Sustainability Showcase: Advancing Environmental and Climate Justice

Sustainability Associate Hanna De La Vega Sanchez recently sat down with Grand Rapids City Commissioner, Nancy Morales, as part of the Forum’s monthly Spanish-language sustainability series on La Ponderosa Radio in Grand Rapids. (Una versión en español de esta publicación está disponible aquí).

Michigan Sustainable Business Forum (MiSBF) continues its monthly Spanish-language sustainability series on La Ponderosa Radio, highlighting leaders and organizations advancing climate resilience, equity, and community well-being across Grand Rapids. This month’s program featured Kent County Commissioner Nancy Morales, who also serves as an Environmental and Climate Justice Organizer with the Urban Core Collective (UCC), alongside Hanna De la Vega Sánchez, Bilingual Sustainability Associate with MiSBF. Together, they explored how local families and neighborhoods are experiencing extreme weather, rising energy costs, and federal policy changes, and how community-driven action is helping build a more just and resilient future.

Commissioner Morales began by sharing her experience as the only Latina on the Kent County Commission, reflecting on the importance of representation in shaping environmental and community priorities. “It is a pleasure to represent the Latino community,” she said. “At UCC, I focus heavily on environmental education, especially around energy, because many people are seeing electricity prices rise, and we’re working to make energy cleaner, more affordable, and more accessible for the community.”

Both guests discussed how climate change is increasingly visible in West Michigan. From unpredictable snowfall to heavier rains and hotter summers, weather extremes are becoming more common. Hanna emphasized that these trends are not coincidental. “Climate change is a scientific reality, not an opinion,” she explained. “For decades we’ve emitted greenhouse gases from sources like cars, waste, and fossil fuels, and this has caused the planet’s average temperature to rise.”

Commissioner Morales highlighted how these changes directly affect household budgets and safety. “Bills are going up,” she noted. “Hotter summers mean more air conditioning, and colder winters mean higher gas costs. If homes aren’t prepared for stronger storms or insulated properly, families end up paying even more, and our community is often the least prepared.” She pointed listeners to Kent County Community Action, which provides weatherization and home improvement assistance for residents facing these challenges.

The conversation also addressed how federal funding reductions and environmental rollbacks are impacting local equity and climate work. Morales explained that cuts to federal grants weaken community-led programs and delay improvements to transportation, infrastructure, and environmental justice initiatives, especially in neighborhoods historically burdened by pollution or underinvestment. Hanna added that these shifts make progress more difficult but also reinforce the value of local leadership. “When national policies become uncertain,” she said, “cities, nonprofits, and groups like the Urban Core Collective and MiSBF become even more important in keeping climate and equity work moving forward.”

Food systems and waste reduction emerged as another critical theme. Hanna shared alarming data on food waste in Michigan: “Between 1.5 and 2 million tons of food are thrown away every year, generating more than 11 million tons of carbon pollution and costing nearly $12 billion in economic losses.” She also emphasized the broader impact: “It’s not just the food, it’s all the energy, labor, water, and resources that went into producing it.” Through MiSBF’s Michigan Food Waste Roadmap and free technical assistance for small businesses, the organization is helping restaurants cut waste, switch to healthier and compostable materials, and adopt more sustainable operations.

Morales connected these efforts to food access and justice, highlighting UCC’s work supporting community gardens, food recovery initiatives, and culturally relevant, community-led solutions. Ensuring that residents have a voice in shaping these programs is essential, she explained. “Our goal is to make sure Hispanic and underrepresented communities are present in environmental and climate decision-making.” She encouraged community members to participate in public meetings, join local boards, and engage in civic processes that influence neighborhood investment, climate planning, and environmental policy.

Throughout the program, Morales and De la Vega underscored a shared message: advancing climate resilience requires centering equity, representation, and community power. From extreme weather preparedness to waste reduction and energy justice, they highlighted how local action, driven by residents, nonprofits, and inclusive leadership, remains essential for building a sustainable, healthy, and just future for all Grand Rapids families.

Listen to the segment below in Spanish:

Commissioner Morales shares insights on the importance of representation in shaping environmental and community priorities with La Ponderosa and Hanna de la Vega Sanchez.