Spring 2019
Issue #194
Resilience
Resilience isn't a new term. We’ve kept looking at it, because, of course, it’s not as if disaster preparedness and recovery, environmental quality, and working across sectors are not crucial issues, no matter what you call them. In this issue, we take a look at resilience, why we need accurate maps to increase flood resilience, designing for climate change, and much, much more.
It Takes Strong Roots to Achieve Climate Justice
Throughout 2018’s Sol-2-Sol climate justice convening, indigenous people led many of the actions and activities.
Facing Down Segregation—Half-heartedly or With Steely Determination?
A new book explores the history, impact, and policy solutions to racial segregation.
Putting Health Care Dollars to Work
Several organizations are working to coordinate health care investments in ways that will allow funding to truly boost community health.
Community Land Trusts in the Age of Climate Change
With the intensification of weather patterns resulting from climate change, community land trusts perform vital functions that help people recover.
Why We Must First Be Well Before We Can Do the Work of the People
An Alaskan collective’s perspective on taking care of oneself can apply to organizations that work with communities that have experienced trauma. After all, organizations should make the mental and physical health of their staff a top priority, too.
The Connection Between Water, Justice, and Health
Our talk with Radhika Fox, the CEO of the US Water Alliance, about water justice and ways to build stronger communities.
Organizing for Water Security in Detroit
A coalition’s comprehensive study on the Detroit region’s water ills also acts as a road map to organizers’ work around water justice.
Q: Can Including Rent and Utility Payments in Credit Scores Reduce Racial Disparities in Lending?
Including rent and utility payments in credit reports and scoring models can increase credit scores, and reduce racial disparities in credit scores.
Moving Beyond Place-Based Community Organizing
How to train organizers to work across various communities, not just neighborhoods.
Buying Power: Why Nonprofits Should Own Their Space
Four reasons why organizations should consider owning property in the neighborhood they work in.
To Build Affordable and Green, Consider Passive Houses
By building energy-efficient properties, Habitat reduces heating costs and frees up more than $100 each month for homeowners.
Designing for Climate Change
How can affordable housing be more resilient to extreme weather and better prepared to deal with the consequences of climate change?
NOLA Brings a Holistic Focus to Resilience
Cities cannot weather the effects of climate change without going beyond infrastructure to address institutional racism, historical inequities, and access to physical and mental health services.
The Uncertain Flood Zone
Communities need accurate maps and more access to data to increase flood resilience—but right now FEMA’s not providing that.
Disaster Aid Perpetuates Inequality
After natural disasters, recovery efforts tend to lift up those who have resources to bounce back quickly, but cement poverty for those with modest means.
Resilience 101
Community development fits well within the growing resilience movement—and connecting the two more explicitly could make their work even more powerful.
From Sustainability to Resilience
My first reaction to the emergence of “resilience” as a lens for viewing community development was mostly informed by skepticism.