ABOUT
CLIMATE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES

From community-based adaptation planning to climate action education, we're dedicated to uplifting underrepresented communities and empowering local voices to take action.

MISSION & HISTORY.

At Climate Resilient Communities, we seek to empower community voices, to implement frontline and locally-led climate solutions for unity, resilience and justice that result in immediate & tangible improvements in the lives of our residents.

When Climate Resilient Communities launched in 2016, our Founder, Violet Saena, and our growing team could never have imagined be lauded by the President of the United States for our work advancing grassroots environmental justice, all while implementing more than two dozen tangible projects advancing climate adaptation for frontline residents in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties.

At Climate Resilient Communities, we have a clear vision of a future where under-resourced communities are empowered to take action to stay safe in the face of climate change impacts. We seek to:

Advocate for community-driven strategies and priorities
Increase collaborative efforts with cities and community leaders
Engage communities directly in climate change planning
Secure financial support to implement community-based solutions providing opportunities for residents
Mainstream climate change in schools and youth programs

“Our goal all along was to help build residents’ knowledge on conserving energy and water in the home, which makes both financial and environmental sense.” - Violet Saena, Founder & Executive Director

CRC’s work stems from recognition of the fact that in the Bay Area, as throughout the world, under-resourced communities are disproportionately vulnerable to climate change impacts. Our outreach cultivates environmental awareness while giving local residents a voice in proactive resilience planning and adaptation. By building stronger alliances between residents, schools, local government programs and community-based organizations, this work creates resilience against climate-related stresses such as sea-level rise and economic instability.

OUR METHODOLOGY: CLIMATE CHANGE COMMUNITY TEAMS (CCCTs)

Since inception, all of our projects and program designs have emerged from extensive engagement. CRC’s Climate Change Community Teams (CCCTs) are the bedrock of our organization, ensuring each project is meeting genuine community needs. These cross-sector community groups, composed of residents, faith leaders, non-profit organizers, and youth representatives are formed to start climate resilience projects and programming at the neighborhood level and are currently facilitated in East Palo Alto, North Fair Oaks, and Belle Haven (Menlo Park).

Each new project stems from consultation and direction of the Community Teams and CRC provides frequent updates at each team’s monthly meeting to inform and garner feedback on project outreach strategies, implementation methods, and overall program direction. In this way, CRC does not use a top-down approach but instead strives to advance racial justice and equity by providing capacity building training and leadership experience to community members to use their own voices to push for solutions they desire.

Click below to learn more about our Climate Change Community Teams:

OUR
PROGRAMS.

Climate Resilient Communities operates five programs to empower residents at the household, community, and individual levels. Click on each below to learn more:

Celebrating Community-Led Resilience: CRC’s 2024 Annual Report

Our 2024 Annual Report tells the story of how Climate Resilient Communities is advancing climate justice, one neighborhood at a time.

From home upgrades that protect families from wildfire smoke and extreme heat, to youth-driven climate leadership initiatives, the report highlights real solutions shaped by the communities we serve. Explore the milestones, voices, and partnerships that are building a more resilient future across East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, and beyond.

FUNDERS.

Climate Resilient Communities is beyond grateful for the support of our funders and individual donors. Your gracious funding has helped CRC better serve the needs of our local communities.