We believe we are stronger together, which is why we place trusting relationships at the center of our work. Collectrify’s national Learning Community Collaboratory (LCC) brings together grantee and funder partners and allies from across geographies to engage in shared learning, explore critical questions about equitable building electrification, and exchange strategic insights on what it will take to fully decarbonize. This safe and trusting community space fosters collaboration and skill-building while deepening understanding between the frontlines and philanthropy. 

One of Collectrify’s founding Governance Assembly members was the late Cecil Corbin-Mark, a nationally renowned leader in the environmental for justice movement who worked tirelessly to ensure that residents living on the frontlines of disparity were purposely involved in the development of policies that impacted their communities Cecil coined the term “Collaboratory,” or Collaborative Laboratory, for our learning space. We designed the Collaboratory to be a space where justice-centered community practitioners can create new models and tools for addressing climate, health, and energy challenges in ways that center people and communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis.

What this means in practice:

• Participants develop political and power analyses to advance equitable building electrification and strengthen their leadership capacities for equitable building electrification.

• The frontlines and philanthropy build mutual understanding: frontline groups gain insights into philanthropy’s legal and operational practices, trends, and key players while philanthropic organizations develop a deeper understanding of frontline communities—who they are, what challenges they face, their strategies and impacts, and how legal systems affect them.