Project Petals in Jamaica receives the 2026 Pulitzer Center grant to supporting environmental justice initiative in Queens – QNS

The grant will fund Project Petals’ newest initiative, “Environmental Justice, Heat, Work, and Us,” — a series of workshops engaging New York City residents in conversations about how environmental inequities and extreme heat affect public health and the environment.

The initiative will focus on Queens communities where residents and outdoor workers often face disproportionate exposure to extreme heat and other climate-related risks. By connecting trusted journalism with community voices, Project Petals said it aims to increase awareness, strengthen civic engagement and empower residents to advocate for more equitable climate solutions.

Starting this fall, the nonprofit said it will convene residents, journalists and local leaders in Queens through a series of community forums and storytelling workshops. The initiative will also pair Pulitzer Center-supported reporting with participants’ lived experiences to foster dialogue around climate change, labor and environmental justice.

“Environmental justice begins by listening to the people living these experiences every day,” said Alicia White, founder and president of Project Petals. “We’re honored to be selected by the Pulitzer Center to bring trusted journalism into our communities and create spaces where residents can share their stories, learn from one another, and help shape solutions to the environmental challenges affecting their neighborhoods.”

The nonprofit said this initiative builds on Project Petals’ mission and existing programming to advance environmental justice through education, storytelling and civic engagement. Beyond programming in Queens, the initiative is designed to create a replicable model for using journalism to strengthen public dialogue and inspire local action on climate justice.

“The people most affected by climate change deserve to be part of the conversations shaping its solutions,” White added. “When communities have opportunities to connect trusted information with their own lived experiences, they become powerful advocates for healthier, more resilient, and more equitable futures.”

Project Petals, founded over a decade ago, advances environmental stewardship, youth leadership and community-driven revitalization initiatives designed to create healthier, more sustainable neighborhoods. Since 2014, the nonprofit has partnered with local communities across NYC to drive lasting environmental and social impact through education, advocacy and green space transformation projects. 

For more information, visit ProjectPetals.org.