Alert: Rapid Response Funding in the Gulf Coast

Today, as our thoughts are with those reeling from Hurricane Ida, we are reminded of why the Hive Fund was created: to resource frontline groups addressing the root causes of this rapidly intensifying climate crisis, with a special focus in the Gulf South, including Texas and Louisiana.

RISE St. James leader Sharon Lavigne, who has been successfully fighting the Formosa plastics plant, lost part of her roof in Hurricane Ida.

RISE St. James leader Sharon Lavigne, who has been successfully fighting the Formosa plastics plant, lost part of her roof in Hurricane Ida.

We’ve heard from many of our grantee partners in Louisiana since the hurricane struck— stories of hectic evacuations, roofs being blown off, ceilings collapsing, power going out. They also know that the “second storm” of oil, gas, and petrochemical pollution spills and illegal dumping is underway now, with impacts that will likely only be measured in damage to the health of their families and friends.

Organizations working to eliminate climate pollution and the systems of racism, profit, and power that have allowed this pollution to reach such excessive levels are simultaneously coping with the impacts of both. Although these groups understand that their traditions of mutual aid, healing, and security are increasingly important in the “new normal” of extreme weather combined with relentless political crises, resiliency can only be stretched so far. As Ashely Shelton from Power Coalition for Equity and Justice said in a recent op-ed:

“Resilience is a short-term condition where one stretches themselves until problems can be resolved. If we do not address the problems causing people to be resilient, it is simply oppression.”

These groups are becoming more and more organized and prepared to respond to crises in ways that also help build power to avert greater crises. As funders and donors, let’s follow their lead by centering justice and supporting the collective action needs those on the ground put forth.

Recommendations for Funders:

Support the following coalitions and movement formation hubs, all of which organize to build power and social and political cohesion in Black, brown, AAPI, and Indigenous communities. These groups, all of which are current Hive Fund grantee partners, are helping manage some immediate direct relief for people most in need as part of a longer-term agenda:

We also encourage funders to support small but mighty organizations located in Cancer Alley—an area along the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge that is home to some of the worst polluters in the country and was hit very hard by the storm:

  • RISE St. James (fiscal sponsor Earth Island Institute, contact Kelsey Ring)

  • Inclusive LA (fiscal sponsor Louisiana Bucket Brigade, contact Susan Sakash)

Julian FoleyAlert