Building Resilience in Burton Heights: Climate Action, Community Power, and the Future of Hispanic Neighborhoods

Sustainability Associate Hanna De La Vega Sanchez recently sat down with Angel Cruz 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).

For Angel Cruz, community leader and representative of the Burton Heights Business Association, climate action is deeply personal; it’s about building stronger neighborhoods, creating economic opportunities, and empowering residents to engage with environmental solutions.

“Local events bring neighbors together and connect communities with the tools they need to face the climate crisis,” Angel explains. Upcoming climate-focused events in Burton Heights are designed to raise awareness, foster collaboration, and connect underserved communities with vital resources.

Federal investments, including those under the Inflation Reduction Act, are opening doors for Hispanic-owned businesses. Angel highlighted that clean energy, green infrastructure, and sustainability projects not only reduce pollution but also create jobs, strengthen resilience, and give small businesses access to contracts and resources that might otherwise be out of reach.

Preparing the next generation is also a priority. Initiatives like Code on Wheels provide STEM training for youth and underrepresented groups, connecting them to careers in clean energy and technology. By equipping young people with skills for well-paid, future-ready jobs, these programs turn federal climate policy into tangible benefits for local families.

Hanna De la Vega of the Michigan Sustainable Business Forum emphasized that collaboration across nonprofits, small businesses, and policymakers maximizes impact. Partnerships ensure federal climate dollars reach the communities that need them most, turning investments into projects that directly improve lives.

Angel and Hanna agree that advocacy and civic engagement are essential. When communities organize, raise their voices, and demand representation, policies become more equitable and responsive, creating a stronger, more sustainable Michigan.

Through awareness, job creation, youth empowerment, and community voice, leaders like Angel and Hanna ensure that Burton Heights and other Hispanic communities are at the forefront of Michigan’s climate future.

Listen to the segment below in Spanish:

Angel, as a business and community leader, shared his perspective on how upcoming climate-related events and initiatives can help strengthen neighborhoods like Burton Heights.

Angel reflected on the role of advocacy and civic engagement in ensuring that Hispanic and frontline communities benefit equitably from Michigan’s climate priorities.