Using data for equitable climate action
The Community of Practice came to a natural close in 2025, though its legacy lives on through an archive of past sessions and a vibrant network of changemakers.
For years, this space brought together community-based leaders and city staff using the GEM platform — all committed to exploring how data and mapping can advance climate equity and environmental justice.
Each month, participants gathered to learn, share resources, and build relationships, fostering collaboration between the communities most harmed by climate change and local governments working towards equitable climate and energy solutions.
While the regular gatherings have ended, the connections, momentum, and shared purpose continue. We invite you to stay connected. Watch past recordings, explore our GEM Process Guide (below), and continue asking questions, sharing insights, and building together. And don’t hesitate reaching out to us.
We are never alone in this work.
Warmly,
Greenlink Analytics Community Team
GEM Process Guide: For Cities and Communities Developing Shared Analysis of Equity Maps
Collaboration between local government and communities impacted by inequities are key to transformative climate and equity outcomes. Cities that invest in community partnerships and participatory planning have a greater capacity for practical climate solutions than cities where partnerships do not exist. To prepare for and address the impacts of the climate crisis, city staff and leaders from frontline communities must build strong working relationships.
Upright Consulting Services convened a national team of practitioners to develop the GEM Process Guide which should be used together with the equity maps. The national team of practitioners came from an extensive background in city government, community organizing, participatory action research, energy efficiency policy, and facilitation.
Rosa Gonzalez (Facilitating Power) led the creation of the Process Guide for cities to work with communities by developing a shared analysis of equity maps. Download the guide to learn more about how it supports city staff in collaborating with community organizers to implement inclusive processes and programs based on the equity data produced by GEM.
Did you catch the latest CP event?
Community of Practice
Meeting Archives
Understanding and Mapping Transportation Burden
February 22, 2024
Peter Haas, Chief Analyst, Center for Neighborhood Technology
Karen Apple, Electric Vehicle Program Manager, Office of Sustainability, City of Phoenix, AZ
Join Greenlink for an informational session on our new Equity Map indicator: Transportation Burden. This workshop is led by special guests and community partners: Peter Hass, Chief Analyst at the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT - https://www.youtube.com/c/CNTorg), and Karen Apple, Electric Vehicle Program Manager with the City of Phoenix’s (https://www.youtube.com/user/cityofphoenixaz) Office of Sustainability.
CNT guides us behind the development of the transportation burden indicators and maps, and Karen will walk us through the application of transportation data as it relates to her work in electrifying vehicles in Arizona.
Data Literacy & Accessibility: How to Translate Data into Stories - Community of Practice
September 21, 2023
Angelica Chavez Duckworth, Greenlink Analytics
Sharanya Madhavan, Greenlink Analytics
Daniel Wagner, Greenlink Analytics
Samantha Houck, Greenlink Analytics
Join the #GreenlinkAnalytics #Equity Team for the September 2023 Community Of Practice Workshop about translating data into stories. Stories are an influential form of communication. Stories are the way we create meaning and gain understanding about the world around us.
Clean Energy Jobs Calculator Workshop
December 7, 2023
Angelica "Jellie" Chavez Duckworth
Etan Gumerman
Kavin Manickaraj
Join GreenlinkAnalytics for a sneak peek at the new Clean Energy Jobs Calculator and how our remote teams—Equity, Analysis, and Data Science—work together!
GreenlinkOrg's latest tool analyzes Community-level data to identify the impact of clean energy investments on local industries and job creation, indicating which job titles, occupations, and skills may benefit most.
In this workshop we highlight the work streams and roles of our different teams in developing tools to create resources available for communities. We will also discuss how the work of our various teams ties together on the Clean Energy Jobs Calculator.
Extreme Heat Events: Record Highs, Disproportionate Impacts, and Targeted Solutions
July 27, 2023
Angelica Chavez Duckworth, Greenlink Analytics
Sharanya Madhavan, GEM Data Scientist, Greenlink Analytics
Daniel Wagner, GEM Project Manager, Greenlink Analytics
July 2023's interactive workshop focuses on the impacts of #ExtremeHeat events nationwide and how our #DataMapping tool, #GEM, can help target neighborhoods most negatively burdened by urban heat intensity. The Greenlink Analytics Equity Team leads a discussion on the implications of extreme heat events on our health and approaches to mitigate its negative effects in our communities.
Using Equity Mapping in Canvassing
October 26, 2023
Adrienne Rice, Sustainable Georgia Futures
Ty Wilson, Sustainable Georgia Futures
Angelica "Jellie" Chavez Duckworth, Greenlink Analytics
Join the GreenlinkAnalytics Equity Team and Sustainable Georgia Futures for the October 2023 Community of Practice Workshop on how to use data for canvassing. Data is a critical tool that can help us identify where to prioritize our time organizing communities around environmental justice initiatives.
This workshop explores an example from the City of Atlanta’s WeatheRISE Program. Guest speakers, Adrienne Rice and Ty Wilson with Sustainable Georgia Futures, alongside Greenlink Analytics’ Angelica (Jellie) Duckworth, will share how they’re using equity mapping to increase energy efficiency in Atlanta’s most energy-burdened neighborhoods. Join us to learn how to use GEM (and other data tools) for canvassing.
Mapping Native Lands
June 22, 2023
Sharanya Madhavan, GEM Data Scientist, Greenlink Analytics
June 2023's interactive workshop covers #GreenlinkOrg's newest #GreenlinkEquityMap indicator, Native Lands boundaries, along with a presentation from Greenlink’s Samantha Houck and Jellie Duckworth on land recognition and Indigenous science that details why Greenlink has decided to take on this endeavor for recognition of our first nations.
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