One World Shared Future Community Labs (OWSFCL) was founded in 2023 with a simple idea: to provide frontline communities with the knowledge they need in order to prepare and protect their health, homes, and environment from the impacts of climate change. Despite the fact that underserved communities are often the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, these communities are often left out of conversations about resilience planning and may face additional economic hardship in an economy changed by climate change. OWSFCL seeks to confront these social, economic, and environmental challenges in an integrated manner. The organization offers a range of services, including environmental education, consulting, community building, and job training, to underserved communities in Northeast Illinois, in particular, those with high rates of incarceration. In all its work, OWSFCL seeks to bring a collaborative, inclusive, and sustainable approach to planning for climate change.
Vision board at one of One World Shared Future’s community circles in Zion, IL. Photo: Dr. Muriel Adams
Based in Gurnee, IL, One World Shared Future is a minority-led and founded nonprofit that makes climate change planning accessible to everyone. Though small – led by two staff members – the organization has an outsized impact through its collaborative strategy of using community members’ shared knowledge and effort to ensure that planning and action take place at the community level. To this end, the organization has hosted three five-week-long “Shared Future Community Circles” focused on community-building, environmental education, and clean energy job and safety training. These labs give residents the opportunity to engage in activities that promote personal well-being and growth while building meaningful connections that strengthen communities. OWSFCL also offers an environmental and job training program resulting in a pre-apprentice certificate that gives community members with barriers to employment access to job opportunities in a new economy altered by climate change. This focus ensures that vulnerable individuals and communities won’t be left out of climate change planning.
Participants at one of One World Shared Future’s community circles in Zion, IL. Photo: Dr. Muriel Adams