The National Urban League, Inc. was awarded a $500,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program. The grant will fund a community-centered initiative to enhance climate resilience within Black/African American communities disproportionately affected by climate-related disasters.
The project activities include conducting comprehensive community needs assessments through listening sessions, town halls, and surveys to identify critical preparedness gaps. The National Urban League and its local affiliates will then engage with government and community partners to develop customized disaster preparedness toolkits containing tailored resources such as emergency checklists and local support contacts. Following toolkit creation, the affiliates will implement action plans to mobilize resources, coordinate support for high-risk populations, and advocate with local policymakers. The project aims to increase disaster readiness, strengthen local coalitions, and develop a scalable climate resilience model that can be shared with other National Urban League affiliates nationwide.