Serving the Environment, Our Communities

The magnitude of environmental challenges often feels overwhelming, even on our best days. We know that massive cultural and political changes are ultimately needed to make significant impact. And yet, we still recycle. We bike to work. We buy fair-trade goods. We perform ritual acts of resistance and hope every day, and these actions alter us. There is power in our individual and collective action."We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope." -MLK Jr.This Martin Luther King Jr. Day, GIPL friends participated in two service projects in Atlanta - statements of our 'infinite hope'. While we know that that planting trees and distributing light bulbs won't solve the larger problems, they are pieces of a movement towards healing. They indicate what we are about: hope and action.Almost 100 volunteers joined with the Center for Sustainable Communities to distribute energy efficient light bulbs and educational information. Atlanta's underserved populations face one of the highest energy cost burdens in the country, and consequently, spend a disproportionate amount of money on energy than most cities in the country. Rev. Leo Woodberry has written about why we need to talk about energy and equity together. This Street Teams event brought together kids and adults to take action for energy equity!At Southview Cemetery, site of Dr. King's original internment, over 40 GIPL volunteers joined Trees Atlanta for the 4th annual Interfaith Tree Planting. Trees are crucial for healthy green spaces and removal of CO2 from the atmosphere. This act of planting trees reclaims developed spaces, and affirms that the natural world is valuable to our urban environment. Over 60 were planted this year!Let GIPL know how you would like to continue in these hopeful acts throughout 2017! We are committed to building on this good work from MLK Day and look forward to your participation. Be in touch at info@gipl.org.