Overview

The climate fellowship was created by the City of El Paso's Planning & Development Department and launched in April 2024.

It’s made up of some super smart, driven and talented people who live here and want to make a difference. So far, we’ve got 27 volunteers from across the region, who are broken into nine teams of three fellows each. These fellows are here to gain career experience and better position themselves to grow into full-time climate professionals.

Through this project, the fellows will work with partner organizations such as Frontera Land Alliance, the El Paso Community Foundation, Eco El Paso, and various promotora groups to help the engagement and education process of the Climate Action Plan.

Fellowship with Guest Speaker Dr. Juan Aguilera — Principles of Environmental Justice - The Intersection of Environmental Justice and Climate Change.
Guest Dr. Juan Aguilera

Promotora and Fellow Led Community Survey Results

Through a partnership with the Texas A&M Colonias Program, promotoras and Fellows collected 1,225 surveys from residents across 62 ZIP codes in El Paso. The outreach, conducted in both English and Spanish, captured how families experience and cope with extreme heat, flooding, and high energy costs. Residents shared clear priorities: financial relief for energy and water bills, more shade trees and parks, drainage improvements, and better transit options. Many households reported unsafe indoor temperatures and limited resources to stay cool. Across neighborhoods, residents expressed a shared interest in making their communities more affordable, safe, and comfortable. The promotora-led outreach was effective in reaching Spanish-speaking and hard-to-reach households, helping make sure their input is reflected in the El Paso Climate Action Plan.

Download