An Atlanta nonprofit led by Black women is putting $30,000 into the hands of young people ready to tackle environmental problems in their own neighborhoods. Girl Plus Environment announced the awards through its Girlies Green Fund.

The grants go to members between 18 and 29 who live in Georgia. Each award ranges from $500 to $2,500 and is meant to turn a promising idea into a working project.

Turning local ideas into action

In the South Georgia city of Cordele, Brittney Deloney, 21, is organizing a day of water lessons and service for local youth. Young residents will learn how to protect water supplies then join cleanups and plant trees.

Closer to the capital, Rakiia Butler, 25, is building a project called Homegrown: Imagining South Fulton's Food System. She wants neighbors and local leaders to see why nearby farms and fresh produce matter for community health.

Funding the people closest to the problem

Diamond Spratling, who started the group and still runs it, said the fund exists because the people who live with environmental challenges every day should have the money to help solve them. Young advocates often have strong ideas and deep local knowledge but struggle to find the first dollar.

Eligible ideas can center on teaching, protecting land and wildlife, cutting emissions, public health or helping neighborhoods bounce back from disasters. Clean air, clean water, energy and food are all fair game.

A growing national network

Spratling launched the organization in 2019 to open doors in environmental education and leadership for Black women and girls. Its membership has since passed 1,000 people spread over 43 states.

Rather than treating young people as an audience the fund treats them as leaders who can test real solutions where they live.