Climate Preparedness Week events have no limit to creativity or scale. As a starting point, are you interested in...
EDUCATION
Emergency preparedness workshop: Invite someone from a local emergency management agency to teach actions you can undertake to prepare for and respond to extreme weather events. Click this link to email us—we can help you get in touch!
Film screening: Watch a movie on climate resilience together and follow up with a facilitated discussion to share reactions and become comfortable speaking about climate resilience. Check out this list of climate-related movies!
Introduction to map-reading: What can a map tell us? Lead a community workshop on how to access data-rich, multilingual maps and how to visualize the information that is presented in real life. Check out our resources section for maps that show the impacts of climate change!
Expert panel: Invite several subject experts (eg. city officials, victims of extreme weather events, scientists) to discuss a topic, guided by a moderator, with time afterwards for a Q&A. Click this link to email us—we can help you get in touch!
Lecture & presentation: Have a professional share their views, experiences, or knowledge on climate resilience with time afterwards for Q&A. Click this link to email us—we can help you get in touch!
Resilience reading group: Gather a group to discuss an article or book that all of the participants have read previously as preparation. Check out our recommended booklist!
High water mark painting: Engage youth in the neighborhood to, with the permission of the property owner, paint a blue line visibly illustrating the projected height of sea level rise in a few years. Get inspired by this artist's project in New York City!
Resource festival: Host a fair in which local community centers distribute information about what services they can provide in the case of extreme weather. Ask local businesses to help sponsor food and entertainment.
World Cafe: Host a "conversation that matters" in a convivial setting where participants can share their values and ideas for building community resilience.
SERVICE
Depaving project: Remove the pavement of a yard, and plant grass, flowers, etc. Click this link to email us—we can connect you with guides and resources to get started!
Shoreline greening: Introduce vegetation, sand, or gravel to a shoreline to reduce erosions and increase flood protection.
Tree-planting: Plant trees as protection against flooding, extreme heat.
Bed-raising: Build and plant a raised bed for flowers, herbs etc.
Rainwater collection: Make a rain barrel and conserve water which is crucial during droughts.
Invasives-uprooting: Use gloves to pull out non-native plants in a predetermined plot of land.
Roof-repainting: Paint the top of a flat building white to retain coolness inside on hot summer days.
Space for reflection: Organize a space in which community members are invited to share their thoughts, feelings, and worries about how climate change is impacting their lives or loved ones. How can we empower each other through gathering?
PLANNING
Emergency communication plan: Determine how, and with whom, to connect during an extreme weather event with your family, friends and neighbors. It could be the perfect opportunity to build a phone tree in your community, which can speed up the communication process in the case of a flooding, heat, and storm emergencies!
Neighborhood map: Create a map of your neighborhood, and ask, who needs help? What are the individual and communal skills and strengths of the community members? Exchange phone numbers and get to know each other better. Together, identify the local resources specific to your community that can be used for refuge on extreme weather days.
Vulnerability assessment: Brainstorm and discuss the resilience strengths, challenges, and priorities of your community by following a guideline.
Extreme weather brainstorm: Gather and share information about how to prepare for different extreme weather events, such as extreme heat, extreme cold, flooding, and storms.
Decision-making role play: Distribute the roles of decision-makers, authority figures, local business owners, and citizens - all of whom have stakes in the development of a new housing project. Decide together what the best plan of action would be.
Weatherization project: What resources and whose help are needed to help weatherize old buildings? Invite a local professional to help the group understand the comprehensive costs and benefits to making their homes more climate resilient.
Senior centers, public libraries, and more!: Compile a list of community centers where residents can regularly gather to continue conversations - whether in the form of forums, workshops, or presentations - on climate resilience.
Feeling overwhelmed? Send a message to Vernon Walker for help deciding which activity or activities will be optimal for your community!