Welcome to The Collective Chat

A WOC/CS Blog Amplifying Women of Color in the Sustainability Industry

Welcome to Women of Color Collective in Sustainability’s Medium publication, The Collective Chat. We are ecstatic that you are joining us on our mission to amplify women of color who are working and trailblazing new paths across the environmental movement and sustainability industry. WOC/CS was born out of our personal experiences and frustration in the sustainability industry and consistently witnessing the lack of diversity at the decision-making tables of policies, programs, and discourse that disproportionately affect communities of color.

After attending an event during Climate Week, an annual event taking place in New York City, where we were (to little surprise) the only women of color in attendance, we chatted and initiated a friendship. Following multiple discussions around the ways we both experienced a lack of access to mentorship, community, and resources as well as a very visible lack of women of color at the leadership of green and sustainable projects across New York and the country, we decided to turn our frustration into action and solve for these issues in our field.

Our professional expertise in green design, love for the environment, and enthusiasm for all things inclusive and sustainable planted the seed that led to the creation of Women of Color Collective in Sustainability. We are one of the very few platforms focused on supporting women of color in the environmental movement. Through our efforts, we aim to amplify the voices and presence of WOC who historically have been overlooked, underappreciated, and unrecognized by the sustainability industry.

As WOC/CS continues to grow as a collective so will our vision. Our work falls under four main pillars:

CREATING COLLABORATION by providing the space to build a strong community via events including meetups and activities focused on meaningful relationships between women of color in sustainability

FACILITATING CONNECTION across a community of women of color with rich backgrounds and expertise in sustainability with potential professional opportunities via our member’s database and Medium publications

RESOURCES through our monthly newsletter containing key events, initiatives, funding opportunities, and jobs that go out to all those who have signed up for our listserv as well as those who are a part of our Linkedin group.

MENTORSHIP we facilitate the pairing of seasoned sustainable women of color experts with newer eco-conscious members to discuss community, climate-action involvement, and professional journey.

You can join our community by signing up for our Google Group and contribute to our members’ database.

Thanks for joining us on this journey to supporting women who are leading the charge to solve the climate crisis. We look forward to building with you!

WOC/CS Cofounders, Chante Harris and Jordie Vasquez