Climate Justice is Community Justice: How the UCC Climate Justice Team is Building People Power

Climate change is often talked about as a future crisis, but for many communities in Grand Rapids, it’s already a daily reality. From rising energy costs to poor air quality and inequitable infrastructure, the impacts of environmental injustice are not evenly distributed. They fall hardest on communities of color and working families. These communities have historically been excluded from the decisions that shape their lives. At Urban Core Collective, our Climate & Environmental Justice team is working every day to change that. We are organizing, educating, and building community power to ensure that everyone has access to clean air, affordable energy, and sustainable systems that support a healthy future.

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Energy Justice: Challenging Rising Costs and Corporate Power

Across Michigan, residents are facing rising energy costs, driven in part by utility companies seeking major rate hikes. In a recent case, utility providers requested a $460.3 million rate increase, with $312.9 million ultimately approved. These decisions have real consequences for families already struggling to make ends meet.

Energy burden (the percentage of income spent on energy) is a key indicator of this inequity. Experts recommend that households spend no more than 6% of their income on energy. Yet many low-income families are paying 20–25% of their income, forcing difficult choices between keeping the lights on and meeting other basic needs.

Research from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy shows that low-income households often face energy burdens that are three times higher than those of wealthier households.

We are actively working to challenge these systems by:

Fighting utility rate hikes in court
Advocating for more sustainable and equitable energy planning
Engaging residents in the regulatory process

We are also working alongside partners, such as the Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition, to ensure that frontline communities have a voice in decisions that directly impact their lives.

Because energy is a necessity, and everyone deserves access to clean, affordable energy.

📩 Get involved: sergio@uccgr.org

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Resisting Harmful Development: Data Centers and Community Impact

Michigan is seeing a surge in proposed data center developments, including multibillion-dollar projects that promise economic growth, but often come with high environmental and community costs. Data centers require massive amounts of energy and water, raising concerns about:

Increased energy demand and rising utility costs
Strain on local water systems
Limited community input in decision-making processes

While some projects move forward, others are being challenged. In early 2026, a township in Kent County approved a six-month moratorium on new data center proposals following community pushback, demonstrating the power of organized residents.

UCC is collaborating with partners, including the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition, to:

Develop research and data modeling.
Educate communities about the impacts of data centers.
Build strategies to advocate for sustainable alternatives.

This summer, we will also be one of many organizations across the state working to educate the public and gather feedback on a critical process taking place over the next year. Consumers Energy will be seeking approval from the Michigan Public Service Commission for its Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). This is where they explain how they will provide the most reliable, affordable, and clean energy to half the state. However, this process always involves the public and advocacy organizations pressuring the commission and the utility to develop a plan that reflects public priorities.

To do that, we will hold community forums across Consumers Energy's coverage area. At least two of those will be in Grand Rapids. Stay tuned for more information on when, where, and how you can participate.

This work, led by Sergio, is about ensuring that development is community-informed, equitable, and sustainable.

📩 Get involved: sergio@uccgr.org

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Sustainable Municipal Systems: Reimagining Our City

From waste management to transportation, the systems that shape our daily lives should work for everyone. But too often, infrastructure decisions prioritize convenience and cost over long-term sustainability and community well-being. We believe municipalities have a responsibility to invest in systems that support:

Safe and accessible transportation
Responsible waste management
Stormwater systems that prevent flooding
Affordable, sustainable housing

Through collaboration with local partners, including the Grand Rapids Climate Coalition and community-based groups like Safe and Healthy Roosevelt Park Neighborhood (SHRPN), Erica is advocating for policies and practices that prioritize people over profit.

Taxpayer dollars should be used to build a city that works for all of us.

📩 Get involved by contacting Erica: erica@uccgr.org

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Air Quality Advocacy: Fighting for Clean Air

In Grand Rapids, air quality varies across neighborhoods.

Communities located near highways and industrial zones experience higher levels of pollution and poorer health outcomes. In some areas, residents face unhealthy air quality for more than 25% of the year. These disparities are the result of long-standing systemic inequities, not a coincidence. Nancy represents us in the SHRPN coalition. SHRPN advocates for stricter enforcement of truck traffic that impacts residents in the Roosevelt Park Neighborhood and is collaborating with organizations across the city to build collective support and awareness.

We are working to:

Advocate for stricter enforcement of industrial regulations.
Address the impact of truck traffic in residential areas.
Raise awareness about environmental health disparities.

Everyone deserves to breathe clean air. And we will continue to fight until that is a reality.

📩 Contact Nancy to get involved: nancy@uccgr.org

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Building Community Through Culture and Connection

Climate justice is about people, relationships, and the spaces we create together. Here are some initiatives our Climate Justice team leads and/or supports to help get the word out and get folks involved:

🎙️ Green Rapids Podcast

Hosted by Climate Justice Organizer Erica Bouldin, the Green Rapids Podcast explores the intersection of social issues and environmental change in Grand Rapids. Through conversations with local leaders and community members, the podcast makes complex issues accessible and highlights actionable ways to get involved.

🌿 Climate Café GR

Climate Café GR provides a welcoming space for people to process the emotional realities of climate change and connect with others in community. Co-facilitated by Nancy Morales and local organizer Nate Rauh-Bieri, these gatherings center care, reflection, and shared learning, reminding us that climate work is as much about healing as it is about action.

🚲 Envirotours

Through guided bike tours, we are helping residents explore climate justice issues across Grand Rapids in a tangible, community-centered way. These initiatives reflect a core belief: how we come together shapes what we are able to change. Stay up-to-date by following the Envirotours Instagram page.

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Join the Movement

Real change happens when communities come together. Whether you’re new to climate justice or already engaged, there is a place for you in this work.

Start small:

Learn about the systems impacting your community.
Attend a local event or workshop.
Support local, sustainable businesses.
Share what you learn with others.

And most importantly… stay connected! Because climate justice is not a moment, it’s a movement!

📩 Contact the team to get involved:

Energy Justice: sergio@uccgr.org

Sustainable Systems: erica@uccgr.org

Air Quality: nancy@uccgr.org

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