot in Washington State! #Elections #ElectionDay Sierra Club Washington State Asian Counseling and Referral Service Statewide Poverty Action Network Transportation Choices Coalition Spark Northwest Fuse Washington The Stranger The Seattle Medium Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power & Light Center for Community Energy #NoOn2066 #NoOn2109 #NoOn2117 #NoOn2124

We're voting NO on I-2124 because if it passes, the measure will bankrupt WA Cares, our state’s recently created long-term care coverage system, by 2027 ???? Huge thanks to Libby Watson of the No On I-2124 (Washington)?campaign for coming to our coalition member summit last week! We wanted to share with you what she had to say about Initiative 2124 and why it’s bad for ALL Washingtonians, including and especially for frontline communities. Libby: “Washington voters know a wolf in sheep’s clothing when they see it. The only ones who would benefit under I-2124 are the super wealthy and big insurance companies. When voters hear the facts about how it will increase costs and hurt women and people with pre-existing conditions, they oppose I-2124.” Remember to vote NO on all four initiatives on your ballot in?#WashingtonState!?#Elections?#ElectionDay UFCW Local 3000 Washington State Nurses Association Statewide Poverty Action Network Casa Latina WHCA (Washington Health Care Association) Fuse Washington Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility Faith Action Network Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle #NoOn2066 #NoOn2109 #NoOn2117 #NoOn2124

We're voting NO on I-2124 because if it passes, the measure will bankrupt WA Cares, our state’s recently created long-term care coverage system, by 2027 ???? Huge thanks to Libby Watson of the No On I-2124 (Washington)?campaign for coming to our coalition member summit last week! We wanted to share with you what she had to say about Initiative 2124 and why it’s bad for ALL Washingtonians, including and especially for frontline communities. Libby: “Washington voters know a wolf in sheep’s clothing when they see it. The only ones who would benefit under I-2124 are the super wealthy and big insurance companies. When voters hear the facts about how it will increase costs and hurt women and people with pre-existing conditions, they oppose I-2124.” Remember to vote NO on all four initiatives on your ballot in?#WashingtonState!?#Elections?#ElectionDay UFCW Local 3000 Washington State Nurses Association Statewide Poverty Action Network Casa Latina WHCA (Washington Health Care Association) Fuse Washington Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility Faith Action Network Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle #NoOn2066 #NoOn2109 #NoOn2117 #NoOn2124