Black Resilience Network Members Active in Disaster Recovery Efforts

The mission of the Black Resilience Network is to catalyze leadership development, collaboration, and investments so Black towns, communities, and organizations can successfully play their vital roles in the disaster and climate resilience ecosystem.  We have over 100 members across 23 states who are doing amazing work to support the long and painful recovery process with community members.

The following are some of our members who are actively leading recovery efforts. Many of them are also involved in responding to the devastation from Hurricane Helene.

Light Up Lawndale, West Side Long Term Recovery Committee, Chicago, Cook County, IL - Ms. Princess Shaw

The Forgotten Westside Flood Victims: Light Up Lawndale has been leading the disaster case management efforts on the Westside of Chicago. Cook County experienced a severe flood event in early July 2023 which left at least 200-300 homes on the West Side of Chicago, mostly seniors and single-family homes, with mold-infested basements that are dangerous for anyone with respiratory or underlying health concerns. Unfortunately, community members have been living like this for over a year with limited support from the traditional response and recovery organizations. The assistance through FEMA has been helpful, but inadequate to address the depth of need. The local, county, and state recovery support is in the early stages and has left residents without enough assistance forcing them to live in extremely hazardous conditions. Support Light Up Lawndale 

Love Without Walls, Amory, Monroe County, MS - Mrs. Tracy Hadley

Love & Compassion in Communities: Love Without Walls reaches people wherever they are in Monroe County, Mississippi, to provide vital resources and assistance to community members and disaster survivors, ensuring that no one is left behind before, during, and after disasters. They have been providing disaster case management to hundreds of residents in Amory, MS to support their recovery from the March 2023 tornado while supporting the pre-existing challenges community members face. From back-to-school events to FEMA application appeals, Love Without Walls is committed to approaching work with community members with love and compassion Support Love Without Walls 

Unity in Disasters, Tampa, Hillsborough County, FL  - Mr. Joe Gilliom

Over a Decade of Dedication: Unity in Disasters has supported over 17,000 families in the last 12 years and has been responsible for the redistribution of over $1,726,484 dollars of in-kind relief supplies. From June 1, 2020 through Sept 3, 2020, their referral program and partners distributed 130,707 gallons of free milk for families. Unity in Disasters has also facilitated disaster recovery through disaster case management for survivors from several disasters, including hurricanes. Support Unity in Disasters

Peletah Institute for Building Resilient Communities, New Bern, NC - Dr. Dawn Baldwin-Gibson

Leadership & Commitment: Dr. Baldwin-Gibson is the past Chairperson of the NC VOAD Spiritual and Emotional Care Committee, the Founding Chairperson of the Pamlico County Disaster Recovery Coalition, and a Founding Member of the NC Inclusive Disaster Recovery Network. The Peletah Institute for Building Resilient Communities is working hard to address community needs and build infrastructures of resiliency throughout Eastern North Carolina. They have such a strong track record in Eastern North Carolina that people and organizations from across the state reach out to them after disasters. Support Peletah Institute

Robeson County Disaster Recovery Coalition, Lumberton, Robeson County, NC - Mrs. Cassandra Campbell

Robeson County Disaster Recovery Coalition (RCDRC) has led disaster response and recovery projects throughout the Carolinas by providing disaster case management services, food programs, home repair and rebuilding, disaster unmet needs assistance, mold remediation, life skills education and training workshops and disaster tool lending services. RCDRC supported individuals and families recovering from Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Florence, Hurricane Michael, local flooding incidents, and the COVID-19 pandemic in Robeson and surrounding counties in NC. Support RCDRC

Mississippi Urban League/Hinds County Long-Term Disaster Recovery Committee, Jackson, Hinds County, MS - Ms. Ida Patterson

Small Team, Big Impact: The Mississippi Urban League has a statewide mission with a small team of three incredibly committed team members. Additionally, they lead the Hinds County Long-Term Disaster Recovery Committee to organize social services, faith-based organizations, housing agencies, and others to address the unmet needs of families and individuals of residents of Hinds County, Mississippi, in response to county, state, or federally declared disasters. MS Urban League was critical in the response to the Jackson Water Crisis and continues to organize recovery efforts for the 2023 tornados and subsequent severe storms. Support the MS Urban League