Miya Yoshitani
Executive Director of APEN and Philanthropic Trustee of The Solutions Project
Connected climate justice with COVID response NowThis
In 2020, our work led to a dramatic shift towards climate justice solutions. Our frontline grantee partners improved lives, raised awareness, redirected the media narrative, put government to work for the people, and stepped into national leadership roles.
Improved lives for communities most affected by climate change.
Dramatically simplified the grant process.
Shortened the grant application to the basics.
Got rid of renewal proposals and reports.
Used our media tracker for reporting success.
Distributed money fast.
$1.4M in 10 days to communities in need.
$2,000 to each grantee in the first month of COVID.
Explore Grantees
Amped up our grantmaking ability.
$1.9M granted in 2020.Highest amount of grants we ever made.
$43M to spend over 3 years. Bezos Earth Fund grant covers 2021-2023.
Raised awareness for climate justice solutions.
Narrated by Don Cheadle.
Featured grantee partners
We piloted a green home improvement show, with cameos by Don Cheadle and Mark Ruffalo.
Read More at Variety MagazineJimmy Kimmel makes a donation to grantee PUSH Buffalo on behalf of Mark Ruffalo.
Nice Life Records matched up to $30,000 of donations to benefit our grantee partners with album release by Ricky Reed featuring Leon Bridges and Kiana Lede.
Featured grantee partners
Mark Ruffalo and Gloria Walton discuss climate activism and what they're doing to fight for renewable energy. Interviewed by TIME staff writer Raisa Bruner.
We created a climate-justice / COVID response.
Media and climate philanthropy had a COVID-only response. We partnered with donors – like actor and musician David Burd – to help them create a response that layered health, jobs, housing, advocacy, and energy issues together.
Star power captured media attention.
Our celebrity board members and ambassadors used their media opportunities to get the word out about our mission, and encouraged their fans to be part of the solution.
Redirected the media narrative towards climate justice.
13%
Referenced Communities of Color
310 articles
47%
Quoted a Woman Spokesperson or Lawmaker
1139 articles
Executive Director of APEN and Philanthropic Trustee of The Solutions Project
Connected climate justice with COVID response NowThis
Executive Director of PUSH Buffalo
Connected climate justice with racial justice Time Magazine
Our annual Renewable Energy Narrative Trends reports revealed a shift in the narrative around clean energy.
2017
Established a baseline.
Questions on the viability of renewable energy
2018
100% is possible.
Talk about the widespread growth of renewable energy
2019
100% is happening.
Coverage of policy and implementation of renewable energy measures
2020
100% is equitable.
Focus on equity and justice in creating renewable energy solutions
Professional media training for grantees
Pitching to the media
Storytelling workshops
Charisma on camera
At-home production
Public speaking
Climate Curious Web Series averaged 175k live views per episode
This series dives into the latest headlines affecting our communities and the planet, and introduces frontline leaders and special celebrity guests.
Made government work for climate justice solutions.
The White House's executive order targets “40% of the benefits from federal climate action to flow to disadvantaged communities.”
source2014
NYC Climate March
We convened NYC climate and economic justice leaders around the vision of 100% renewable energy for 100% of people.
2015 - 2017
Coalitions Formed
We invested $180,000 in frontline leaders like PUSH Buffalo, UPROSE, NY-EJA and ALIGN who formed coalitions NY Renews and Energy Democracy Alliance. Strengthened relationships between grantees to build lessons from CA into NY.
2015 - 2019
Expanded Support
We added media support and continued financial support for coalitions NY Renews and Energy Democracy Alliance. They advocated for legislative action on climate justice.
2019
State Legislation
NY Renews coalition celebrates big win — Governor Cuomo signs sweeping Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) into law, including the hard-won 35-40% environmental justice target.
2020-2021
Federal Action
Biden campaigns on climate justice in 2020 and in 2021 signs the historic executive order centering climate justice solutions — inspired by CLCPA and other frontline climate justice wins across the country.
We made grants.
Our Fighter Fund grant program provided financial support for grassroots organizations improving lives in communities facing the climate crisis.
We taught media skills.
We helped frontline leaders better tell their stories, convey their impact, and reach more people about climate solutions that work for all of us.
We brought people together.
We facilitated partnerships and group co-learning, and made introductions to build a collaborative culture and achieve collective impact.
We met capacity needs.
We produced and curated resources to equip everyone with the tools and knowledge to help create climate resilient, thriving communities.
Represented the climate justice movement in national leadership roles.
2004 - 2009
Intern > to Organizer > to Lead Organizer > to Organizing Director at SCOPE LA
2010
Becomes President & CEO for SCOPE LA
2015
SCOPE becomes one of the first grantees of The Solutions Project to co-create a movement aligned vision
2017
Joins The Solutions Project Board of Directors
Shalanda H. Baker
Deputy Director for Energy Justice
U.S. Department of Energy
Now is the time to advance anti-racist energy policy. Now is the time for energy justice.”
Wahleah Johns
Director for the Office of Indian Energy
U.S. Department of Energy
Today we don’t need handouts from the U.S. government. We need investment in building a restorative economy that is aligned with our traditional values and our relationship with nature.”
LaTosha Brown and Cliff Albright
Black Voters Matter Education FundOrganized and turned-out a record number of Black voters across GA and the South.
Felicia Davis
HBCU Green FundOrganized intergenerational Black leadership in GA and across the HBCU alumni network.
Nathaniel Smith
Partnership for Southern EquityMade sure Black voters were protected and prepared to vote during a pandemic.
Simple.
We invested in communities on the ground and trusted their leadership on the path to climate justice.
We are grateful to our partners and funders, and all of our supporters and participants, whose contributions make our work possible.
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