In addition to LISC Phoenix’s own relationship building strategy being front and center at its annual breakfast, lifting up community-driven climate solutions that center frontline community leadership, innovation, and priorities will be the focus of several new efforts with the Arizona Partnership for Healthy Communities, which LISC manages.
In the first of these actions focused on prioritizing investments in the capacity of individuals and communities to implement sustainable changes that address climate change, LISC Phoenix has entered into a partnership with the New Buildings Institute, International Code Council, and City of Tucson. Funded by the US Department of Energy, the main objective of this collaborative is the development and adoption of a set of southwest-specific, local government building codes that emphasize climate resilience, energy equity, and housing affordability.
Moving proactively towards the proposed I-10 West Extension of the region’s now 15-year-old light rail system, LISC Phoenix has joined the local team that will draft plans to attract, guide, and prioritize strategic investments in infrastructure, housing, and other areas. The goal is to facilitate these pathways together to center the hardest hit communities and ensure resources are prioritized by the community as they face critical systemic challenges and obstacles with this large investment in expanding existing infrastructure.
The ultimate takeaway and value of conversations like that between Dede and John, in conjunction with our expanding work in this arena, is that our communities of color are the most vulnerable in our climate crisis. In addition, we have this critical moment in time in which the Federal Government has recognized and called out the need for those at the margins to be at the table. Our collective efforts need to prepare these vulnerable communities to fully participate, and ensure guardrails are in place to protect them from unintended consequences.
Being committed to communities leading through their local wisdom and expertise, and honoring that communities themselves are best positioned to meet their needs while preserving community culture and expression, is how we secure that people as infrastructure lead the way and execute their own vital solutions for the climate breakdown.