Centering Those at Risk: The Power of Community-Led Research for Climate Resilience Investments

by | Nov 20, 2023

**This is the fourth webinar in a 6-part series hosted by the Urban Waters Learning Network that highlights a variety of strategies that community-based organizations can use to help their communities anticipate, prepare for and respond to climate risks such as flooding, coastal storms and drought, with a focus on protecting community members who are most vulnerable to climate threats. Find all recordings and resources from the series on the Learning Series Page: Building Water Equity and Climate Resilient Communities for ALL.


Community-led research is a powerful approach to gather and apply community generated data to inform climate resilience decisions such as green infrastructure plans and watershed restoration priorities.  In the hands of those community members who are at greatest risk from climate change, CLR is a way to capture their wisdom and experiences and build an advocacy platform to ensure efforts to build community resilience address issues of justice and advance solutions that are based on community needs. Recorded on November 15, 2023, we highlight River Network’s Community-Led Research tool and hear from local organizations that have deployed CLR as a tool for climate equity.

Presenters:

  • Diana Toledo, Senior River Program Director, River Network
  • David Southgate, Advisor to Un Nuevo Amanecer / Senior Research Associate, Robert Schalkenbach Foundation (Playa Ponce, PR) 
  • Evelyn Thillet, Community Field Researcher, Un Nuevo Amanecer (Playa Ponce, PR) 
  • Brian Midkiff, Senior Program Manager, Groundwork San Diego – Chollas Creek (San Diego, CA) 

*Note that the video recording includes both English and Spanish. Access language interpretation in the Zoom recording available here. Click the globe at the bottom of the screen to select preferred language. A document with highlights from the meeting chat–including questions, answers, comments, and links–can be found here.

Additional Resources:

Tools for Equitable Climate Resilience – River Network

Storymap with other CLR case studies: Nothing About Us Without Us