Roots to Resilience—a newsletter with resources, events, and impact stories to support brownfield and land reuse transformation!

Transforming contaminated spaces into thriving community places takes vision, collaboration, and a community of?supporters. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to strengthen your approach, we’re here to help!

Read on for expert guidance, inspiring success stories, funding opportunities, upcoming event, and actionable resources to?support your land reuse and environmental projects!

Get Inspired: Grassroots Organizations at the Forefront of Brownfield Transformations

From abandoned gas stations to vacant lots, and even old industrial sites, brownfields can actively harm community health and economic value. But, with a bit of inspiration and a whole lot of community action, these abandoned places can become vibrant community spaces!?Across the country, communities are reclaiming brownfields by transforming them into parks, grocery stores, and outdoor classrooms—spaces that create jobs, improve safety, and breathe new life into neighborhoods.?Check out the video to get inspired by three incredible brownfield transformations and visit our Get Curious page to get started creating your own inspiring land use story!

Watch the Video Here

Access our Get Curious Page Here

Apply for Technical Assistance Support Today!

Groundwork USA’s Nonprofit Brownfield Technical Assistance program is open and accepting new clients for 2025!?Our technical assistance team offers free one-on-one customized strategy, tools, and peer support for those in brownfield-affected communities pursuing land reuse projects. Whether you’re looking to quickly run your ideas by an expert or looking for support as you design and implement your strategy, we’re here to help!?

Complete the Technical Assistance Inquiry form to get started!

Join Us For The Next Urban Waters Webinar!

You don’t need a science degree or an official title to play an important role in collecting data about your community. In our next Silos to Synergy webinar, we’ll be exploring ways that organizations have engaged community members of all ages in collecting hyper-local air and water quality data and translating that into community-led efforts to address pollution, support land revitalization and improve community health. You’ll leave this session with actionable ideas for piloting community science projects in your community and a toolkit of resources that can help you get started!

Date: March 13th

Time: 1 - 2:30 PM ET | 10 AM PT

Sign Up Here!

At the Intersection of Art & Community Building?

Art – mural painting, performance, film, photography, and so much more– has a unique way of inviting people young and old to connect with their environment in new ways and to deepen their sense of responsibility for taking care of it.

In this Story Map, the Urban Waters Learning Network showcases three collaborative projects that brought together organizers and artists to inspire their community members to take action for cleaner air and water, healthier communities, and expanded access to green outdoor spaces.

Read the story here!

Funding Opportunities to Support Your Work!

There are so many resources available?across the environmental space, and we want to help spread the word! Here are a couple of funding?opportunities compiled to support your community development journey.

• NDN Collective, Community Action Fund (CAF):?Grants support direct actions and organizing efforts that are often urgent and time-sensitive. CAF prioritizes frontline, grassroots and community-based efforts that defend Indigenous peoples rights, communities and nations, including responses to climate disasters.
• Third Wave Fund, Mobilize Power Fund: Rapid response fund that resources?gender justice?organizations to adapt or pivot their work when met with?unanticipated, time-sensitive opportunities or threats to their movement building work and organizing conditions.?
• Cause Strategy Partners, Alexandra Hallock Capacity Building Grant for Small Nonprofits: Grant opportunity supporting small nonprofit organizations championing human rights, girls' and women's empowerment, and LGBTQ+ causes.?

Thank you for being a part of our community!?Together, we're championing equity and environmental justice in land reuse and?creating green, healthy, just, and resilient communities. Learn more about our work here.

For any inquiries, please contact our Technical Assistance Team?via Jalisa Gilmore: [email protected].