Name: Static Interactive
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The destructive effects of climate change will reach every person and community on the planet regardless of race and socioeconomic status. Yet the extent and caliber of those effects will disproportionately impact working class, immigrants, non-English-speaking, and communities of color. It is imperative that these communities be empowered with the resources and tools to adapt to climate challenges.

There are countless ideas, strategies, policies, and designs for adapting communities to the new realities brought by climate change, but many are only feasible in certain contexts, or have undesirable side effects. In a community where most households are renters, building renovations or neighborhood improvements can lead to higher rents, causing displacement. In a community where a significant portion are non-citizens, eligibility for certain programs may be a hurdle. If community members are undocumented, then access to legal rights and mutual trust between government and community can be a major challenge. If a community has many non-English speakers, then meaningful engagement and education will require extra effort.

Regional Plan Association (RPA) and the Queens office of Make the Road NY (MRNY) partnered to develop a way to overcome these obstacles and build climate change adaptation capacity in the working class Latinx communities. It was important for both groups that the end products be immediately useful, and not just good ideas that there is no capacity to implement.

Acknowledgements

Authored by

Vanessa Barrios

Director, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives
Ellis Calvin

Data Research Manager
Carlos Mandeville

Former Associate Planner
Manuela Uribe

Former Community Resilience Intern
Robert Freudenberg

Vice President, Energy & Environment
Kate Slevin

Executive Vice President
Julissa Bisono

Make the Road New York, Lead Organizer
Leticia Pazmino

Make the Road New York, BASTA Organizer
Jose Lopez

Make the Road New York, "Co-Organizing Director, BASTA Housing & Environmental Justice Project"
Becca Telzak

Make the Road New York, Director of Health Programs