South Greensboro Area Plan - Public Review Draft - 9.25.25

Blacks in Green Project & 501c3 Non-Profit Blacks in Green (BIG) is a Chicago based nonprofit organization founded by Naomi Davis, working at the intersection of environmental justice, economic development, and cultural preservation in Black communities. Its mission is to build sustainable, walkable, self-sufficient Black neighborhoods that close the racial wealth and health gaps by keeping energy, commerce, and land ownership local. The organization’s flagship initiative, the Sustainable Square Mile , is a planning model that promotes dense, mixed-use, mixed-income development within a walkable area—aimed at anchoring local economies, reducing carbon emissions, and preserving Black heritage. In 2023, BIG was selected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to serve as a Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC) for EPA Region 5. Through this designation, BIG is helping frontline communities access federal funding for environmental and climate-related projects across Illinois and neighboring states. BIG also leads a community geothermal energy project in Chicago’s West Woodlawn neighborhood—bringing together local residents, government agencies, and academic partners to create a shared clean energy network. This model centers Black residents as owners, workers, and beneficiaries of the clean energy transition. Through its combined focus on green infrastructure, local wealth-building, and cultural legacy, BIG offers a replicable model for community-led climate resilience in historically disinvested Black neighborhoods.

Draft

SOUTH GREENSBORO AREA PLAN / 71

ENVIRONMENT, PARKS, AND OPEN SPACE

PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT - 9/25/25