New York, New York, USA, October 30 – The Resilient Cities Network announced today that it will award grants to four community-based organizations, YouthBuild, Chinatown Main Street, AliefVotes and Target Hunger, in Houston and Boston. The funding will support the implementation of projects that improve the capacity of their neighborhoods to withstand the impacts of extreme heat and flooding, while addressing crucial equity challenges. These community projects were developed as part of the Resilience for Communities program, a flagship initiative of the Network supported by Zurich North America and funded by the Z Zurich Foundation as part of its global Urban Climate Resilience Program.
“True community resilience is about building systems that uplift those facing the greatest barriers,” said Kelli Borden, Head of Underwriting Quality & Governance and R4C Program Lead for Zurich North America. “By focusing on holistic solutions, we empower communities to adapt to climate change in ways that address long-term equity challenges and prioritize the well-being of all.”
Resilience for Communities utilizes an inclusive, participatory process that involves community members in identifying climate risks and vulnerabilities within their neighborhoods and co-designing interventions to build long lasting resilience to these challenges. The result is a list of priority initiatives that can help communities better withstand the impacts of severe weather events.
“Climate resilience starts when those closest to the issues lead the charge,” said Jordana Vasquez, the Resilience for Communities program lead in North America at R-Cities. “Community-based organizations are essential stewards of their neighborhood’s needs and aspirations, deeply connected to the everyday challenges of their residents. By channeling funding directly to them, we ensure climate resilience projects are more impactful, grounded in people’s experiences and positioned for long-term, sustainable success.”
Through a competitive grantmaking process, YouthBuild, Chinatown Main Street, AliefVotes and Target Hunger, were selected to implement these priority initiatives. Over the next year, they will carry out local projects that address the most pressing resilience gaps in their communities. Following the launch of these projects, additional funding will be made available for communities to scale their resilience efforts.
“The future of our cities depends on how well we adapt to the growing challenges of climate change, ensuring that every community is supported and no one is left behind. The Resilience for Communities program is dedicated to uplifting community voices and empowering local governments to engage meaningfully with residents, building a foundation for long-term, holistic urban resilience,”said Katrin Bruebach, Global Director of Programs & Delivery at R-Cities. “Through this program, local governments are learning from communities – understanding their knowledge, perceptions and concerns about risks – and channeling resources to co-create solutions that strengthen our collective resilience for the future.”
The four community-based organizations will deliver the following projects:
YouthBuild, Boston
In Lower Roxbury, residents will have access to four new cooling stations and a toolkit for designing and constructing urban cooling solutions. These cooling stations, equipped with water misters, shade devices and educational materials on heat safety, will be built by young people in the community as part of a pre-apprentice program aimed at improving their prospects for future job opportunities. Composed of young people of color aged 18 to 24, the cohort will receive training about the impacts of urban heat islands in their neighborhood, safety measures for construction workers under extreme heat and green technologies used in the building trades. In addition, the trainees will benefit from mental health counseling and financial literacy workshops, including budgeting, saving, credit-building and investing.
“Our partnership is a vital step in building equitable community resilience in Roxbury. Together, we are empowering youth to lead in addressing the urgent challenges of climate change and environmental justice. By equipping them with the skills to tackle extreme heat and energy inequities, we are not only enhancing public spaces and improving living conditions but also fostering a generation committed to sustainable, just solutions,” said Danyson Tavares, former Executive Director of YouthBuild Boston. “This collaboration is about creating lasting, positive change that benefits everyone in our community, ensuring a more resilient and equitable future for Roxbury”.
