8 Black-Led Organizations Making Strides in Energy, Environment and Sustainability

By Sammie Trvalik, Earth Forward Group

Published February 21, 2024

Our work at Earth Forward Group centers on workforce development and community resiliency projects related building performance, sustainability, clean energy and energy equity. As an organization deeply committed to environmental justice, we recognize the critical importance of cultivating a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve.

The environmental movement in the United States is marked by a legacy of discrimination towards people of color, evident in the monopolization of natural spaces, environmental policy, and the sustainability workforce. Meanwhile, people of color, women, and under-resourced communities have borne the disproportionate brunt of climate change impacts. This historical injustice continues to perpetuate racial disparities within the environmental sector and despite incremental advancements, as Black professionals remain underrepresented in the sustainability workforce. A 2018 report from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) underscores the enduring stereotype of environmentalists as white, well-educated professionals, prevalent across American society regardless of race or class.

People of color have historically played a pivotal role in spearheading the environmental justice movement since the 1970s. Black-led organizations continue to fight climate change, serve under-resourced communities and build a greener future. Here are eight organizations making a big impact we think you should get to know.

 
 

Bloc Power, headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, is a pioneering climate technology and sustainable building firm dedicated to transforming under-resourced communities through greening the built environment, and reducing environmental, economic and health costs for homeowners. Spearheaded by founder and CEO Donnel Baird, the company boasts support from premier global investors. In 2022, Bloc Power earned recognition by being named to the TIME100 Most Influential Companies list, while Baird was honored as TIME’s ‘Dreamer of the Year’.

 
 

Uncharted is an award winning software-as-a-service (SAAS) company cultivating equitable living environments by promoting sustainable development across air, water, transit, connectivity, and energy infrastructure. Based in New York City with a global workforce, Uncharted thrives under the leadership of founder and CEO Jessica O. Matthews, who established the company at the age of 22. Among her numerous accomplishments, Matthews offers counsel to the Department of Energy, focusing specifically on modernizing the nation’s electric delivery system.

 
 

Volt Energy Utility is a leading solar energy development firm based in Washington, DC dedicated to managing utility-scale solar energy projects, aimed at delivering the advantages of clean, renewable energy to local communities. In a significant milestone, co-founder and CEO Gilbert Campbell III testified before the Energy Subcommittee on the Blue Collar to Green Collar Jobs Development Act of 2019. This pivotal bill, introduced to Congress in September 2023, aims to enhance funding and opportunities for the green workforce, ensuring an equitable transition to a green economy.

 
 

Dunamis Clean Energy Partners is a woman-owned, MBE-certified technology, manufacturing and engineering firm specialized in energy efficiency and environmental service solutions in the industrial cleaning, lighting and electrical vehicle charging industries. Founded by CEO Natalie King, Dunamis has garnered recognition from the White House, Forbes, CBS, and other prestigious entities as a leader in energy and small business innovation. King is one of the founding members of the Blacks in Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (BEVI), a group focused on empowering local communities with access to clean energy sources manufactured in their own neighborhoods. Dunamis is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan.

 
 

Shyft Power Solutions, formerly known as Solstice Energy Solutions, is an innovative energy technology company revolutionizing the utilization and distribution of energy by adapting solar and energy-storage technologies into the power grid. Their mission is to enhance the cleanliness, affordability, and accessibility of energy resources. Shyft Power was founded by CEO Ugwen I. Eneyo, a Nigerian-American engineer, during her research as a Stanford University PhD student in 2018. Eneyo has been named to Forbes 30 Under 30 as one of the early Black female climate leaders to raise over $1,000,000 in venture capital.

 
 

The American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE) is a national association of Black professionals in the energy industry based in Washington, DC. AABE serves as a prominent advocate for the participation of Black Americans in energy and environmental policymaking, as well as the growing field of energy-related jobs. Founded by Clarke A. Watson, a prominent energy consultant and activist, the association emerged in 1977 in response to the energy crises of the 1970s and the glaring absence of Black representation in responsive energy policies. Today, AABE has 39 active chapters distributed throughout the country, which have notably established several membership programs for young professionals interested in energy-related jobs.

 
 

Browning the Green Space (BGS) is a cross-sector coalition of leaders and organizations in the Northeast USA with the collective mission to advance diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the clean energy space. BGS employs a systematic approach to encourage companies to embrace effective DEI initiatives, help communities access clean energy benefits, and support students, contractors and other professionals from underrepresented groups to secure employment in the clean energy sector and gain access to valuable career resources. Apply to join the coalition here.


Notable Sustainable Agriculture Training Programs

The advancement of sustainable agriculture is integral to the environmental movement. Notably, the engagement of Black farmers in the agriculture industry has witnessed a significant decline over the past century, as highlighted in a McKinsey & Company report. The historical relationship between Black communities and food production in the U.S. is multifaceted, and several agricultural organizations are striving to reshape the narrative surrounding Black involvement in food production. Discover below a selection of Black-led sustainable agriculture training programs aimed at fostering greener food production practices.


Black History Month Resource Highlight — the Center for Racial Justice in Education

 
 

The Center for Racial Justice Education’s Black History Month Resource Guide for Educators and Families is a useful library of material educators can incorporate into their curriculum throughout the year. In introducing the collection, the Center emphasizes that “Unless Black history is taught throughout the year, it perpetuates an “othering” of Black Lives and Black students, and is also a manifestation of anti-Blackness. Ensuring the ongoing integration of Black history and experiences throughout all curriculum is imperative as educators continue to uplift every student and reinforce that Black lives matter everyday.”

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