A Guide to Community Benefits

This document reflects over a year of dedicated community work by Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services and RiverWise, with support from New Sun Rising. It explores the implications of Executive Order 14008 and the Justice 40 Initiative, highlighting their transformative potential for disadvantaged communities. The guide emphasizes the need for genuine community engagement and cautions against oversimplified solutions, recognizing the inherent complexity of effective community benefits planning. Key principles include balancing urgency with care, understanding the limits of community benefits plans, and acknowledging potential unintended consequences. The document aims to provide actionable insights for stakeholders, inviting corporate and governmental entities to understand and respond to community perspectives.

Daniel Rossi-Keen, PhD