Creating Equitable, Environmentally-strong Communities
This summer GIPL launched a new initiative that seeks to best serve African American churches in Georgia. The hope is that GIPL can learn how these particular faith communities can inform and participate in the shared responsibility to steward the earth through their particular cultural and theological perspective. We are excited to announce that Valerie Hill Rawls has joined the GIPL team to coordinate this initiative.
Valerie Hill Rawls comes to this work with an immense amount of experience and wisdom as to how one's faith inspires authentic and just action. Valerie writes, "I'm excited about, the opportunity to change the way we think about creating equitable, environmentally-strong communities, cities and a world we all want. Utilizing mass-collaboration and co-creation to engage the disengaged in the climate and environmental justice narrative is my passion.
"I am humbled and honored to support the mission of GIPL, Interfaith Power and Light and the affiliate members. As interfaith believers, we all have been given the role of stewards of the environments where will live, work, learn, play and worship. And, where we don't, we are our brothers and sisters keepers. It is incumbent upon us to make sure ALL communities will thrive and prosper. As we create awareness, educate, and lift up the voices of community members, they will be able to advocate for policies to ensure access to clean air, water, healthy food, and public safety regarding the current and future environmental shocks and stresses."
Join us in welcoming Valerie to the GIPL team! We look forward to sharing more with you as this program makes strides. Contact us at info@gipl.org if you know of a congregation or pastor who is interested in participating.