Sustainability Showcase: Advancing Environmental and Climate Justice

Sustainability Associate Hanna De La Vega Sanchez recently sat down with Climate Justice Catalyst at Urban Core Collective, Sergio Cira, 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 local leaders working to build stronger, more equitable communities. This month, Sergio Cira, Climate Justice Catalyst with Urban Core Collective (UCC), and Hanna De la Vega Sánchez, Bilingual Sustainability Associate with MiSBF, joined the program to discuss how Grand Rapids residents are confronting climate change, rising energy costs, and shifting federal policies.

Sergio shared that Urban Core Collective focuses on addressing the root causes of inequity, advocating for proportional investment in neighborhoods that have historically been overlooked. “Our Latino communities are often the first and most severely impacted by climate change,” he explained, emphasizing the need for stronger infrastructure, fair resource distribution, and community-led solutions.

A major focus of UCC’s work is supporting the City of Grand Rapids on its Climate Adaptation and Action Plan (CAAP). Sergio described the effort as a collaborative project designed to prepare communities for extreme weather—flooding, outages, heat waves—while ensuring that neighborhoods along corridors like Division and Burton receive the investment needed to stay safe and resilient. “This plan helps families know where to go during an outage, how to respond to a flood, and how to stay informed during severe weather,” he shared.

The conversation also explored the broader political landscape. Federal budget reductions and environmental rollbacks have impacted many local organizations, including UCC’s partners. Sergio noted that agencies like the EPA are operating with some of their lowest budgets in decades, creating strain for nonprofits that rely on federal support. Hanna added that despite these challenges, Grand Rapids’ progress continues thanks to strong local leadership and collaboration among community groups, city departments, and advocacy organizations.

Another major topic was rising energy costs. Extreme weather increases strain on the grid, and Sergio highlighted how decisions by energy providers and the Michigan Public Service Commission have led to significant rate hikes in recent years. UCC, alongside legal partners, is actively challenging these increases to protect residents from mounting utility burdens.

Hanna and Sergio also emphasized the connection between climate justice and food systems. MiSBF’s Michigan Food Waste Roadmap aims to cut statewide food waste by 50%, reducing greenhouse gas emissions while saving households and businesses money. UCC complements this work through community gardens, food recovery efforts, and education that links sustainability with family well-being.

Together, Sergio and Hanna underscored a shared message: despite federal challenges, local action is powerful. Communities, cities, and local organizations are stepping up to protect vulnerable residents, advance climate justice, and build a healthier future for all.

Listen to the segment below in Spanish:

Sergio discusses UCC’s involvement in the the City of Grand Rapids’ Climate Adaptation and Action Plan with La Ponderosa and Hanna de la Vega Sanchez.