We can't wait to get started!
This historic initiative, led by EcoWorks, in collaboration with Solar Faithful, will help 15 community-serving houses of worship and food assistance programs in environmental justice neighborhoods become climate resilience hubs.
We hosted an announcement and surprised our community partners with the news at St. Peter's. Joining us were dignitaries including Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist and Regina Strong, the Environmental Justice Public Advocate at EGLE.
What is a Climate Resilience Hub?
A climate resilience hub is a building equipped to keep serving the community, even during extreme weather events like storms, flooding, extreme heat, or power outages. Thanks to upgrades like solar panels, battery storage, and other improvements, these hubs can generate and store power independently of the electric grid.
Imagine a place where:
- You can charge your phone or operate essential medical devices when the power is out.
- Neighbors can seek shelter to stay warm or cool during extreme temperatures.
- Families can access food and services without interruption, no matter the weather.
In addition to being a safe haven, these hubs will also serve as demonstration sites, showing how energy-efficient and climate-friendly improvements can work in homes and businesses.
What Will This Initiative Deliver?
Each participating organization will receive cutting-edge, climate-resilient upgrades, including:
- Energy efficiency improvements to reduce energy use and costs.
- Electrification upgrades to decrease reliance on fossil fuels (like coal, natural gas, and oil).
- Solar panels and battery storage to provide power, even during outages.
- Green stormwater infrastructure to reduce flooding and protect local water quality.
- Electric vehicle (EV) chargers and low-cost car sharing to improve mobility and access to transportation.
These upgrades not only build resilience but also reduce costs, improve environmental health, and strengthen the community's ability to thrive during challenging times.
The 15 organizations who run food pantries and soup kitchen are located throughout the city of Detroit:
- Capuchin Soup Kitchen Conner Kitchen
- Capuchin Soup Kitchen Meldrum
- Capuchin Soup Kitchen Services Center
- Christ Church Detroit
- Detroit Grandale Salvation Army
- Genesis Hope
- Lord of Lords Ministries
- Muslim Center Mosque and Community Center
- New Mount Hermon Missionary Baptist Church
- Pilgrim Baptist Church
- Safe Hope Church of God In Christ
- SDM2 Project Education
- SDM2 Community House and Kitchen
- St. Peter's Episcopal Church
- St. Suzanne's Cody Rouge Community Resource Center
Media hits:
- Detroit News, "Detroit nonprofits, faith leaders celebrate $20 million to create 'climate resilience hubs,'" 12/16/24
- Channel 7 WXYZ Detroit, "$20M granted to Detroit houses of worship to serve community and environment," 12/16/24
- Michigan Chronicle, "EcoWorks Pioneers Transformative Community Change Grant Initiative to Empower Southeast Michigan," 12/17/24
We look forward to sharing more with you about this initiative as it unfolds!