Developing and Implementing a Community-Centered Climate and Equity Plan

As the planet continues to warm, Milwaukee, like many American cities, faces the increasingly catastrophic effects of climate change. Milwaukee also has pronounced racial disparities that are exacerbated by this climate crisis. Confronted with the climate emergency and persistent economic disparities, Milwaukee recognizes an opportunity to simultaneously address both of these pressing issues that continue to plague the region. In 2019, the City and County of Milwaukee created the City-County Task Force on Climate and Economic Equity, charged with reducing racial and income inequality by assuring that greenhouse gas reduction investments and policies will create the maximum number of permanent living wage green jobs for people who live in Milwaukee neighborhoods with limited economic opportunity. In March 2020, the Task Force released a preliminary climate action plan and throughout 2021, community working groups further outlined ‘ten big ideas.‘ These identified solutions address a cascade of challenges brought on by climate change and racial inequities.

The Task Force is now looking to push the work forward, accelerating the integration of this gathered input into the draft plan in hopes of forming a final plan by the summer of 2022. With this context in mind, the City of Milwaukee will partner with FUSE Corps to finalize a draft of the comprehensive Climate and Equity Plan, supporting its adoption through City’s Common Council and County Board. The FUSE Executive Fellow will conduct deep community engagement, ensuring residents from each neighborhood are effectively engaged in a second review process and implement priority recommendations, such as developing a green jobs accelerator and working with a national coalition to further develop a commercial building decarbonization plan. This work will ensure that the city can deliver on its ambitious climate and equity goals, building a resilient Milwaukee for generations to come.

DENEINE POWELL has dedicated her career environmental conservation, climate advocacy, equity and justice. She believes that communities should adopt a human-centered approach to safeguard the rights of the most vulnerable people and to share the burdens and benefits of the climate crisis and its solutions equitably and fairly. Communities with strong climate leadership and innovation can advance climate change solutions. Prior to joining FUSE, Deneine was the National Director of Path to Positive Communities – a program of ecoAmerica. In this capacity, she provided training, capacity building, program support and peer-to-peer learning opportunities for local and regional leaders to elevate the benefits that climate solutions bring people and their communities, and inspire civic leaders and residents to support solutions at local, regional, and national levels. Deneine also served as the Executive Director for Groundwork Milwaukee an organization devoted to transforming the natural and built environment of low-resource communities—working at the intersection of the environment, equity, and civic engagement. Deneine holds a MS in Organizational Leadership from Marian University, and a BA from the University of Minnesota. And when she’s not working, you can find her in her garden in Menomonee Falls, WI with her husband, son, and daughter, and their dog Harper.