Chinatown Main Street, Boston
Over the course of the next year, Chinatown Main Street will convene a working group tasked with developing a community heat adaptation action plan that addresses residents’ most pressing safety concerns regarding their exposure to extreme heat. This working group will include representatives from the Asian Community Development Corporation, the Chinatown Residents Association, the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy, Tufts University, the Tufts Medical Center, the Boston Transportation Department, the Office of Neighborhood Services, Boston Main Streets and the Small Business Unit, the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, the Office of Emergency Management and the Climate Ready Boston Team. An accompanying series of community health workshops, amplified by a neighborhood-wide communication campaign, will increase Chinatown residents’ understanding of the health risks associated with high temperatures and share recommendations on how to stay safe during heatwaves. Additionally, the project will offer a micro-grants program for small businesses to acquire emergency supplies to mitigate the impacts of extreme heat. By Summer 2025, they plan to pilot a physical solution at Phillips Square Park to address heat-related challenges and support the community in coping with the summer heat.
“We are excited to be part of the Resilient Cities Network’ work towards building a heat resilient Chinatown. Our project, Cool Down Chinatown, will enable us to create a partnership between the city, Chinatown residents, community leaders, academics and artists to bring needed resources to the neighborhood,” said Debbie Ho, Executive Director of Chinatown Main Street. “We look forward to leveraging this opportunity to strengthen Chinatown’s ability to respond to the climate crisis we are facing today and how it affects urban, working-class immigrant communities.”
Target Hunger, Houston
Food insecurity can greatly increase a community’s vulnerability to extreme weather events like heat and flooding. To combat this, Target Hunger is expanding food pantry days and offering Navigation Services, which connect individuals and families to essential resources such as healthcare, education and skills training. This initiative aims to help members of the Trinity Houston Gardens community access sufficient, high-quality food consistently. Additionally, Target Hunger will receive funding for its “Rooting for the Future” Capital Campaign, a US $8.5 million project to develop the Target Hunger Campus and Education Center. Enhancing these facilities will ensure that Target Hunger’s support services remain accessible to community members during severe climate events.
“Our partnership with Resilient Cities Network in Trinity-Houston Gardens is more than just a collaboration; it’s a commitment to building true community resilience,” said Sandra Wicoff, CEO of Target Hunger. “By expanding our pantry hours and offering a comprehensive Navigation Program, Target Hunger aims to better serve the community and address both immediate and long-term needs for food and other critical services.”
AliefVotes, Houston
Through AliefVotes, student volunteers in Alief, Houston will organize a series of interactive community workshops focused on a broad range of resilience topics, including hurricane preparedness, navigating power outages, tree maintenance and planting, emergency communication for non-English speakers, installation and maintenance of energy generators and emergency preparedness for senior and assisted living facilities. These workshops, designed to strengthen Alief residents’ capacity to prepare for and reduce their exposure to climate-related risks, will be held in key community locations and conducted in partnership with other community-based groups, federal agencies and local government partners. In addition to building preparedness, the workshops will function as platforms for distributing supplies that will be useful after the impacts of extreme weather events.
“We are honored to receive this grant, which will deepen our efforts in building equity and resilience within the Alief community,” said Ny’Elle Blount, Director of Data & Records at AliefVotes. “Through collaborative and intentional workshops focused on disaster preparedness, environmental justice and other pressing issues, we create spaces where residents can engage, learn and act.”
About Resilient Cities Network
Resilient Cities Network is the world’s leading urban resilience network. It brings together global knowledge, practice, partnerships and funding to empower its members to build safe and equitable cities for all. Its unique city-led approach ensures cities drive the agenda to benefit the communities they serve. At work in over 100 cities worldwide, the Resilient Cities Network supports on-the-ground projects and solutions to build climate-resilient, circular and equitable cities while also facilitating connections and information-sharing between communities and local leaders. For more information, please visit https://resilientcitiesnetwork.org/.
About AliefVotes
Founded in 2022, AliefVotes is a non-profit that empowers youth civic engagement in Alief, a working-class community in Southwest Houston. Alief has historically low voter turnout, economic divestment and an absence of community engagement. Situated in City Council District F, we’re the “forgotten district.” In response, we began AliefVotes. As a youth-led organization, we envision a proactive, civically engaged and community-oriented youth pipeline through civic education, leadership opportunities and youth-led projects. For more information, please visit http://aliefvotes.com/.
