Learning Series: Building Water Equity and Climate Resilient Communities for ALL

This six-part series, hosted by the Urban Waters Learning Network, highlights a variety of strategies that community-based organizations can use to help their communities anticipate, prepare for and respond to climate risks such as flooding, coastal storms and drought, with a focus on protecting community members who are most vulnerable to climate threats.

After watching this learning series, you will:

  • Understand the historical context of climate inequities and be able to initiate local conversations to help residents and stakeholders understand the relationship between historic land use/housing policies and predicted impacts of climate change, in particular with regards to water.
  • Understand and describe how climate change impacts are felt through water: riverine, urban and coastal flooding, drought and water scarcity, water pollution and more, and how restoration initiatives improve community resilience.
  • Be able to identify key practices of community-driven climate resilience and gain tools for organizing community members and communicating local priorities to decision-makers more effectively.

The series ran from July 2023 through January 2024. Watch all the recordings below.

Spanish subtitles and English captions are available for all five videos below; click the gear icon, then “Subtitles/CC” to turn on.

Part 1 – Building Climate Resilience: The Link Between Historic Policies and Today’s Risk

This session provides a brief overview of the disparate impacts of climate change in the U.S. and helps participants initiate and navigate local conversations about climate risk and vulnerability. Participants will learn how communities participating in Groundwork USA’s Climate Safe Neighborhoods Program are making the connections between historic land use policies and today’s climate risks to inform resilience efforts.

Presenters:

  • Dr. Jeremy Hoffman Hayes, Director of Climate Justice and Impact, Groundwork USA (LinkedIn)
  • Kelsey Hawkins-Johnson, Community & Climate Resilience Program Director, Groundwork Ohio River Valley (LinkedIn)
  • Candida Rodriguez,  Director of Community Relations, Groundwork Hudson Valley (LinkedIn)

Part 2 – Resilience Hubs as Community Superheroes of Climate Preparedness and Disaster Recovery

In this session, recorded on September 20, 2023, we hear from national and local leaders experienced in establishing local Resilience Hubs. Resilience Hubs are central gathering places that bring community members together and provide residents with resources and support to prepare for and respond to climate emergencies. Participants learn how they can advocate for and participate in the planning and establishment of Resilience Hubs in their own communities. See additional resources and an extensive Q&A from the session here.

Presenters:

  • Samantha Paladini, Resilience Hubs Coordinator, Communities Responding to Extreme Weather (CREW) (LinkedIn)
  • Stacey Henry, Found of Delaware’s First Resilience Hub (USA Today’s Woman of the Year)
  • Aubrey Germ, Climate & Resilience Planner, Baltimore Office of Sustainability (LinkedIn)

Part 3 – Investing in Local Leadership to Advocate for Equitable Climate Resilience

In this session, recorded on October 18, 2023, participants shared examples of community-based organizations that are investing in developing community leaders to build momentum for local water equity and climate resilience. We highlight River Network’s Fostering Community Leadership tool, and hear from representatives of local organizations that are helping community members build their leadership capacities and put them to use through citizen advisory boards, climate ambassador programs and other avenues, with the ultimate goal of making lasting change in their communities. Find the slides and more resources from the session on the Urban Waters Learning Network resources page.

Presenters:

*Note that the video recording includes both English and Spanish. Access language interpretation in the Zoom recording available here. Click the globe at the bottom of the screen to select preferred language.

Part 4 – Centering Those at Risk: The Power of Community-Led Research for Climate Resilience Investments

Community-led research is a powerful approach to gather and apply community generated data to inform climate resilience decisions such as green infrastructure plans and watershed restoration priorities.  In the hands of those community members who are at greatest risk from climate change, CLR is a way to capture their wisdom and experiences and build an advocacy platform to ensure efforts to build community resilience address issues of justice and advance solutions that are based on community needs. Recorded on November 15, 2023, we highlight River Network’s Community-Led Research tool and hear from local organizations that have deployed CLR as a tool for climate equity. Find the slides and more resources from the session on the Urban Waters Learning Network resources page.

Presenters:

  • Diana Toledo, Senior River Program Director, River Network
  • David Southgate, Advisor to Un Nuevo Amanecer / Senior Research Associate, Robert Schalkenbach Foundation (Playa Ponce, PR)
  • Evelyn Thillet, Community Field Researcher, Un Nuevo Amanecer (Playa Ponce, PR)
  • Brian Midkiff, Senior Program Manager, Groundwork San Diego – Chollas Creek (San Diego, CA)

*Note that the video recording includes both English and Spanish. Access language interpretation in the Zoom recording available here. Click the globe at the bottom of the screen to select preferred language.

Part 5 – Equitable Resilience Planning Frameworks

In this session, recorded on Dec 13, 2023, presenters discuss how to engage and center the needs of the most vulnerable community members when developing climate resilience plans. Examples of community-driven plans that advance community priorities were shared, drawing from the experience of members of the National Association of Climate Resilience Planners and the Community-Driven Climate Resilience Planning Framework. Find the slides and more resources from the session on the Urban Waters Learning Network resources page.

Presenters

Part 6 – Building Climate Resilience: Transforming Communities through Green Workforce Development

Recorded on January 17, 2024, we hear from experienced practitioners about their experiences creating community-led environmental transformation through green jobs. Discover how communities have successfully built green workforce programs to transform vacant or contaminated lands while bridging communities’ climate and economic goals. Find the slides and more resources from the session on the Urban Waters Learning Network resources page. 

Presenters:

Resource Materials