February marks an important month for the culture, including this year’s Super Bowl halftime performance headliner, Rihanna. Not only is she an accomplished musician, but she is also a dedicated philanthropist, recognized for her innovative nonprofit, the Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF).
Rihanna, a billionaire and Harvard Humanitarian of the Year award recipient, founded CLF in 2012 in honor of her grandparents. The foundation advocates for environmental and social justice projects in the United States and Caribbean, which are among the most disaster-prone regions in the world, and vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
Honoring Pioneers of Climate Change Reform
This Black History Month, CLF is running a campaign to honor climate change reform pioneers, such as Colonel Charles Young, the first Black Superintendent of the National Park Service. “At CLF, we are always celebrating, highlighting, supporting, and amplifying the work of Black environmentalists, both domestically and in the Caribbean,” says Christine Platt, Director of Communications at CLF.
Fostering Climate Resilience
CLF’s climate resilience programs develop emergency preparedness solutions, like upgrading infrastructure and maintaining access to healthcare during crises. The foundation’s goal is for the Caribbean to become the world’s first climate-resilient zone. CLF’s latest initiative, With/Stand, embodies a commitment to global collaboration and has funded programs in over 35 countries and all 50 states.
Advocating for Climate Justice
CLF focuses its support of climate justice initiatives led by Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC). “We understand that environmental justice is intricately interconnected with racial injustice,” says Platt. CLF has spent more than $54 million on justice initiatives in the Caribbean and United States.
Rihanna’s Clara Lionel Foundation is a beacon of hope for communities in need, working tirelessly to provide sustainable solutions for the future.
