Through a robust community mapping process, we provide the information and insights needed to foster the next generation of resilient, sustainability leaders. Gen:Thrive offers a data-driven approach to deploy programs focused on environmental literacy, climate justice, green building, outdoor learning, e-STEM, and other related topics to the places that need it most.
About Gen:Thrive
Imagine if every school in the country had the tools to provide a robust environmental literacy education to their students. Imagine the power of an entire generation ready and resourced to build just, thriving, and healthy communities. The future is promising and close. The goals of Gen:Thrive are the following:
Understand the Movement
Map environmental literacy programs and correlate to data indicators for equity and climate vulnerability.
Build Strategic Alliances
Bolster connectivity among K-12 program providers and identify opportunities to partner and accelerate collective impact.
Increase Support
Use data visualization to create compelling value propositions, expand audiences, and drive new resources to the movement.
In 2019, EcoRise launched Gen:Thrive as a pilot project in Texas with the vision of building tools that could expand to serve communities across the country. With participation and feedback from over 1,500 organizations, Gen:Thrive has partnered with 30 states to create interactive dashboards, resource directories, and climate equity maps – and aims to serve the entire nation by the end of 2025.
The early development and growth of this project would not be possible without technical support from the University of Texas at Austin’s Texas Advanced Computing Center and from UT’s Planet Texas 2050 team and early philanthropic investments from the Pisces Foundation, the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation, and the Environmental Fund of Texas, and the Meadows Foundation.
How to Use These Resources
Service Providers
- Identify community need and environmental justice issues
- Understand how your K-12 offerings compare to others
- Find opportunities for strategic collaborations
Educators
- Access a comprehensive directory of K-12 environmental resources
- Increase place-based learning and climate resilience education
- Understand the types of programs offered in your region and the gaps
Community
- Explore connections between climate, equity, and access to K-12 programs
- Identify trends and gaps within program offerings
- Search for organizations within a state or region
Tools and Reports
Interactive Directories
Explore and compare state policies that address green schools and K-12 climate resilience across the United States. These directories are the result of a research project furthered by the Aspen Institute’s K-12 Climate Action Initiative and EcoRise.
Educational Resources
Search our database for programs and filter by region, environmental topics, offerings, ages served, and more. The database allows for viewing and exporting field-trend visualizations as well as contact information.
Climate, Equity & Education Map
Uncover needs and opportunities at the intersection of K-12 audiences, equity, climate risks, pollutants, health, green jobs, and other data sets using our robust interactive map.
Join Us
We invite your ideas, feedback and participation! If you would like to get involved, collaborate, or contact us about your work, we’d love to hear from you.
Thank you to our allies and supporters!
