Project Groundswell was born in Fire Patrol No. 5

Project Groundswell is a blend of information and ideas, of science and art, and of passion and pragmatism. We are proud to share it with you, and hope you share it with others.

While the roots of this work extend across multiple continents, the seed first germinated in Harlem. During our time in New York City and through work with the Earth Institute at Columbia University we were exposed to extraordinary information and resources. Our days were packed with lectures, reports, and meetings with some of the world’s leading scientists and thinkers. Though there was a mosaic of perspectives and disciplines, a common message emerged: “Our world and the natural environment upon which we all depend is in great peril. We have options, but we must act swiftly and resolutely. Much is at stake.”

The more we learned, the more we discovered how little of the information we were receiving was reaching a broader audience. Given the scale and pace at which dangerous environmental changes are disrupting natural systems across the planet, we were alarmed that so many smart and informed people had not yet grasped the scope of what was happening all around us. The implications of this knowledge gap were as troubling as the information itself, and so we conceived of Project Groundswell as a vehicle to close it. Information sometimes needs a good messenger, and good ideas sometimes need momentum.

Looking ahead, we invite all of you to participate in this dialog, to think, and lend ideas and insights toward the challenges and opportunities we collectively face. As is the case in nature, the greater our diversity, the stronger our functionality and resilience will be.

Read about who we are.