By Colin Teague – 2/5/26 

Support Local, Black-Led Organizations this February 

In honor of Black History Month, The Energy Co-is sharing a guide to Black-led cooperatives and organizations in Philadelphia for our members. Philadelphia’s Black community is one of the largest in the United States and has a deep history of building our city, achieving historical accomplishments, and leading the Civil Rights Movement in our nation. Philadelphia is home to the first African Methodist Episcopal Church, the nation’s first Historically Black College and University (Cheney University), The Pennsylvania Abolition Society, and important civil rights leaders like Octavius Catto and Cecil B. Moore.  

More recently, Philadelphia communities of color have achieved major environmental justice victories, including the formation of the Philadelphia Environmental Justice Advisory Commission, and the closure of the PES oil refinery in Gray’s Ferry . However, Philadelphia is still one of the nation’s most segregated cities, and predominantly Black and Brown neighborhoods around the city continue to be disproportionately affected by high energy costs, poor air quality, and pollution. While we must continue to demand systemic change from our representatives, we can also support Black Philadelphians and other historically marginalized communities in our city by supporting these Black-led organizations and businesses that are fighting for a healthier, more prosperous, and more equitable future for all Philadelphians.  

• Black Farmers’ Cooperative of Philadelphia – Black Farmers’ Cooperative of Philadelphia is a farming cooperative that seeks to create “sustainable, community-driven solutions to improve food access, agricultural education, and environmental health”. They address food insecurity and promote nutrition by connecting Black farmers with consumers and providing opportunities for agricultural training. You can support them by volunteering or donating.  

• Urban Creators – Urban Creators is a North Philadelphia-based community organization  that is home to Life Do Grow, a neighborhood space centered around an urban farm, marketplace, and coworking space. Life Do Grow is entirely off-grid and solar-powered and is designed to be a space for local farmers, artists, creators, and entrepreneurs. You can donate or volunteer here. 

• Mill Creek Farm – Mill Creek Farm is an urban farm and environmental education center in West Philadelphia. Their mission is to improve surrounding community members’ access to fresh produce, and they also host educational programs for all ages. You can support Mill Creek Farm by volunteering or donating. 

• Philly Thrive – Philly Thrive is a South Philadelphia-based grassroots  organization working to build a multi-racial, cross-class environmental and climate justice movement.  Their activism achieved the permanent closure of the PES oil refinery in 2020, and they continue to work towards repairing 154 years of violence that the refinery inflicted on nearby residents by cleaning up the land, investing in surrounding neighborhoods, and demanding a permanent seat at the table for residents most impacted by the refinery. You can support Philly Thrive by donating or getting involved with their programs. 

• WURD Radio – While not a nonprofit organization, WURD Radio is a business that adheres to its mission to “ensure that Philadelphia’s Black community has the ability to speak and be heard in their own voice.” WURD is Pennsylvania’s only Black-owned and operated radio station and one of only three in the United States. WURD is a multimedia company with talk radio programs, video content, and written articles covering politics and current events and how they impact Black communities. They also produce ecoWURD, “a multimedia environmental justice journalism initiative examining Black communities at the intersection of race, health, income & the environment.” You can support WURD by donating here.