Do you want to make a difference, but don't know where to start?

OneEarth's new Lighter Living Action Pack for Neighbourhoods in BC can help you take action for the wellbeing of the planet and your community. The guide supports footprint reductions - including the carbon footprint - while advancing social justice and wellbeing.

In the guide, you'll find fun and inspiring actions you can take on your own, with a few others, or with your whole neighbourhood. Will you hold a neighbourhood-wide garage sale? Or make a plan to share tools (or toys!) on your block? Pick something and then bring your idea to life!

Here are the 7 Action Packs:

1. Building on the Block Party – Have fun hosting your neighbours, with a lasting impact on everyone’s lighter living practices.
2. Good Stuff – Extend the lives of everyday things and enjoy less waste, more sharing and more meaningful experiences.
3. Big Wins – Support long-term choices that have the greatest impact in reducing our ecological and climate footprints.
4. Next-Level Food – Fuel healthy eating practices that are better for the planet through plant-rich meals and less food waste.
5. Life Changes – Foster new habits and traditions during periods of big life transition, from moving to retiring to having kids.
6. Cultivating Connection – Build a fairer, more inclusive community, inspired by both new and traditional living practices.
7. Lighter Living Super Challenge – Be bold! Commit to sustained, multi-year, lighter living action in your neighbourhood.

Each pack includes resources and examples to inspire people and build on what already exists - for example, Repair Cafes or block parties. As you do this work, the Pre-Start Checklist helps you reflect on yourself as a change-maker and addresses community action. Together, we can build connected and earth-friendly neighbourhoods and communities.

With funding from Vancity, OneEarth is partnering with the Association of Neighbourhood Houses BC and the Vancouver Foundation to offer the Lighter Living Neighbourhood Small Grants (LL-NSG) pilot program for projects using the neighbourhood guide’s Action Packs. Details on this grant stream and the set of pilot communities will be made available during the webinar.

Across BC, if you need funds to make your local project happen, you are encouraged to crowdsource or apply for small grants like Neighbourhood Small Grants (up to $500), Greenest City Neighbourhood Small Grants (up to $500 in Vancouver) or Rising Youth Community Service Grant (up to $1,500).

The Lighter Living Action Pack for Neighbourhoods in BC is by OneEarth with support from Vancity.