Giving Compass' Take:

• Local government leaders (such as mayors) have been taking action for racial equity in cities across the United States. Sustainability leaders need to partner and support this type of governance for a sustainable future. 

• How can donors enter into partnerships with sustainability leaders and local government officials? How are you supporting social justice initiatives in your city? 

• Read about board governance and racial equity. 

Sustainability leaders are architects, designers, city planners, engineers, scientists, energy experts, lawyers, nonprofit leaders and business owners.

The United Nations defines "sustainability" as meeting the needs of today without compromising the needs of the next generation to meet their own needs. In practice, much of our work centers around developing global climate change solutions to save the planet. The Black Lives Matter movement has cast a bright light on what we’ve all known for a long time: We cannot do this work effectively without fighting against white supremacy and putting racial justice at the center of sustainability.

Sustainability also relies on local government. Despite the pain and heartbreak across the country, we have seen leaders — especially female mayors and local officials such as mayors Keisha Lance Bottoms of Atlanta, Muriel Bowser of Washington, D.C., Lori Lightfoot of Chicago, Vi Lyles of Charlotte, North Carolina, Libby Schaaf of Oakland, California and Jenny Durkan of Seattle — working in their communities to create powerful dialogues and meaningful policy action. In June, Ferguson, Missouri elected its first Black mayor, Ella Jones.

As sustainability leaders, we must partner with these mayors to implement an anti-racist future. Whether it be renaming Black Lives Matter Plaza on 16th Street NW in Washington, D.C., or urging protestors and police to congregate peacefully, these leaders are working hard to take action on systemic racism.

As Bowser stated in a recent interview, her actions on 16th Street were to "send a unifying and affirming message about what this time and the reaction to the killing of George Floyd means in our country." The image of Bowser next to the late Congressman John Lewis is a powerful testament to change, progress and hope.

Read the full article about sustainability mayors by  Kimberly Lewis & Heather White at Grist.