Key learnings from the survey:
Survey responses showcased that there is a high level of understanding in the network of how social, racial, climate and environmental justice are intricately interconnected, and a strong sense of passion and commitment to integrate these more deeply and explicitly into FOK’s mission and work.
Number of Respondents
The survey was sent to 3528 members of the network, and 147 people responded, giving us a snapshot about trends and patterns across the wider network.
Member Location
Network members are spread across Canada, the majority located in BC, Ontario and Quebec.
Identities
- Race/Ethnicity: The large majority of members (76%) identify as White/European, 11% of members identified as Racialized, Asian, Iranian & Latina.
- Social Class: The majority of respondents (87%) identified with being middle or upper middle class.
- Gender: The majority (58%) identified with being female, 15% male, and the majority cisgendered.
- Sexuality: 19 members disclosed their sexuality, with members identifying as queer, gay or bisexual, heterosexual, or asexual.
- Ability: 6 members spoke to having a disability.
- Mental Health: a few members shared details about mental illness and/or neurodivergence.
What members think FOK could be doing to integrate racial equity into the network's work
A desire to integrate racial equity into everything is present, and the need to foster continual learning, listening to and amplifying BIPOC voices on climate change, and where it makes sense, seeking partnerships with BIPOC-led groups. Understanding and seeking to address both environmental racism locally and barriers to participation for racialized communities in FOK work were named as additional key elements.
What members need from themselves, others and FOK to support integrating racial equity into climate action
Members want more clear direction from FOK on how to integrate racial equity into climate action. There is a hunger for learning and connecting across diversity with racialized communities on climate justice, in the spirit of solidarity. There was vast support for building on our efforts to support marginalized communities and BIPOC-led initiatives from the broader climate justice movement.
Leaving no one behind
There was support for taking intersectional climate action, meaning having calls to action for parents that include human rights and other social issues; confirmation that equity work is climate action. As well as critically looking at what types of climate actions we mobilize around, and how we involve people. To continually ask ourselves who has access to these opportunities, who benefits, and who does it leave out?
There was support for continuing to weave anti-racism and decolonial actions into FOK work, and requests to widen our focus to those living in low income households or in poverty, with different abilities, mental health struggles and neurodivergence.
Integrating Social & Racial Justice into Climate Action
- 90% of respondents expressed that this is very important or important
- 80% of respondents are very familiar or familiar with concepts of anti-racism/racial equity, justice, diversity and inclusion.
- 58.5% of respondents think about racism or incorporating racial equity in their climate action
Next steps
The network’s national support team and its Justice-Equity-Diversity-Inclusion (JEDI) accelerator committee plan on these next steps:
- Strengthen FOK’s integration of racial and social justice into climate actions by offering resources, continual learning opportunities and reminders to the wider network and For Our Kids teams. For example, during events, in calls to actions, in guides, toolkits, templates, live training sessions, videos, discussions, social media posts and our regular newsletter.
- Follow and support organizations/groups led by BIPOC, low income, differently abled or other marginalized peoples. Amplify their calls to action, stories and educational efforts. Over time we hope to build relationships and explore (where appropriate and mutual) opportunities for connection and collaboration and support For Our Kids local teams to follow a similar process at the local level.
- Reach out to survey respondents who said you could be contacted or would like to get more involved in the network. Gather further info around barriers to involvement in the network.
- Continue working with Bloom consulting to develop a JEDI work plan for the network, with plans to annually administer a network survey and/or other feedbacking tools for network development, member engagement and supporting members from marginalized identities.
The survey was an initiative of our network’s Justice-Equity-Diversity-Inclusion (JEDI) accelerator committee. You can read more about where the FOK network is in its JEDI work here, and more about the formation of our committee here.
Please contact us with further feedback, ideas or questions: [email protected]
