Apply for Healing Our Wombs (H.O.W.)
Funded by and in partnership with the Jessie Parker Williams Foundation, WAWA is excited to offer an opportunity for African American Women ages 12 to 112 to participate in Healing Our Wombs (H.O.W.): A Black Womb Wellness Garden and Self Healing Project. For more information about this 9-month sojourn please click here. African-American Women interested in participating please register here. Volunteer Days for this project are open to all. Registration for H.O.W. Volunteer Days here
Food Distribution Every Other Friday
Bi-weekly food distribution in partnership with Core2Globe will recommence on Friday, July 2. Bags of food are available until supplies last at the Outdoor Activity Center (1442 Richland Rd. SW Atlanta, GA 30310). Pick up times are between 4 -6 pm for the following dates: 7/2, 7/16, 7/30
Join us in co-designing the Renewable Energy Equity Fund
The Strong, Prosperous, And Resilient Communities Challenge – or SPARCC – is investing in and amplifying local efforts in six regions to make sure that major new investments in the places we live, work, and play lead to equitable and healthy opportunities for everyone. As the current 2020 -2022 Issue Champion for Climate for the Atlanta SPARCC Table (represented by the TransFormation Alliance) WAWA cordially invites community leaders representing the energy burdened communities in Atlanta and Savannah to join us for a 9-month exploration to co-design the Renewable Energy Equity Fund (R.E.E.F.). The R.E.E.F is a social capital investment fund that will receive capital investment and grant funding for the purpose of providing grants that cover the cost of both 1) getting solar ready (i.e. energy efficiency upgrades, weatherization, roof, battery, etc.) and 2) solar installation for low to moderate-income (LMI) households in Atlanta and Savannah. In partnership with SPARCC and TransFormation Alliance, WAWA will host 9 monthly “R.E.E.F. Brunch & Learns” every 4th Thursday from 11 am to 1 pm EST, beginning July 22, 2021 until March 2022. Registration for the R.E.E.F. Brunch & Learns can be found on our Eventbrite.
What does your neighborhood need in the event of an extreme weather event or health crisis?
Join WAWA and our partners at SouthFace and Fulton County for our upcoming Resilience Hub Pop-Up Engagement Session on July 14 at the Neighborhood Union Health Center and July 20 at the Louis Watley Library from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. There will be raffles and giveaways, as well as the chance to co-design a resilience hub for your community. Come help determine what your neighborhood needs in the event of an extreme weather event or health crisis. For more information please contact Alex Trachtenberg at alex.trachtenberg@fultoncountyga.gov
WAWA is a SOLARIZE 2.0 Steering Committee Member and Partner
Last month Solarize 2.0 was launched in both Atlanta and Savannah Solarize 2.0 is a community-based solar energy group purchasing campaign that makes solar energy, battery storage, and other clean energy technologies more accessible and helps homeowners, businesses, and nonprofits become more resilient, reduce energy expenses, and save on the cost of renewable energy systems by leveraging the power of group purchasing — the more that participate, the greater the savings.
Solarize Atlanta is brought to you by a public-private coalition consisting of the City of Atlanta, Environment Georgia, West Atlanta Watershed Alliance, Georgia Interfaith Power & Light, Sierra Club Georgia Chapter, Partnership for Southern Equity, Solar CrowdSource, Ayika Solutions, and community leaders and volunteers. Solarize Savannah is brought to you by a public-private coalition consisting of City of Savannah, Climate Reality Project – Savannah, Harambee House, Center for Sustainable Coast, Ogeechee Riverkeeper, Sierra Club Georgia Chapter, Environment Georgia, Georgia Interfaith Power & Light, and Solar CrowdSource.
As part of the Solarize Steering Committee and Partner, WAWA is working collaboratively to:
Reduce the energy burden of residents in Atlanta and Savannah through additional measures available to low- and moderate-income families to reduce upfront cost;
Advance and encourage renewable energy workforce development opportunities;
Encourage the adoption of solar-friendly permitting practices in Atlanta and Savannah; and
Demonstrate that solar energy is uniquely positioned to address energy equity and energy burden in a direct, enduring, and sustainable way in Georgia.
Climate & Equity community organization spotlight
SELF (Solar Energy Loan Fund)
SELF is a non-profit certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), and the first Green Bank/ CDFI in America. They are founding members of the American Green Bank Consortium (also known as the Coalition for Green Capital) which is made up of the 22 Green Banks across the nation providing innovative, flexible capital for climate resilience, energy efficiency, and clean energy solutions. SELF’s mission is to rebuild and empower underserved communities by providing access to affordable and innovative financing for sustainable property improvements, with the primary focus on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and climate resilience in low- and moderate-income (LMI) neighborhoods. We strive to create positive social, economic, and environmental impacts by helping people improve the health, safety, and quality of life in their homes while reducing operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
SELF has been providing low-cost loans to homeowners for a decade in Alabama, South Carolina, and Florida. This month, SELF will launch operations in Georgia with an innovative program in partnership with Atlanta Housing. SELF will provide incentives to landlords of Low-income housing in the Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) to make energy efficiency upgrades that will ultimately reduce energy burdens for low-income renters. With the launch of operations in July, SELF’s full lending options will be available to homeowners throughout the state of Georgia. For more information about the various loan programs available please click here