Have you heard of Resilient Neighborhoods?

Ten years ago, when Tamra Peters first persuaded a group of neighbors to join her in taking household actions against climate change, few people knew much about the seriousness of the threat, and even fewer knew that individuals can play an important role in preventing and preparing for climate change.

That was then—and now, thanks to Peters’ efforts in founding and running Resilient Neighborhoods, more than 1,500 people in Marin have graduated from the program and reduced their carbon emissions by a remarkable 8.6 million pounds. In addition, those households have prepared emergency plans, put together their earthquake stashes and go bags, and connected with their neighbors so that they know who is likely to need help in an emergency. Resilient Neighborhoods is fiscally sponsored by Sustainable Marin and an endorsed project of Drawdown Marin. Summer workshops, starting on June 9 and June 17, are currently open for registration.

Peters, whose passion for the environment has powered the organization and inspired its participants since the beginning, leads most of the workshops. Tamra has received numerous awards including the Green Award for Environmental Leadership from the Marin Conservation League and Marin Clean Energy's Charles F. McGlashan Advocacy Award. KPIX TV selected Tamra as a 2020 winner of the Jefferson Award for Doing Good. Tamra is an inductee into the Marin Women's Hall of Fame.

Resilient Neighborhoods has always offered its five-session program to participants free of charge, thanks to donors and supporters. The organization runs on a shoestring budget thanks to the commitment and goodwill of dozens of people, from Peters herself to her team of volunteer community Ambassadors and other volunteers. It’s a highly effective organization that delivers an outsized impact—which it quantifies through multiple tools.

Sign up for the Resilient Neighborhoods Summer Workshop Series here.