To build community voice and action among communities in Southeast San Diego in implementation of the City of San Diego’s Climate Action Plan.

Lessons learned about tools and tactics through the project that other sustainability directors could use to advance their work.

Community canvassing, social media campaigning, vending at local community events, and using a collective network for collaboration is the best way to get community members enlisted, interested, and involved in combating climate change and environmental injustice.

Mobile Home Park Outreach – The team developed a relationship with a local mobile home community, to present a Climate Ambassador for Environmental Justice workshop and certification training on-site.  Part of this relationship building allowed the team to begin preparing the strategic plan for effective communications for mobile home communities throughout the region and state. This analysis serves to inform mobile home park residents, owners, and others looking into similar projects.

Climate Action Plan (CAP) – It is key to continue evolving workshops and training with each community visit – listening to and gauging individual needs. The team found that very few residents had heard of the City’s CAP, and many did not know who was responsible for implementing it. Not understanding how the CAP relates to the particular needs of communities creates distrust. It is important that a City representative from the Sustainability department be present for each community outreach workshops.