The inflation reduction act (IRA) will allocate funding to the national urban league (NUL), in launching a community-centered project to enhance climate resilience within black/african american…

The inflation reduction act (IRA) will allocate funding to the national urban league (NUL), in launching a community-centered project to enhance climate resilience within black/african american communities disproportionately affected by climate-related disasters. This initiative will conduct needs assessments to identify preparedness gaps, leveraging community input through listening sessions, town halls, and surveys. In the following phases, affiliates and local coalitions will analyze findings to design tailored disaster preparedness toolkits and action plans that directly address community vulnerabilities. This project aims to empower communities with the resources and strategies needed to anticipate and withstand extreme weather events, building a framework that can be replicated across other national urban league affiliates nationwide. Activities:the project activities include enhancing climate resilience in black/african american communities disproportionately affected by climate-related disasters. The project will begin with comprehensive community needs assessments through listening sessions, town halls, and surveys, identifying critical preparedness gaps. Affiliates will then engage local coalitions, including government and community partners, to develop customized disaster preparedness toolkits. These toolkits will contain tailored resources, such as emergency checklists and local support contacts, to address specific vulnerabilities. Following toolkit creation, affiliates will implement action plans that mobilize resources, coordinate support for high-risk populations, and advocate with local policymakers. Finally, national urban league will evaluate the project's impact, consolidating best practices into a scalable model for national dissemination across other national urban leagues affiliates.subrecipient:urban league affiliate will facilitate opportunities for meaningful input and involvement from environmentally overburdened communities in their cities through listening sessions, townhalls and surveying. These engagements will seek to understand residents' biggest preparedness vulnerabilities regarding extreme weather and climate change. These sub-granted affiliates will facilitate opportunities for meaningful input and involvement from environmentally overburdened communities in their cities through listening sessions, townhalls, and surveying. Outcomes:the project's anticipated deliverables include needs assessment reports that highlight preparedness gaps and customized disaster preparedness toolkits for each community's climate risks. These toolkits will be available online and at libraries and community centers, ensuring broad reach and utility. Together with local coalitions, community-specific action plans will outline tangible actions to strengthen readiness and fight for policy changes. Evaluation reports will calculate the project's impact and provide best practices for other national urban league affiliates to pursue resilience strategies countrywide. Increased catastrophe readiness in selected communities, improved local coalitions, and a scalable climate resilience model for affiliates nationwide are expected. The expected outcomes include increased disaster readiness in targeted communities, strengthened local coalitions, and a scalable model for climate resilience that can be shared with affiliates across the country. Black/african american communities in target cities, notably elderly and the homeless, are intended beneficiaries. Improved skills and resources will benefit local affiliates, coalition partners, and community stakeholders, promoting resilience and environmental justice. Direct beneficiaries of this project are underserved black/african american communities across austin, texas; greenville, south carolina; and oklahoma city, oklahoma.