Lessons from Black History Month: How to Build Strong and Resilient Communities
A community’s ability to bounce back from a stress or disruption, whether man-made or natural disaster, is only as strong as the cohesion and trust built at every level of a community. I have seen the consequences of lack of cohesion and trust: misinformation, unnecessary escalation or use of force, and survivors not getting the assistance they need. Building, maintaining, and strengthening trust takes work from both government and non-government partners alike.
As the Nation observes Black History Month, I am reminded of three lessons learned from individuals and organizations that demonstrate necessary steps to build resilient communities.
First lesson is the need to build partnerships that view racial and ethnic diversity as more than an end point. A community must see itself represented in its government and institutions in order to trust them. That means your efforts to engage all facets of the community should be systemic in intent and process. It is a lesson I have learned time and again from Jacqueline Patterson, Director of the NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program. As the nation’s oldest civil rights organization, the NAACP has worked to make systemic changes that strengthen our nation’s resilience. While encouraging diversity is part of their contributions, it’s never been the only goal. Actions of the NAACP include guidance for government officials to ensure “Equity in Resilience Building for Climate Adaptation Planning” and partnerships with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the American Red Cross and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to ensure equity in the intent and process of resilience efforts. Ms. Patterson’s approach to partnership goes beyond diversity. A recent article she wrote outlines the shortcomings of focusing solely on diversity and provides resources and considerations to ensure efforts aren’t only regulated to merely providing “a seat at the table.”
Second lesson involves leveraging an existing social network as a great way to build resilience. A key approach to having strong communities includes working within an existing social network and identifying people committed to levering their skills in times of emergency. It’s exactly what Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. has done through their Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. Emergency Response Team. This not-for-profit organization’s purpose is to provide assistance and support through established programs in local communities throughout the world. Since its founding, more than 200,000 women have joined the organization. The organization is a sisterhood of predominantly Black, college educated women. After the response to Hurricane Katrina, Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. worked to identify emergency managers, first responders, and medical professionals within their organization and establish national emergency response team. Though all organizations of the National Pan Hellenic Council have a great history of service to communities in times of disaster, Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. was the first to formalize the talent across their network and establish a national response structure. Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. is also an affirmer of the National Strategy for Youth Preparedness which is committed to building a Nation of prepared youth.
Final lesson is that building trust requires knowing our past and investing in our future. The importance of learning from the past and investing in the future is a necessary step to developing strong communities. Through my professional experiences, I have learned about the value of service exemplified by Gen. Julius Becton Jr., the first and only African American head of FEMA. Rosemary Roberts McCloud, the first African-American female fire chief in America, set an example of perseverance and leadership. Their examples chart the path for people such as Los Angeles County Battalion Chief Veronie Steele-Small, the first female African-American Battalion Chief at the Los Angeles County Fire Department; and inspires efforts like the South LA Teen CERT Collaborative, a nationally recognized program invested in engaging teens in disaster preparedness and leadership develop activities. Examples of past and present have been my North Star what’s possible when government bodies and civic institutions are accountable to the people they serve.
While the frequency and intensity of natural disasters increases, it is important to keep lessons like these in mind so as to ensure all approaches are conducted with equity in mind. As the complexity and dynamics of man-made disasters and incidents evolve, the lessons provided reinforce steps to unlock the power of relationships and connections that are needed to overcome the misunderstandings that may happen in dynamic times. For those working on a problem or issue they deem to be urgent, the lessons provide some insight to what’s possible through the power of connection. Strong communities are a result of strong relationships, and strong relationships are discovered through leading with authenticity. Black History Month is a great opportunity to see what that looks like from one vantage point of our nation.
Marcus T. Coleman Jr. is member of the Harvard National Preparedness Leadership Initiative and Obama for America Campaign alum (‘08). He is a Political Partner member with the Truman National Security Project. Views expressed are his own.
