If you’ve been paying attention to the news at all lately, you might be feeling concern for Front and Centered and for the work we do. Climate and environmental nonprofits are facing increasing scrutiny, and organizations that depend heavily on federal or state funding are facing additional struggles.
I’m writing to assure you that at Front and Centered, we remain committed to our mission, and we will be doing as we have always done—centering the critical analyses and lived expertise of frontline communities for the benefit of all Washingtonians, and for a healthy environment for all.
What this means is that we will continue to engage in policy advocacy, from addressing issues of clean air, transportation, and energy access to advancing solutions for resulting disparities in health and opportunity. We will continue to support communities across the state in their capacity building efforts, from leadership programming to community regranting and technical assistance. We will continue working for justice even when it feels against all odds.
The fear and anxiety many are feeling are real, so I want to highlight some of the work we’ve been doing internally to ensure the continuance and safety of our organization and our coalition:
- convening our coalition members on a semi-regular basis to share knowledge, strategize, and be in community with each other;
- gathering together a legal committee we can call upon should such resources ever be required;
- planning for new ways to engage with our donors;
- strengthening bonds and sharing resources and information with partner organizations; and
- sharing as much information and resources as we can with our coalition and staff.
While we always knew the work we do has a significant impact, the events of the last few months have only proved that even more. Work like ours is under scrutiny precisely because it has been proven to create change for the better. As we celebrate our tenth anniversary this year, we want to assure you that we are here to stay. Our mission continues, and with your support, so will the impact of our coalition.
