An innovative climate education and leadership development program that supports a powerful vision: to cultivate a diverse network of local champions who are equipped to lead community-driven solutions for a more just, sustainable, and resilient future.
Presented by Greenbelt Alliance and Sustainable Solano, Resilient Roots: Climate Leaders Network was launched in September 2024. The program is funded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA.)
The inaugural 2024–25 cohort brought together 18 residents of Suisun City and Fairfield—emerging leaders with deep ties to their communities. For over 10 months, fellows participated in a robust curriculum designed to build critical knowledge, strengthen leadership capacity, and foster systems thinking.
Program goals include:
Resilient Roots is more than a training program—it’s a catalyst for leadership, collaboration, and hope in the face of the climate crisis
Learn more about the program at solanoresilientroots.org.
Neighboring cities Suisun City and Fairfield face intersecting climate challenges of sea level rise, wildfires, and inland flooding that will affect predominantly low-income communities within their borders.
Resilient Roots will meaningfully address gaps in public awareness and local capacity to build climate resilience by creating a network of local climate champions who will address the region’s climate challenges, such as protecting and restoring the San Francisco estuary and elevating the local community in planning for a more sustainable future.
By doing so, Resilient Roots will support residents in becoming advocates and bringing their expertise into all types of planning, restoration, and development projects and policies.
Fellows engage through workshops, field trips, guest lectures, and peer-to-peer learning. They collaborate on hands-on projects that directly address the unique needs and assets of their communities, whether through urban heat reduction, public awareness campaigns, or policy advocacy.
Session topics span a wide range of interconnected themes, including:
By the end of the program, each fellow emerges not only with a toolkit of practical skills and improved environmental literacy but also with a sense of belonging to a supportive network of changemakers committed to place-based action and regional transformation.
This blog provides a snapshot of our Resilient Roots Climate Leaders network curriculum, with highlights from the Coordinator Team who are designing and leading the program.
On June 7, 2025, the Resilient Roots Climate Leaders Summit in Suisun City marked the end of our inaugural Resilient Roots: Climate Leaders Network program.
The room was buzzing with excitement as attendees explored the fellows’ capstone projects presenting their approaches to local climate resilience, inspired by their 10-month climate leadership training. Local leaders, climate experts, activists, and artists shared inspiring remarks.
This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement (98T89401) to (Greenbelt Alliance/People for Open Space). The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does the EPA endorse trade names or recommend the use of commercial products mentioned in this document.
