Resources

Sunrise Ithaca is on the traditional homelands of the Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' nation. The Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' are members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, an alliance of six sovereign Nations with a historic and contemporary presence on this land. The Confederacy precedes the establishment of Ithaca, New York State, and the United States of America. We acknowledge the painful history of Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' dispossession, and honor the ongoing connection of Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' people, past and present, to their language and culture, and to these lands and waters. 

We acknowledge that borders are colonial constructs, and that global issues, such as the climate crisis, show us the importance of working beyond these borders. As a climate justice organization, we remain committed to educating ourselves and others about the ongoing dispossession of Indigenous land, and to supporting Native communities seeking to establish and protect their own autonomy—in the various forms that struggle may take. We recognize the ongoing leadership dispute and condemn United States-backed acts of violence against the Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ community, led by Clint Halftown’s regime of domestic terrorism and cultural extinction.  

Additionally, white supremacy and colonization have played a large role in generating the climate crisis.  People, land, and natural resources were exploited in the name of generating wealth and technology.  Indigenous dispossession, slavery, cultural erasure, and oppression are deeply connected to today’s climate crisis.  As a climate justice organization, we are committed to recognizing these histories and creating a movement that understands you can not address climate change without dismantling all systems of oppression. 

Donate to the Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ (Cayuga) Legal Defense Fund

View Sunrise Ithaca's webinar on the intersection of indigenous sovereignty and environmental justice here. 

Chase Divest - Statement from Extinction Rebellion Ithaca (XRI)

Soon after Extinction Rebellion Ithaca was formed, Chase Bank – the worst bank on Earth (the single largest investor in fossil fuels) - opened an office at the highly visible corner of Martin Luther King and Aurora Streets. This became the perfect focal point for climate protests. In order for human beings and other creatures to continue to live on this planet, people have to stop profiting from destroying the climate, and so we are creating nonviolent ways to make them quit. The divestment movement is shifting ideas about what is acceptable, legal, and safe, and changing the shape of the ‘money pipeline’ in ways that will eventually lead to shutting down the fossil fuel economy.

Our weekly vigil, Saturday at 11AM, is an opportunity to speak out about fossil fuel profiteering and other crimes against nature, meet other activists, conspire, and sometimes disrupt business as usual.

Just Cause Employment - Statement from the coalition

Ithacans for a Just Cause is a coalition of labor unions, community organizations, and small businesses that are fighting to pass Just Cause labor protections in the city of Ithaca. Just Cause would essentially do away with at will employment in the city by requiring employers to have a just reason to terminate employees. These protections aim to shift the power balance back into the hands of the workers by providing more employment stability which in turn will give more stability to all aspects of life. The coalition is also aiming to build a worker's rights commission in the city to hold employers accountable for labor law violations at the local level. To learn more or to find ways to get involved visit our petition page at: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/jce-ithaca

ICSD Climate Action - Statement from District Sustainability Advocates

The Ithaca City School District Sustainability Advocates (SAs) is a coalition of educators and district administrators engaged in promoting sustainability initiatives for their respective schools and for the district as a whole. Established in the summer of 2023, the SAs meet monthly to help shape a district Climate Action Plan and push for a wide range of measures to reduce district greenhouse gas emissions, improve recycling and composting practices, promote climate justice education and foster healthy schools. SA members establish and advise student green teams for their respective schools and encourage students to become involved in climate justice advocacy initiatives at the building and district level. In June of 2024, the SAs, in partnership with student justice advocates, successfully lobbied ICSD’s Board of Education to pass a Climate Resolution, an important first step towards establishing a Climate Action Plan. 

Statement from TIAA Divest

TIAA is a $1.3 trillion retirement company used by most colleges and universities across the US. Almost everyone who works at Cornell, Ithaca College, and SUNY has a TIAA retirement account. TIAA claims to be a leader in sustainable investing, but in fact they hold at least $78 billion in fossil fuels. Most clients don’t know that TIAA is pouring our savings into ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, Adani, ConocoPhillips, and other fossil fuel companies. At a moment when the IPCC strongly warns that coal must be completely phased out, TIAA is the fifth largest holder of coal bonds in the world. TIAA also continues to be tied to deforestation and land-grabbing, with disproportionate impacts on Black and Indigenous communities in Brazil and in the US. TIAA-Divest is working to get the word out about these climate destroying investments and to pressure TIAA to divest from fossil fuels and deforestation.

Statement from Seneca Lake Guardian

Seneca Lake Guardian is a non-profit dedicated to preserving and protecting the health and residents of  the Finger Lakes. Our latest and most urgent fight is against the Seneca Meadows Landfill, New York’s largest landfill, and its for-profit, out-of-state operator’s quest to not only expand its footprint by more than 40 acres but also extend its permit to operate for another 15 years. The landfill accepts up to 6,000 tons of garbage per day and it releases harmful emissions and toxins into the air and waterways. Neighboring residents suffer from higher rates of diseases, such as cancer, and the environmental and public health implications are felt statewide. New Yorkers will have the opportunity to let state officials know they don’t want another 15 years of destruction during a public comment period, which opens soon. To learn more about our fight and how you can help visit: senecalakeguardian.org 

Here is a comprehensive list of community resources in Ithaca area created by OAR Tompkins County and updated in January 2024.

It includes resources for food, clothing, housing, employment, education, healthcare, and more.