About Us
ABOUT
GREEN LEADERSHIP TRUST
Founded in 2013, the Green Leadership Trust (GLT) strengthens the environmental movement by elevating People of the Global Majority into board level & executive leadership roles and building the capacity of boards to address harmful legacies. In order to foster a more inclusive and equitable movement, GLT works to embed people-centric values across sectors and win policy victories at all levels.
Our
VISION
GLT envisions a future where the benefits of a clean and healthy environment are enjoyed equitably by all, and where those from communities most impacted by environmental injustice are meaningful decision makers in the environmental movement.
About
Our Members
We are fiduciaries of color and Indigenous peoples dedicated to confronting bias, and exclusion in the environmental sector. We challenge the narrative around who cares for the environment, who bears its burdens, and who benefits from inclusivity. Our work is rooted in transforming the sector to fully engage diverse leadership and strengthen frontline communities. As long-term environmental and multi-generational leaders, we commit to equity, honoring the expertise of marginalized communities, and advancing a vision of sustainability that benefits all.
Our
Internal Strategy
Through targeted membership growth, impactful partnerships, and strategic advocacy, GLT is forging an inclusive, effective environmental movement that addresses the urgent challenges of our era.
Our
GOVERNANCE
Launched in 2013, the Green Leadership Trust works to build an environmental and conservation movement that wins. We are unique in a number of ways because we are the first cross-organizational effort focused on building power and diversity in any advocacy sector. We are guided first and foremost by our responsibility as fiduciaries of the organizations we represent.
WHY WE EXIST
In 2016 we conducted an annual board member census of the Green Group national environmental and conservation groups. Our census showed 763 board members among the Green Group organizations, and 88 of those members are people of color and indigenous people serving on those boards.
While there have been lots of changes to boards since then, Green Leadership Trust efforts have catalyzed the trend toward greater inclusivity and an increase of people of color and indigenous people.We continue to gain numbers and power for our ranks that can be attributed at least in part to our concerted efforts to identify and recruit from amongst our networks for open positions.
One critical aspect of our privileged intelligence comes from GLT members serving as fiduciaries on these boards which also includes insights on potential and upcoming vacancies.
Green 2.0 reported in April 2017 a different universe of POC in leadership positions. This data includes foundations and shows 22% people of color and indigenous people on boards.
OUR STATEMENT ON EQUITY
To increase equity, GLT effects change at the structural level, beyond campaigns of diversity. We act together as fiduciaries of color and indigenous peoples identifying and confronting practices of bias, cultural preference and homogeneity, to transform the environmental sector. We do this because it is necessary to reaffirm the narrative about who cares about the environment, who bears the burdens of degradation, and who benefits from inclusiveness at every level. Everyone cares. Burdens are disproportionate. Everyone benefits. Practices of exclusion keep the environmental profession from achieving its highest potential: healing and sustaining all communities.
As leaders, fiduciaries, and members of the environmental community, it is our duty to make equity more than a watchword; to upend the culture that supports the commodification of communities of color and native peoples’ voices, experience, and expertise while turning a blind eye to its leadership and capacity to strengthen the sector as long-term partners.
We envision a world where communities of color and all indigenous peoples are equal owners and users of our movement’s tools, networks, and license to live and to lead. We undertake this work as multi-generational environmental leaders for the betterment of all peoples, and for the success of natural world, our deepest partner and most sacred provider.
