There can be no environmental justice without racial justice. We are firmly committed to fighting for both people and planet through personal, local and systemic change — and will do the work to unequivocally affirm that black futures matter, black health matters, black lives matter. Climate and social injustice disproportionately affect black and brown communities, like those where we have proudly worked daily with Conscious Kitchen in Marin City for seven years… and today and tomorrow.
Just as there is no one way to act on climate, there is no one way to combat racism. In the fight for racial, environmental, social and equal justice, nothing is ever enough, but we can all do something. That can be as simple, yet powerful as serving a plate of hot nourishing food, donating an organic farm box, educating with a lesson plan, any meaningful direct action — but we must always do more.
As a team and organization, we are listening, learning, standing in solidarity, sharing, speaking out, signing petitions, making calls, demanding justice for George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery and too many more, elevating black voices (across our digital channels and through our programs), showing up as allies with open ears, minds, arms and hearts. We are recommitting to the work within ourselves, across our team, in our homes, throughout our communities, nations and world. We are deepening our partnerships with the black allies, leaders, organizations and communities we work with and serve, and pledging donations to our partners on the ground in Marin City at Play Marin, Bridge the Gap, Performing Stars and Wise Choices for Girls. Mission-driven business and community anchor Good Earth Natural Foods is matching our donations and we invite you to do the same here and now.
“Intersectional environmentalism is an inclusive version of environmentalism that advocates for both the protection of people and the planet. It identifies the ways in which injustices happening to marginalized communities and the earth are interconnected. It brings injustices done to the most vulnerable communities and the earth to the forefront and does not minimize or silence social inequality. Intersectional environmentalism advocates for justice for people and the planet.”
– As defined by @GreenGirlLeah, a proud young black activist and eco-communicator whose intersectional environmentalist pledge can be found on her Instagram. #AmplifyMelanatedVoices!
When we say we served Conscious Kitchen’s 45,000th meal today on World Environment Day, we don’t just mean 45,000 plates of food during our Covid response. We mean 45,000 dishes scratch-cooked and delivered by our hardworking team on the ground in the community with organic ingredients from local community farms and suppliers in community kitchens for community members during this time of need. We not only feed students where we have worked in Marin City for seven years, but also families, elders, and the vulnerable most affected by the pandemic, as well as economic downturns, chronic disease and systemic injustice. Our commitment to justice, health, access, sustainability, equity and humanity runs deep.
Our movement is in the streets, on the phone, at the ballot box and across the web, requiring every one of us to be brave, proactive and committed enough to do what we can with all we have wherever we are: through work, education, advocacy. As people and an organization, it is our duty to show up, to not stand idly by, to never choose silence, especially in challenging moments.
Justice matters. Education matters. Equity matters. Health matters. Human rights matter. Anti-racist work matters. Listening matters. Allyship matters. Access to food matters. Our environment matters. Black lives matter.
In solidarity,
Every Single Member of our Turning Green and Conscious Kitchen Teams