Mission, Vision, and Values

Our Mission

Resilient Neighborhoods empowers people to take personal and local action to reduce their household greenhouse gas emissions and create connected communities resilient to disasters.

Our Vision

We envision communities of people living sustainable lifestyles in balance with the earth’s ecosystems and supporting one another as they successfully mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change.

Our Values

At Resilient Neighborhoods we:
  • CARE for the planet and understand that we are part of nature.
  • BELIEVE we can each make a difference. 
  • CREATE resilience by connecting neighbors.
  • APPRECIATE the power of people acting as a community.
  • ARE inclusive and non-judgmental.

Did you know?

​Approximately 65% of Marin’s greenhouse gas emissions come from its residents, and in emissions inventories that include consumption and air travel, that figure increases to about 85%.

Our Story

Tamra Peters: Leading the Way for Climate Action
After retiring from a rewarding career with national environmental organizations, Tamra Peters turned her attention to the impacts of climate change and what she could do in her home county of Marin.

Marin's Environmental Reality
Many people who are drawn to Marin for its open space and its seemingly “green” lifestyle are shocked to learn that Marin has one of the largest carbon footprints in the U.S. - in fact, it's among the highest of any community on Earth!

Founding of Resilient Neighborhoods
​Tamra understood that most of us don’t always know how to make the changes that really matter. After research and testing, Tamra founded Resilient Neighborhoods in 2010 as a comprehensive program that empowers us to live more lightly on the Earth - reducing our carbon footprints and connecting with neighbors to strengthen our resilience in emergencies.
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Helping Communities Go Green
Since its inception 14 years ago, Resilient Neighborhoods has inspired more than 2,000 Marin residents to consider climate change and the future when making decisions. Our program graduates use less water, waste less food, compost, buy more sustainable products, and are creating zero carbon homes powered by renewable energy. 

​Today, Resilient Neighborhoods’ graduates have permanently reduced the greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change by over 13.4 million annual pounds. Together, we show change is possible.

Our Growth

2011 - 2019
Resilient Neighborhoods gained support and earned recognition for the positive changes we helped to catalyze in Marin. We received awards from the Marin Conservation League, Marin’s Democratic Party and MCE. We were given Certificates of Special Recognition from the State Assembly and Congress, and KPIX-TV selected Tamra as a winner of the Jefferson Award for Doing Good. 

During these years, Resilient Neighborhoods received recognition for helping Marin’s municipalities meet their climate action goals, and we established important, ongoing partnerships with every municipality in the County.   After the successful completion of work from a California Energy Commission $252,000 grant in 2019, RN’s program was selected by the Governor's Office and added on the State Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program website as an important case study.​

2020
By 2020, our workshop venues had expanded from people’s homes to businesses, government offices, libraries, and community centers. When Covid made it impossible for us to meet in person, Tamra and her two part-time employees transformed the entire five session, 10-week workshop into an online program with an accompanying online handbook and Climate Action Toolkit of resources.

2023
​By 2023, we had three program graduates working with Tamra on staff in addition to a talented and vibrant group of ambassadors, board members, and volunteers.

2024
In 2024, we hired a new executive director to continue to increase RN’s impact and support Marin residents in achieving RN’s Climate Challenge to reduce 20,000,000 annual pounds of greenhouse gas emissions by the end of 2030. Tamra continues to lead workshops and serve on the Board of Directors as Resilient Neighborhoods moves into its next chapter.

Our Future

​Our story doesn’t end here! 
​ Join us to create a sustainable future for Marin County, future generations, and for the living world.