About Target Hunger
Target Hunger, one of Houston’s largest nonprofits, has been providing food assistance to vulnerable children, families and seniors for 35 years. Its mission is to alleviate hunger and its root causes in northeast and east Houston neighborhoods. Target Hunger addresses food insecurity through pantry distributions, home/site delivery, food fairs and more. Recognizing that food insecure families may need additional support, Target Hunger’s Navigation Program helps clients overcome challenges and escape poverty. The organization also offers disaster relief to families in times of need. In 2023, Target Hunger distributed 1.7 million meals to nearly 21,500 individuals. For more information, please visit http://targethunger.org
About YouthBuild Boston
YouthBuild Boston (YBB) is excited to partner with Architecture for Public Benefit (APB) and to empower the youth of Lower Roxbury to lead initiatives addressing extreme heat, energy affordability and environmental justice. Our collaboration improves living conditions, enhances public spaces and provides essential community support services. APB is a mission-driven architecture practice focused on solving the unique challenges of communities and nonprofits through creative, collaborative design. YBB equips underserved youth with skills and opportunities to build sustainable careers in the architecture, engineering and construction industries. Together, we are committed to driving positive change and building a brighter future for Lower Roxbury. For more information, please visit https://www.youthbuildboston.org/
About Chinatown Main Street
Chinatown Main Street is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to making Boston’s Chinatown district a thriving cultural and commercial center for businesses and people. For visitors and residents alike, we elevate the Chinatown experience by beautifying, promoting, strengthening the community and keeping the streets as clean, safe and friendly as possible. We also host various food programs and events with entertainment, made possible with volunteers and fundraisers, creating a rich Chinatown experience for everyone. For more information, please visit https://www.chinatownmainstreet.org/
About Z Zurich Foundation
The Z Zurich Foundation works alongside Zurich Insurance Group employees and other stakeholders as well as with governments and NGOs in pursuit of a future where people can thrive in the face of increasing climate hazards and catastrophes, where those of us feeling the stresses of life are empowered to speak up and where the marginalized in our society can reach their full potential. The Z Zurich Foundation is a Swiss-based charitable foundation established by members of the Zurich Insurance Group. It is the main vehicle by which Zurich Insurance Group delivers on its global community investment strategy. Visit the Z Zurich Foundation’s website to learn more about its work: https://zurich.foundation. Follow Z Zurich Foundation on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
About Zurich Insurance
Zurich North America is one of the largest providers of insurance solutions and services to businesses and individuals. Our customers represent industries ranging from agriculture to technology. Zurich North America is part of Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich), a leading multi-line insurer serving people and businesses in more than 200 countries and territories. Founded 150 years ago, Zurich is transforming insurance. In addition to providing insurance protection, Zurich is increasingly offering prevention services such as those that promote wellbeing and enhance climate resilience. Reflecting its purpose to “create a brighter future together,” Zurich aspires to be one of the most responsible and impactful businesses in the world. It is targeting net-zero emissions by 2050 and has the highest-possible ESG rating from MSCI. In 2020, Zurich launched the Zurich Forest project to support reforestation and biodiversity restoration in Brazil. The Group has about 60,000 employees and is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. Zurich Insurance Group Ltd (ZURN), is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and has a level I American Depositary Receipt (ZURVY) program, which is traded over-the-counter on OTCQX. Further information is available at https://www.zurich.com/ and https://www.zurichna.com/
About the Resilience for Communities program (R4C)
The Resilience for Communities (R4C) program was launched in 2022 as a partnership between R-Cities, the Z-Zurich Foundation and Zurich insurance. Globally, four of the Resilient Cities Network member cities are participating in the R4C program including Boston and Houston in North America, Greater Manchester in the United Kingdom and Melaka in Malaysia.
Press Contacts:
Lynette Lim
llim@resilientcitiesnetwork.org
Isabel Parra
