VIBES: HAPPY. BLACK. HISTORY. MONTH. โผ๏ธ
If youโre reading this newsletter, then I assume that you: value human rights, are combatting the climate crisis, are exercising the โhope as a disciplineโ as Mariama Kaba puts it because you wake up every day bold enough to work towards a future where we all flourish. BHM reminds us of the throughlines between past, present, and future. This lens allows us to see the how the environmental injustices by fossil fuels of today are rooted in the plantation economy of yesterday and that to get us all free, we have to look through the experience of Black Americans.

Table of Contents
๐ฐ Funding Opps 25
- Transit Narrative Change Lab by TransitCenter and Climate and Community Institute๐ฐ $50,000โ๐พ 18-month cohort program providing grants and training for transit communications leaders to become narrative change practitioners๐
Feb 9, 2026 ๐ United States๐ช๐พ Apply Now
- Driving Mobility & Accessibility on Public Land Grant by the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF)๐ฐ $20,000โ๐พ Grants to improve accessibility on public lands near Toyota facilities for people with disabilities๐
Feb 18, 2026 ๐ United States (near public lands)๐ช๐พ Apply Now
- Open Call Grants by the Clif Family Foundation๐ฐ $5,000 - $50,000โ๐พ General operating grants for organizations advancing regenerative farming, food justice, climate solutions, and healthy community access.๐
Mar 1, 2026 ๐ United States๐ช๐พ Apply Now
- Fellowship by Camelback Ventures๐ฐ $50,000โ๐พ 16-week fellowship providing capital, coaching, and connections to early-stage entrepreneurs addressing education and technology inequities๐
Mar 2, 2026 ๐ United States๐ช๐พ Apply Now
- 2026 Grants Competition by the Climate Smart Communities Initiative๐ฐ $60,000-$115,000โ๐พ Grants for community-based climate resilience projects in frontline US communities๐ Mar 12, 2026 ๐ United States๐ช๐พ Apply Now
๐ฐView all the opps in the Funding Database
๐ผ Jobs & Fellowships 80+
- Senior Manager, Programs and Development for Just Economy Institute๐ต $90,000 - $115,000โ๐พ Oversee programs, fundraising, and communications for a fellowship connecting financial innovators working toward a just economy.๐ Apply ASAP ๐ United States (West Coast Preferred; Remote๐ช๐พ Apply Now
- Climate Organizing Director for Jobs with Justice San Francisco๐ต $92,000-$101,000โ๐พ Lead statewide labor coalition organizing for worker-led climate transition and good jobs in California๐
Apply ASAP ๐ San Francisco; Hybrid๐ช๐พ Apply Now
- Director of Originations for DC Green Bank๐ต $147,000โ๐พ Lead investment origination and execution for clean energy and green infrastructure projects at DC Green Bank.๐
Apply ASAP ๐ Washington, D.C.; Hybrid๐ช๐พ Apply Now
- Project Manager, Southern Appalachian Land Protection for Trust for Public Land๐ต $82,423-$96,000โ๐พ Lead investment origination and execution for clean energy and green infrastructure projects at DC Green Bank.๐
Apply ASAP ๐ Southern Appalachia; Hybrid๐ช๐พ Apply Now
- Sustainable Justice HBCU Fellowship for Sustain Our Future Foundation๐ต $5,000 stipend + $10,000 scholarshipโ๐พ Paid summer fellowship for HBCU students focused on climate justice and community-driven environmental solutions๐ Mar 27 ๐ United States; Remote๐ช๐พ Apply Now
๐ผ View all the opps on the Just Transition Jobs Board
๐ RFP & Contracting 15
- Call for Applicants: Southwest Louisiana Leadership Cohort by Healthy Gulf & Rainforest Action Network๐ฒ N/Aโ๐พ Leadership training cohort for Southwest Louisiana community organizers working on environmental justice and petrochemical issues๐ Feb 4 ๐ Southwest Louisiana๐ช๐พ Apply Now
- RFP: Accelerator Workshop Delivery Partner by Work for America๐ฒ Not disclosedโ๐พ Seeking consultant to co-facilitate 8-week virtual workshops helping city HR teams improve government hiring systems๐
Feb 5, 2026 ๐ United States๐ช๐พ Apply Now
- RFP: Multimedia Production Services by Brookings Institution๐ฒ Not disclosedโ๐พ Video production services for 1.5-day Mississippi Delta event with B-roll, interviews, and optional recap video๐ Feb 28, 2026 ๐ Yazoo City and Jackson, MS๐ช๐พ Apply Now
๐ View the full RFP & Contract Catalog
๐๐ฝ Working on just transition? Reply and letโs connect 1:1
SOMETIMES YOU NEED A LIL EXTRA
โ๏ธ Lagniappe

Image source: @blackfoodfridays on Threads
Largest private equity firms wonโt exit fossil fuels until at
least 2090 at current pace by Matt Parr for Private Equity Stakeholder Project
The Take: Amongst the largest private equity firms in the country, more than 60% of their energy portfolios are invested in fossil fuels with these investments continuing until the turn of the century. So much for those 2050 committments huh? ๐
The Take: I was talking a friend over the weekend about how both the fossil fuel industry, data centers, and other extractive developments use the language of โinevitabilityโ as a tactic to push their agendas onto communities. As the fossil fuel industry continues to cling to their dominance, when the math doesnโt math, communities are left holding the bag. None of this is inevitable; we have agency.
SOME GOOD ENERGY FOR YโALL
โก๏ธ Recharge
Baldwin was clear-eyed and often prescient about how intertwined our fates are: our country cannot flourish unless Black people flourish
"I can't be a pessimist because I'm alive, so I'm forced to be an optimist. But the future of the Negro in this country is precisely as bright or as dark as the future of the country. It is entirely up to the American people whether or not they are going to face and deal with and embrace this stranger whom they maligned so long.โ
James Baldwin, I Am Not Your NegroFor those of us from the frontlines, for those in solidarity with us, for those who want to ensure that the transition of our economy away from extraction is into a regenerative one where we all have sustainable, prosperous futures โ Common River is for you.
Thank you for being here.
In solidarity,
Trace