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Got Green 

Description

GOT GREEN is bridging the gap between communities of color and low income communities and a progressive, ecologically aware future.

GOT GREEN is a grassroots community organizing group located in racially diverse Southeast Seattle. We engage, recruit and build leadership among low income workers, people of color, low income women, and young adults in SE Seattle and beyond into South King County.

Our goal is to turn the promise of the new, green economy into tangible benefits for our communities while cultivating new leaders for the environmental and social justice movements.

Mission Statement
GOT GREEN works to give low-income people and communities of color in Seattle/King County access to the benefits of the green movement and green economy - good green jobs, healthy food, energy efficient and healthy homes, and quality public transportation. We do this by cultivating leaders to educate, advocate, organize and build coalitions.
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Got Green
3518 S Edmonds St 
Seattle 
WA
98118 
(206) 290-5136 

Michael Woo 
Director 

Programs

Got Green Programs

The Women in the Green Economy/Access to Healthy Food Campaign elevates the voices and leadership of women of color and low income women to put more healthy food dollars into the pockets of low income families of color, and increase physical access to healthy food in Southeast Seattle communities.

2013 GOAL: Help turn the Fresh Bucks pilot program into a permanent food access program that provides matching dollars for low income individuals and families using food stamps/EBT cards at neighborhood farmers’ markets.


The Green Jobs/Construction Jobs Equity Project leads community organizing and coalition-based advocacy strategies to win living wage jobs and training opportunities on construction projects that are being “built green” or are an outgrowth of transit oriented development.

2013 GOAL: Get a Targeted Local Hiring ordinance passed by the Seattle City Council that will guarantee construction-related jobs and training opportunities to workers living in the most economically disadvantaged neighborhoods in our city.


The Young Workers in the Green Economy Project is being launched in 2013 to promote the voices and leadership of young adults of color – ages 18-30 – around the issues of jobs and employment. This project will support young adult leaders to win changes in public policy that increase their access to jobs and/or education programs in “green” or environmentally sustainable careers.

2013 GOAL: Engage 150 young adults of color in a face-to-face survey, roundtables, and organizing efforts that will shed light on young workers challenges in and hopes for the green economy.

Recent Successes and Current Challenges

SUCCESS
Saving the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program for 40,000 low income families. When the Farmers Market Nutrition Program was cut in the governor’s 2012 budget and many of our families were worried. The program gave income families like ours the means to shop at farmers markets for local, fresh food.

We collected 350 petitions from members of our communities of color in Southeast Seattle, and personally delivered the petitions to state legislators in Olympia during two grassroots advocacy trips. Our Women in the Green Economy Project was started to create a place for low income women to raise our voices about access to healthy food. During our trips to Olympia, media interviews and public speaking events we brought real stories of real women and families to make sure that our perspectives were heard.

As a result of our organizing effort - 400 community members strong -  the Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program was restored in the 2012 state budget and free, farmer’s market bucks were saved for 40,000 families statewide.
 
NEED
Fund the Women in Green’s 2013 campaign to help Seattle families on food stamps or EBT cards double their dollars at neighborhood farmers markets. Our advocacy for farmers’ market bucks caught the attention of the City of Seattle. The City responded by creating a pilot program for low income families shopping at neighborhood farmers’ markets;  “Fresh Bucks” gave matching dollars to help put more healthy, local food on families’ tables. Got Green needs funds to staff an effort to turn the “Fresh Bucks” local food pilot into a permanent, year-round program in the City of Seattle and beyond.

Evaluation


Got Green engages and builds the capacity of historically hard to reach populations in order to ensure that all in our community are participating in and reaping the benefits of environmental preservation. The new focus on a clean-energy economy presents a unique opportunity to engage low-income communities and communities of color in the green jobs movement to promote stewardship of the environment and economic development, while empowering underrepresented communities.

Proven Success
While a relatively new organization, Got Green has been steadily growing its membership and activities. It is frequently around the table with public officials, working to give underserved communities a voice in the green economy movement. It was included in a stimulus grant recognizing its success in engaging these communities.

Its work with Women in the Green Economy was born out of more than 200 face-to-face surveys with low-income women who identified “access to healthy food” as a priority. With Got Green’s support these women have organized an advocacy effort that helped save the successful Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program from state budget cuts.

Use of Best Practices
Got Green’s work is based on the idea that change needs to be led by those who are affected by it. For its home weatherization apprenticeship program, they formed a historic partnership with the Laborers Union of North America (LiUNA), capitalizing on both organizations’ core strengths- LiUNA has the ability to offer respected credentials, and Got Green can design the recruitment and enrollment process to be accessible for people of color and women.

Additionally, Got Green leads an annual strategic planning retreat with staff, board, and volunteer leaders that provides an opportunity to evaluate its work and plan new programming or strategies to address gaps or emerging issues.

Accessibility
Got Green is an innovative grassroots organization led by people of color that works on issues of access to and equity in the green economy. It does specific outreach to low-income communities of color, recent immigrants, ex-offenders, and young adults to identify potential community leaders and support them on community identified campaigns. Got Green provides the infrastructure and training to elevate the voice of the community.

Collaboration
Got Green is working to build a broad-based coalition of organizations and institutions (places of worship, schools, etc.) in communities of color around the issues of access to and equity in the green economy. Existing partnerships include: White Center Community Development Association, LiUNA, Puget Sound Sage, Emerald Cities Seattle, Green For All, El Centro de la Raza, APRI Black Pastors Group, Creatives 4 Communities, Rainier Beach Empowerment Coalition, the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County and Umoja Peace Center.

Grant History with The Seattle Foundation:

Grants Awarded through The Seattle Foundation Grantmaking Program:

DateAmountPurpose
3/10/2013 $16,000.00support general operating expenses.
6/10/2012 $15,000.00support general operating expenses.
3/10/2011 $10,000.00support general operating expenses for Got Green.

Financials

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