SBP and World Education Services Announce Grant Awards to Nine Nonprofit Partners to Bolster Disaster Recovery and Climate Resilience

NEW ORLEANS (Dec. 16, 2024) – Today, SBP, the national disaster recovery and resilience nonprofit, and World Education Services (WES), the nonprofit social enterprise supporting the educational, economic, and social inclusion of immigrants, refugees, and international students, announced grant awards to nine nonprofit organizations to bolster locally-led disaster recovery efforts and climate resilience in under-resourced communities across the United States.

The grant initiative, supported by the WES Mariam Assefa Fund, provides local nonprofits with funding for long-term home rebuilding as well as micro-resiliency grants to strengthen disaster preparedness among immigrant, refugee, migrant, and Indigenous communities. These grants will build power among the nonprofit recipients to implement the following innovative climate resilience and disaster recovery projects in their communities.

• Climate Mobilization Project
  The grant will provide funding to train 25 young Black, Indigenous, and People of Color leaders from social justice and mutual aid groups in Richmond, Va., to build rainwater collection systems and solar microgrids and learn resilient farming and natural building techniques. More than 50 percent of the leaders who will benefit from this training are immigrants.
• Louisiana Just Recovery Network
  The grant will provide funds to repair five homes damaged by Hurricane Ida in Southern Louisiana while supporting efforts to address environmental justice and climate disaster recovery by working with grassroots organizations, frontline communities, and faith leaders. 
• Emergency Network Los Angeles (ENLA)
  The grant will strengthen community-based and faith-based organizations in Los Angeles through the Resilient & Prepared Community Partners Initiative, which will equip vulnerable populations with disaster preparedness and resilience strategies.
• Movement for Justice in El Barrio
  The grant will support immigrant-led projects in East Harlem, New York City designed to improve emergency preparedness among residents. The project will include a training series as well as infrastructure building, and consultations on climate and immigration justice.
• Collier Disaster Alliance
  Grant funds will support the repair of five homes in Collier County, Fla., that were damaged by Hurricanes Milton and Helene, prioritizing support to low-income and underinsured residents.
• Colaborativa La Milpa
  Grant funds will support the repair of four homes damaged by Hurricane Helene in Buncombe County, N.C., and complete a needs and resiliency assessment to guide recovery and mitigation efforts in the community of Emma.
• BLDG Memphis
  Grant funds will support the repair of five homes in Memphis, Tenn., affected by Winter Storm Uri, while fostering community development and sustainability.
• Presente! Maine
  With this grant, the organization will develop a rapid response program to minimize the impact of extreme weather among displaced Afro/Indigenous-Latine populations, including distributing space heaters, cooling units, and language-appropriate preparedness materials.
• Rebuild Bay County
  With this grant, the organization will expand an initiative to provide air conditioners and heaters to vulnerable residents in Bay County, Fla., to help them withstand the impact of extreme weather events.

“[The grant from SBP] will help us train residents in Richmond, VA to build rain collection systems for non-potable water. With [their] support, the 25 community leaders who will receive the training will disseminate the skills they’ve learned through at least five organizations, reaching 180 additional community members. Together we are building strong communities that will lead the transformation to a just, sustainable world,” said Rebecca Harris, Resource Organizing Director and Co-Leader, Climate Mobilization Project 

For nonprofit organizations seeking more information, please contact SBP’s Share team at [email protected].

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MEDIA CONTACT
Elizabeth Wright, SBP Chief Communications and Marketing Officer
[email protected]

ABOUT SBP

Founded in New Orleans in 2006 in response to Hurricane Katrina, SBP is a national social impact organization dedicated to empowering communities to shrink the time between disaster and recovery by rebuilding homes, increasing resilience, and improving policies to better serve the needs of all Americans. For more information about SBP, please visit www.sbpusa.org.

ABOUT WES Founded in 1974, WES is a 501(c)3 non-profit social enterprise that supports the educational, economic, and social inclusion of immigrants, refugees, and international students. From evaluating academic credentials to shaping policy, designing programs, and providing philanthropic funding, we partner with a diverse set of organizations, leaders, and networks to uplift individuals and drive systems change. The WES Mariam Assefa Fund, WES’ philanthropic arm, supports catalytic efforts to build more inclusive economies and communities for immigrants and refugees. Learn more at wes.org/fund.