News

The CHART Community Engagement Core (CEC), guided by its Partner Steering Committee, has selected three outstanding projects for the 2025-2026 CHART Community Grant. On our second year of this project we received applications from dedicated groups across the Atlanta metro area, all focused on addressing climate-related challenges, particularly those related to heat. 

Each year, CHART’s CEC invites Atlanta residents to propose innovative projects aimed at mitigating climate and heat impacts in their neighborhoods. Applicants have spanned from established nonprofits to grassroots groups of concerned neighbors, united by a shared goal of alleviating the effects of increasingly hot summers. Through this grant program, CHART empowers community members to develop and implement sustainable solutions, with ongoing technical support from the CEC team, fostering lasting change across Atlanta. 

Read more about our community grantees below. 

SEJA

Mission statement: SouthSide Environmental Justice Alliance (SEJA) is a grassroots organization based in South Fulton, Georgia, working to a balanced access to resources through community engagement and advocacy. Through community awareness initiatives, local partnerships and outreach, SEJA is steadfast in their movement towards a healthier, cleaner environment.

Project title: Community Food Growing Workshops

Project goals, summary, and background: SEJA empowers residents in Oakley Township—a formerly predominately industrial area—by addressing urgent issues like industrial pollution, food insecurity, and the lack of green spaces. In collaboration with Science for Georgia and informed by community surveys and resident input, SEJA published a Pollution Profile to highlight concerns including poor air and water quality, litter, and limited access to food and parks. For the CHART grant, and in partnership with Pangea Grove Collective, SEJA is hosting a four-part gardening series that will equip residents with practical tools to grow their own food, connecting gardening to climate resilience. With a deep commitment to community engagement—via clean-ups, workshops, and social media outreach—SEJA continues to foster trust, amplify local voices, and move South Fulton toward a healthier environment.

Midnight Riot

Mission Statement: Midnight Riot is a coalition of artists, students, community members, and organizers dedicated to provide accessible pathways for broad community engagement by uniting residents and students in community-driven action. Rooted in the AUC, West End, and Ashview Heights neighborhoods, our mission is to reduce pollution, foster long-term environmental stewardship, and underscore the powerful intersections of art, environmentalism, and balanced governance to build a cleaner, healthier future for all.

Project Title: Cleaner Neighborhoods, Stronger Communities

Project goals, summary, and background: Since 2020, Midnight Riot has organized over 31 large-scale cleanups and waste audits, engaging 800+ HBCU students and community members and removing around 12,000 pounds of trash from Southwest Atlanta neighborhoods. In partnership with COA’s Watershed Management Department, they maintain 59 storm drains and an “Adopt-A-Spot” in the Ashview Heights, AUC, and West End Neighborhoods. Midnight Riot’s workshops center on stormwater pollution, recycling, and environmental health, engaging students and residents in the AUC, West End, and Ashview Heights to collaboratively build solutions to the environmental challenges their communities face.

With the CHART Community Climate Grant, they aim to adopt five more drains, hold four major cleanup events, bring together residents through quarterly educational workshops on climate-related topics, and conduct iterative waste audits to better understand local disposal habits and improve neighborhood resilience, all while enhancing capacity to address climate and health on the local level.

Movespot

Mission Statement: Movespot is a company and social networking app with a mission to enhance mental health and well-being through real-life experiences. The platform is built on the belief that meaningful connections and shared activities can significantly improve mental health. With the digital age increasingly isolating Individuals, Movespot’s platform offers a solution by encouraging users to schedule and participate in real-life events, meetups, and activities.

Project Title: Climate Awareness Field Days – Empowering Youth in Dekalb County

Project goals, summary, and background: Movespot’s project aims to promote outdoor physical activity, increase awareness of climate-related health risks, and provide resources to mitigate the impacts of extreme heat and air pollution, with a focus on high school youth in Dekalb County. They will leverage their connections to their alma maters to host climate-conscious field days for students to engage in tree planting, healthy hydration education, and mental health and wellness conversations. Their ultimate goal is to empower youth resiliency to climate challenges, supporting both mental and physical well-being, and strengthening the community’s ability to adapt to climate events.