Building Resilient Communities

Region 9

Community-based organizations in the Inland Empire have a long-standing history of ensuring their respective communities’ voices, needs, and hopes are included and represented.

While Inland region organizations may focus on a particular geographic area or issue, they also operate as a “village.”

There is a spirit of camaraderie among community partners who seek innovative solutions to some of the region’s toughest challenges, including environmental and health vulnerabilities, industrial expansion, and climate disasters.

Vulnerable community members are often the most impacted by crises. Partnering with small community-based organizations, such as Building Resilient Communities is an effective approach to reaching diverse communities.

Many of the small community-based organizations in the Inland Empire collaborate with faith-based organizations, small businesses, local governments, and State Agencies.

This Collaborative focuses on talking through local challenges, finding community-based solutions, and sharing best practices to lessen equity gaps.

 

Image Description (pictured left): Workshop report out on good practices

Rooted in faith, Building Resilient Communities’ Debra Williams offers leadership tips on working collaboratively. She learned these lessons during the COVID-19 pandemic while advocating with diverse entities to address historic inequalities unmasked by crises.

  • Conduct self-care and check in with each other
  • Coach and lead by example
  • Probe people for feedback and get everyone engaged
  • Be trauma-informed
  • Make meetings a safe place – it’s okay to be vulnerable, including laughing, crying, and not knowing

“We have to embrace the concept of the whole community. It takes everyone to prepare, respond, and recover. It’s not just the government. It’s not just us community- based organizations. It’s neighbor-to- neighbor. It’s everyone.”

Debra Williams, CEO Building Resilient Communities