Mission and Vision of RE:Frame Cultural Center

RE:SEED THE EARTH

Caring for the planet is an important focus at RE:Frame. In South Phoenix, Arizona, BIPOC youth face compounded challenges from environmental injustices, including extreme heat, food insecurity, and the impacts of mass incarceration. The area experiences the highest temperatures in Phoenix, with heatwaves exceeding 110°F, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations. High youth incarceration rates limit economic and educational opportunities, further entrenching systemic barriers. By promoting environmental justice, youth gain a deeper understanding of the intersection between ecological health and social cohesion.

OUR STRATEGIES

PUBLIC LEADERSHIP

The Youth for Environmental Justice initiative offers training in advocacy, policy development, and community organizing to support Mother Earth. Participants engage in workshops, collaborate with experts, and contribute to campaigns focused on green infrastructure and disaster preparedness. They also create public awareness campaigns that incorporate Indigenous knowledge and sovereignty, ensuring these communities' needs are prioritized.

CULTURAL ORGANIZING

Our cultural resilience programs reconnect youth with sustainable practices from their heritage, and engage them with the land. These spaces promote food sovereignty, ecosystem restoration, and environmental stewardship while fostering intergenerational knowledge.

LEGAL ACCESS & MUTUAL AID

Designed to ensure our communities have access to both the legal frameworks and resources needed to confront environmental impacts.

ENTREPRENEUR AND EDUCATION

Our EJ Entrepreneurship & Education initiative provides youth with the necessary skills, mentorship, and resources to develop and scale innovative solutions. We focus on cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset that prioritizes sustainability and social equity while addressing environmental challenges. By equipping youth with the knowledge to create scalable, impactful solutions, this program fosters leadership that is both economically viable and environmentally responsible.

Environmental Justice Community Legal Clinic: Provides free legal services for issues like displacement, utility shutoffs, and pollution. Trains youth and families to advocate for rights in legal matters, supporting initiatives like clean energy access and water rights. Participants learn from professionals about policies impacting their communities.
Mutual Aid Programs: Enhancing community resilience by sharing resources, including healthy food access and sustainable resource distribution for refill stations and tool-sharing, promoting sustainable living.
Emergency Response Networks: Develops youth-led networks for supply distribution and community action during extreme weather events, ensuring timely and fair emergency responses.

Green Business Incubator: Young entrepreneurs gain mentorship, training, and funding to start green businesses, like sustainable fashion or renewable energy, fostering skills for the green economy.
Green Career Pathways: Through career readiness programs and certifications, youth acquire practical skills in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and resilience, preparing them to lead in a low-carbon economy.

Sowing Seeds Program: Educates youth on regenerative farming, water conservation, soil health, crop rotation, companion planting, and urban food growing methods to address food insecurity and promote local food sovereignty.
Restoring Ecosystems & Biodiversity: Reintroducing native plants, protect pollinators, and create urban green spaces to combat urban heat, improve air quality, and enhance community resilience. Initiatives include pollinator gardens, fungi-based ecosystems, and urban forests to boost biodiversity and reduce agriculture's carbon footprint.
Shared Roots Herbal Apothecary Program: Focuses on traditional herbal medicine to reduce pharmaceutical reliance and connect with cultural traditions. Youth learn alternative health solutions through community wellness programs.
Outdoor Survival and Nature-Based Disaster Preparedness: Teaching essential outdoor and survival skills, and training in disaster response strategies like emergency shelter construction and water purification.