The power of collective organizing and action
Launched in 2019, the Future Ground Network drew inspiration from the massive global climate protests that united over four million passionate people dedicated to climate action. Its mission was to empower local grassroots groups to organize around issues that mattered most to them and their communities.
From 2019 to 2025, the Future Ground Network supported over 230 groups with 3,400 members, hosted more than 70 webinars and reached over 300,000 grassroots organizers.
Through climate justice, biodiversity protection, waste reduction and sustainable systems, Future Ground Network groups took a stand for the future by transforming their neighbourhoods, defending nature and accelerating the environmental movement.
Although the Future Ground Network is no longer an active project of the David Suzuki Foundation, its legacy persists in the lasting impact of community-led organizing and action.
What was the Future Ground Network?
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Meshall Awan speaks at the Building Power: A Future Ground Network convergence in Toronto on May 27, 2023. (Photo: Gustavo Toledo)
Grassroots organizers Dani Michie, Meshall Awan, Deena Ladd and Shelagh Pizey-Allen host a panel at the Toronto convergence on the importance of building relationships for collective action. (Photo: Gustavo Toledo)
Elizabeth Sarjeant, former programming and community lead for the Future Ground Network, emcees the Toronto convergence. (Photo: Gustavo Toledo)
Member group Nimkii Wemtigwaaki-Tigaan leads participants on a walk around Humber College to share their land restoration project during the Toronto convergence. (Photo: Gustavo Toledo)
David Suzuki joins group discussions during the Toronto convergence in Toronto on May 27, 2023. (Photo: Gustavo Toledo)
Shona Sparrow leads an Indigenous history walking tour around the University of British Columbia during the Building Power: A Future Ground Network convergence in Vancouver on May 13, 2023. (Photo: Vincent Tom)
Activists Naisha Khan, Manbi Bhalla, Anjali Appadurai and Audry Siegel host a panel at the Vancouver convergence on the impact of environmental justice and community organizing in advocating for systemic change. (Photo: Vincent Tom)
Former Future Ground Network leads Elizabeth Sarjeant and Izzy Czerveniak, during the Building Power: A Future Ground Network convergence in Vancouver. (Photo: Vincent Tom)
Climate activist and David Suzuki Foundation senior adviser, Indigenous strategy, Janelle Lapointe hosts a workshop on how to build power in the movement at the Vancouver convergence. (Photo: Vincent Tom)
Attendees participate in a building power workshop hosted by climate activist and David Suzuki Foundation senior adviser, Indigenous strategy, Janelle Lapointe. (Photo: Vincent Tom)
I gained a better understanding of what community-based climate organizing means, and I relay my experiences and training back to my group.
Ahlena Sultana-McGarry, Youth for Climate Action
Future Ground Network’s grant-writing team provided invaluable feedback on our funding proposal. We cannot thank them enough for their support!
Carrie Tai, Neighbours for the Planet
The network taught me so much about climate organizing – how to act, where to start and that we cannot just solve this problem by ourselves. We need to work together.
Niall O’Brien, Youth program participant
STORIES ABOUT THE FUTURE GROUND NETWORK
