By Hannah E. Jones

Root Local, an Atlanta-based environmental nonprofit, is celebrating its one-year anniversary this month. The organization’s name reflects its mission — with its efforts rooted in making a global impact locally.

(L to R) Co-founders Johanna Ellis Reisinger, Butch Whitfield and
Liz Lapidus. (Photo courtesy of Root Local.)

Root Local aims to serve as the connective tissue for conversations around conservation and collective impact planning. Founded by Johanna Ellis Reisinger, Butch Whitfield and Liz Lapidus, the team works to convene environmental allies, pinpoint opportunities for impact, link stakeholders and educate communities.

“How can we really have an impact on climate change here in our metro area?” Executive Director Tabitha Schwartz said. “There are so many wonderful organizations doing the boots-on-the-ground work, but it seems like there’s really negative climate news on the global scale. There’s also some really wonderful news and projects happening on the local scale, but there’s a disconnect between the two.”

Root Local’s Tabitha Schwartz (R) with Food Well Alliance and Umi Feeds. (Photo courtesy of Root Local.)

Through this work, Root Local aims to help strengthen and support the local network of individuals and entities working towards a more sustainable Atlanta. One example of this is the Network Map, which Schwartz identified as one of the organization’s main focuses in its first year.

The Network Map is a visual compilation of about 50 environmental allies around the city and metro area, including transit groups, farm-to-table initiatives and park nonprofits. Schwartz aims to eventually have at least 300 groups plugged into the online resource.

To that end, Root Local also created The Pollinator Network, a space for community leaders and members to learn about local environmental concerns and efforts, convening to develop a shared vision to help guide the region’s conservation efforts….