Catalysts for a New Democracy
"How did you find us?"
The Chisholm Legacy Project's (TCLP) organizers have heard this question again and again in rural Black communities across the country. Communities that have too often been overlooked, underinvested in, and left to navigate systemic challenges on their own.
These are communities whose ancestors' enslaved labor helped build this country, and whose descendants today are too often left without nutritious food, affordable housing, reliable power, or disaster-resilient infrastructure. Many confront increasingly frequent climate disasters alongside longstanding air, water, and soil pollution. Towns that were established generations ago are in flood plains and are inundated again and again. In some communities, floods have even unearthed the caskets of residents' relatives.
And yet, these communities are not simply defined by what they lack or what they have endured. Black frontline communities have organized, adapted, and fought for locally led solutions to the systemic challenges they face.
In July 2025, TCLP launched Catalysts for a New Democracy (CND)—an initiative to build a broader movement of communities and partners working together to advance locally led solutions in 200+ rural frontline communities across the country, from climate resilience and deteriorating infrastructure to historic preservation and governance.
Since its launch, CND has continued to expand its network and deepen its model. CND brings together National and State Anchor Institutions (NAIs and SAIs), Technical Assistance Providers (TAPs), and movement partners to connect rural frontline communities with the resources, expertise, and relationships they need to advance the priorities they have identified for themselves.
Where we are Organizing
TCLP’s rural organizing spans 32 states, reflecting a broad national footprint and a commitment to meaningful, sustained engagement with every community in our portfolio. Within this national footprint, 10 Southern states account for roughly two-thirds of the historic Black communities we support, with the Southeast and Gulf South representing the largest share. Each of these states is home to more than 30 historic Black communities in our portfolio: Arkansas, Mississippi, Virginia, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, South Carolina, and Oklahoma. This scale creates an important need for additional capacity to sustain deep, consistent, and relationship-based engagement while continuing to serve communities across our broader national portfolio. The State Anchor Institutions help meet this need by providing additional on-the-ground capacity for sustained place-based engagement, coordination, and support within these states.
Voices from Communities
Boykin (Gee’s Bend), Alabama: “The community needs any and everything positive to breathe life back in."
Brooksville, Oklahoma: “We may be small, but we still care deeply about our town and want to preserve it for future generations.”
Calvert, Texas: “Without speaking up and applying pressure, our voices are not heard.”
Exmore, Virginia: “Jobs are a huge one. We have no jobs here. Also, young people don’t have things to do, which often leads to drugs and homelessness. And we have a lot of vacant buildings that could be turned into businesses.”
Grayson, Oklahoma: “We have to stay together… they are banking on us not working together.”
Ironton, Louisiana: “We miss the community, the people. Ironton and Pointe à la Hache are crime free communities. We cannot afford to move and start over. Every time there is a natural disaster, we lose a little bit more of community!”
Metompkin, Virginia: “God has been good to me, so I’m okay, but these kids need something to do.”
Meigs, Georgia: “...While this visioning process is only the beginning, we are hopeful that it marks the start of new opportunities, stronger partnerships, and positive change for Meigs. We are grateful for your willingness to listen, engage, and walk alongside our community as we work toward a brighter future. Thank you again for your partnership, encouragement, and belief in the power of community voices."
A Growing Ecosystem of Partners
We are deeply grateful to the National and State Anchor Institutions (NAIs and SAIs), Technical Assistance Providers (TAPs), and Movement comrades who have agreed to walk with communities to meet these challenges collectively.
NAIs
- United Women in Faith (UWFaith)
- Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA)
SAIs
- Arkansas Black Mayors Association (ABMA)
- Virginia State Conference of the NAACP
- Education, Economics, Environmental, Climate and Health Organization (EEECHO) of Mississippi
Join the Movement
There are two ways to join this movement: provide technical assistance to frontline communities or help resource their locally led solutions.
Provide technical assistance
Want to support frontline communities with your expertise? Tell us about your organization, capabilities, and capacity by filling the Technical Assistance Provider Form.
Help resource frontline communities
TCLP has established the Frontline Communities Regenerative Economies Fund (REF) in partnership with Movement Strategy Center (MSC) to move flexible resources directly to frontline communities and their self-governance bodies.
REF is designed to provide direct community access to resources rather than relying on a traditional pass-through model, giving communities greater flexibility to invest in their self-determined priorities while creating a structure that can scale.
With an initial fundraising goal of $2 million, REF will support planning activities across 200+ frontline communities.
The Wallace Global Fund has made an inaugural $50,000 contribution to kickstart the fund. We invite other funders and partners to join them in resourcing this work.
Interested in contributing to REF?
Thank you to all who have joined Catalysts for a New Democracy Movement so far.
As conduits, bridges, and supporters, volunteers will help strengthen the relationships and connections frontline communities need to advance a just energy transition, deepen self-determination and local self-reliance, and build regenerative economies.