Girl Plus Environment (GPE) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to educating, engaging, and empowering Black and Brown women+ to lead climate and environmental justice efforts within their own communities. Founded in 2019 by environmental health activist Diamond Spratling, GPE was born out of the urgent need to center historically excluded voices in the environmental justice movement.
Environmental racism continues to be a devastating and systemic injustice in the U.S. Seventy-one percent of African Americans live in counties that fail to meet federal air pollution standards. Over one million face elevated cancer risks due to toxic environmental exposure. Even in personal care, only 25% of beauty and hair products marketed to African Americans are considered low hazard. These inequities underscore the pressing need for culturally relevant, community-driven environmental education and action, which are precisely the spaces GPE exists to fill.
Through a lens that combines environmental justice, health equity, and racial justice, GPE provides accessible, culturally-driven learning experiences and advocacy platforms that mobilize and support those most impacted by environmental harm. By using everyday language, leveraging social media, and producing engaging campaigns, GPE makes climate justice relatable and relevant especially for those traditionally left out of these conversations.
Programs and Inclusive Leadership
GPE leads with authenticity and lived experience. Our internal culture is grounded in equity, inclusion, and community-centered leadership. This year, we expanded our board to 13 members 92% of whom are women+ of color and we are excited to welcome Teresa Evans-Hunter as our newly hired Deputy Director, a key addition to our team as we continue to expand our impact. Through our partnership with MobilizeGreen, we host paid internships to provide career pathways for young professionals of color, increasing workforce diversity in the environmental sector.
One of our signature initiatives is the GPE National Community (GPENC), a free membership platform designed specifically for Black and Brown women+. With over 500 members and growing, this hub offers access to green jobs, advocacy toolkits, training resources, funding opportunities, and educational content. It is not just a learning space, it’s a launchpad for leadership and local action.
Flagship Projects and Measurable Impact
GPE’s “Protecting Our Energy (POE)” initiative is a standout example of our education-to-empowerment pipeline. In Atlanta, we trained 50 Black women as Energy Justice Ambassadors, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to advocate for affordable and clean energy in their neighborhoods. The program provided over $5,000 in utility assistance to single-family households and helped participants engage in Georgia Power Rate Case hearings, lead local workshops, and educate their communities about energy equity. By the end of the cohort, 89% of participants felt confident discussing energy justice compared to only 6% at the start.
Our digital campaigns like “The Mane Issue” on toxic chemicals in Black haircare and our Beyoncé-themed environmental justice education series have reached over 40,000 people online and through pop-up events. These culturally resonant campaigns make complex environmental issues accessible and actionable.
Partnerships and Strategic Growth
Collaboration is core to our strategy. We work alongside organizations like Black Girl, Green Earth, Arm in Arm for Climate, the Partnership for Southern Equity, and Sustainable Georgia Futures to address systemic issues like energy burden and environmental racism. We are also active members of the Anthropocene Alliance and the City of Atlanta’s Clean Energy Advisory Board, where we help shape policy by ensuring that community voices are heard.
Our relationships with HBCUs like Spelman College and Howard University have helped us create a pipeline for young leaders of color to enter the environmental sector. Through our consulting and technical assistance work, we’ve also supported cities and organizations in making their own programs more equitable and community-focused. In addition to our public-facing programs, we are focused on building internal capacity to sustain our momentum. We’ve secured our first multi-year, six-figure grant for general operating support and are actively expanding our membership with a goal of reaching 800 members by the end of the year. This past year marked a turning point for Girl Plus Environment. We secured our first multi-year general operating grant, increased our annual funding by over 250%, and transitioned to full-time leadership—all while deepening impact through programs like Protecting Our Energy, which trained 50 women to become energy justice leaders and helped shape local energy policy. These wins reflect both our expanding reach and our growing capacity to lead transformative climate justice work.
Conclusion
Girl Plus Environment is changing the face and future of the environmental justice movement by making it more inclusive, representative, and actionable. Through our community-led initiatives, innovative campaigns, and strategic partnerships, we are not only raising awareness we are building power. We envision a future where those most impacted by environmental injustice are also those leading the charge toward solutions. And we’re well on our way.
